Harrow Road Nursery? My friend Kathleen? I was brought up in a children's home on the Kings Road. The training ship Exmouth? My brother Sydney was on the boats. Sydney... are you Sydney? My Brother Fred. I have a brother... Peter... he was in the Air Force on the guns. My sister Daisy... she was a cook. She was in domestic service. Daisy Hartsfield. We used to go on outings. Dancing with sailors on the Isle of Wight. Dennis Maynard... I used to be his domestic on the Kings Road... he wanted me to have his children. Dr Shaw. Dr Ferguson. Major Webb... a lord... he was a doctor. Captain Vicarage? Bridestone Court... just of George Street. Tom... he was a window cleaner. My mother had a terrible life... she died of influenza. My father used to drink. I was brought up in a children's home. Central London District School, Hanwell, Middlesex. What is this? A biscuit? A biscuit... I thought it was a stone. Here are you listening to me? Do you think I'm going mad? I must have my wrong mind... I should remember... isn't it terrible... I'm sitting here now and I don't know where I am. I'm counting the chairs over there. I had to think about something because I'm making things up in my mind sending me half mad. What am I doing? What's the matter with me? I don't know. In my mind I know there's 1-2-3-4-5-6 people... I can't tell you... it's absolutely stupid... I thought I'll have to go to the police station and tell them I'm afraid I'm in trouble... they told me off terrible... they said, "Look Mrs. Cooper if you keep on like this they're going to put you away in a home and you won't be able to do anything"... "Oh don't do that to the hospital"... I said, "You'll be alright if you keep quiet and keep stopping talking about people about your life and what you are and everything". They said, "Stop it"... that's the police station... Harrow Road... yeah there was a policeman... he was really rotten... "What's the matter with you woman pack this up, stop it going around these houses". I said, "I wasn't doing that sir". They said, "Well where are you doing it". I said, "I don't feel well". They said, "Don't make excuses we know about you and what you're up to". One gentleman there said, "You pack it up we've had enough of you... stop this gossiping girl". I said. "I don't gossip". They said, "Yes you do, we know where you live". They told me off. I got a bit panicky. "We're going to put you away... you and your brothers and all". My brother came up and we had a terrible row. He said, "Look Betty stop this we're getting fed up with you. They'll be putting you away in as mental home" I said, "I'm not". They said, "Stop making excuses, we already know about you and who you're mixed up with". I got warned. I'm sitting here counting the people sitting on the chairs taking it all out of my mind... 1-2-3-4-5... 5 people... I went in to see if I could talk to someone... if I could just talk to them for five minutes... "We've had a fed of you". I said, "I only want to go to the toilet. They said, "You're not to go to the toilet it's full up. That's it for you girl, you can't go in there anymore". I tried to get out. I said, "Look I'm alright". They said, "No you're not. You talk to much". I said, "I can't help it".... Do you know about the name Sydney? Fred? Two or three girls' names and all? The private school where people go to church? Do you know Church Street? Where? Nearby? You're not Tom are you? I don't know... is there something wrong with me? I keep imagining things. I sitting here with two over there... 1-2-3-4-5-6... chairs... just to remind me I'm here... that's 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 over there... honestly I'm real daft. I got a brother Sydney just like you... a younger brother... he's in the Navy... have you seen him in uniform he looks so smart... he shaves and he's clean... I wish he was here now... do you know my brother Sydney? You're like him. One man said, "Look stop talking". He caught me off. He was in the navy... I don't know where... he was a sailor... uniform and everything. This morning I came here and looked around and I thought 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 people. I thought, 'Will they know me?" You know the man Sydney in the navy? 'We're coming to see you and your husband to talk to you" I went is such a temper. I said, "I don't care where you send me or what you do". They said "Stop talking or we'll come any day now and lock you away". I don't know if I've got a brain in here. I don't know. I imagine things that don't happen. I had to see a doctor. Three or four of them came... and policemen from Harrow Road Police Station and Sydney... my brother... and Fred... in the Navy... he's very tall... oh he's very tall. They said "Mrs Cooper we need to have a talk with you". I said, "What have I done?" They said, "Never you mind. Get into that room we want to talk to you private". That was that. That was Sydney... my brother... you're not Sydney are you... I keep looking at you and thinking of my brother Sydney... and Fred... he's tall... oh he's very tall... when he was in his uniform he looks very smart... long trousers and all that... sailors uniform... oh dear... I wonder if I'm all right... you remind me of someone... Sydney would it be? Do you know my brother Sydney? Fetch him here to meet all these children and see what's going on in my mind... they said, "If you don't stop this silly nonsense we'll be running you in... in prison." They said, "Shut up! Be quiet!" I've got them here now... sitting here... looking around thinking what am I doing here 1-2-3-4-5-6-7... wondering... Do you know? Do you know the church? I can go to church... I've got my private shoes on... a costume... navy blue costume... two pieces... they look so smart when I wear them... one gentleman came up to me he said, "I know you". I speak. I've got friends. He said "Stop it with these places... gossiping", and he said the name of Sydney. Sydney Pitman. Do you know him? Do you know my brother Fred? He's in the navy... on the boats... on the ships going backwards and forwards... my father's was a real devil... he used to drink... I pulled him up about it. He said to me, 'Look we've had enough of you. Stop going round gossiping". He told me off. They're going to put you away, he said. Stop the excuses. We know who you are.
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