Chris Hall’s mother, Ella, was German. She married an Englishman and came to live in Britain in 1954 - an uneasy time for the two nationalities…
"A seminal experience was when I was at school" says Chris, "The boys let me play war with them! My mother was absolutely furious, leaving me in no doubt that it wasn’t a game - people got killed, and you didn’t see them again!"
Chris remembers being stunned by her mother’s reaction to the playground game. It had obviously opened up very painful memories from her past. Chris realises that her mother probably felt extremely vulnerable and isolated, living in Britain so soon after the war, "My mother hid so much of her life - only gradually did bits and pieces emerge..." In order to disguise her origins, Chris’ mother spoke very good English, and kept herself informed about British history and current affairs. It wasn’t so much that she denied being German, she simply didn’t mention it. The Hall family did eat food such as black bread and sauerkraut at home, but any hint of German cooking disappeared from the table when Christine’s friends came to stay.
One particular incident sticks in Chris' mind; whilst staying with her relations in Germany for three months, her mother had not taught her the custom that children should shake hands with adults and curtsey. Chris felt that she'd been rude, and was extremely angry with her mother, "I said ‘They curtsey! Why don’t I do that?’ She said, "You don’t do that because you’re English, not German."
Chris’ mother died 2 years ago, and since then, Chris finds it easier to get on with her German relations. She’s taking her daughter over to visit them soon, and a German cousin has just given birth."It feels for me that a whole new family’s opening out…" says Chris.
