By Trish Swain and Colin Sully
In the second of our series of articles looking back at The Lee Millennium Diary, we revisit another story from that year… and provide an update.
Born
in 2000Erica Molly Lewis of The Lee was born on the18th May in the year 2000. On 24th September, she was baptised at St John the Baptist Parish Church. Erica’s picture, accompanied by her proud parents, Justin and Rosie, appeared that month in the Millennium Diary.
We caught up with Erica on her return from a ‘numeracy day’ at Great Missenden School and asked her what it was like growing up in The Lee.
Living life to the full
Already Erica is an ‘alumni’ of ‘Little Bears’ (at St Leonards), Leeside Nursery, Lee Common School, the Rainbows and the Brownies… and she’s only just nine! So what have been her favourite bits so far?
“The bugs and creepy crawlies at Nursery… trips with the school to Whipsnade and Odds Farm… camping with the Brownies (although we didn’t really camp, we all stayed in a big hut)… my favourite teacher Mrs Evans… the maypole dancing… playing Mary in the school play (really scary!)… Mrs Ash with her funny songs… and all my friends. “Oh yes, and at Lee Common School we only had three girls in my class – Alessandra, Emily and me – and hundreds of boys! I liked that as well.”
So, what else is good about growing up in The Lee?
“It’s friendly and quiet and you can trust people; I can go out with my friends, without mum and dad worrying about me. My granny didn’t let my mum go out, or watch TV”. [This was of course refuted by the older generations present at the time!] “And I like cycling with my brother Jake and our friends… Coke at Robo’s [Erica’s granny]… fishing with my dad… John Pearce, who has got cows and sheep and lambs, chickens, ducks, geese, and Emily the goat who has got a red head this year because she keeps rubbing it against the shed. Last year her head was blue!”
So, what else does she enjoy? “Animals!” (We would never have guessed!)
As well as meeting the cats and dogs in the picture with her, we also learnt
that she was about to acquire a gecko, as soon as she can find a suitable
habitat for it, and was also looking forward to visiting a turtle sanctuary
on her next holiday.Perhaps most surprising of all and also the most uplifting part of meeting her was her answer to the question “What are you looking forward to doing when you are 10?” She replied “Not changing my life, I like it how it is.”
Such contentment and such wisdom; thanks Erica!
[The Millennium Diary can be viewed here – Ed]