Daughter's Choice: A True Story of Hardship, Heartache and Hope

Margaret Ford grew up in Blackburn with her older brother Bobby. When she was ten, her father abandoned them, leaving her mother struggling to survive. At thirteen, Margaret took the hard decision to leave school and got a job in the dye works. When war broke out, she learned to live for the moment and snatched happiness where she could find it. By the time she was seventeen, she was a regular at the dance halls, where the young soldiers were eager to court her. Her childhood sweetheart, Raymond, was thousands of miles away, serving on a submarine in the Far East.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Growing up in the mill town of Blackburn, Margaret Ford shared a close bond with her older brother, Bobby. Their early years were spent between the rural pub of their grandparents and the modest terraced house of their parents, where they believed they were a contented family. However, Margaret was too young to comprehend the profound sadness that permeated her mother's life or the fact that her father was squandering the meager earnings he had. At the tender age of ten, her father abandoned them, leaving her mother to face the daunting challenge of survival alone.

Determined to provide for her family, Margaret made a difficult decision at the age of thirteen. She left school to take up a job in the dye works, hoping to contribute to the household expenses. Tragically, the year that followed witnessed the outbreak of war.

Amidst the chaos and destruction that engulfed her hometown, Margaret learned to embrace the present moment. As the boys she grew up with were tragically killed in action, and Blackburn was subjected to devastating bombings, she sought solace and joy wherever she could find it. In the midst of adversity, she frequented the dance halls, where the young soldiers, filled with admiration for her, eagerly courted her. However, her heart was tied to her childhood sweetheart, Raymond, who was stationed on a submarine in the Far East, thousands of miles away. The thought of never seeing him again weighed heavily on her mind.

A Daughters Choice is a poignant yet uplifting tale that transports readers to a bygone era. Through the eyes of a courageous and spirited young woman, it vividly portrays a lost world that is both poignant and heartwarming. Margaret's unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity serve as a testament to the human spirit's enduring strength. Her journey from a young girl facing hardship to a confident and independent woman is a testament to the power of love, hope, and the indomitable human spirit.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509891924