Ring the Changes

By Joan

It wasn’t a big expensive sparkly diamond ring, a small pretty opal in a simple setting. If only it could speak, what tales it might tell!!

It started its journey many years ago and it belonged to my Mum. Whether it was bought as a present by my Grandparents or been given to her I’m not sure, but what I do know is that it was special to her and I remember her wearing it often with pride!

In the 1930’s my Mum was a boking clerk at the Queens cinema in Chester Le Street. Yes, they did that even then! The usherettes even wore white gloves! All very posh!!

One day my Dad went to book his seat and started chatting to my Mum and asked her out. They started courting and in March 1940 they were married.

My Dad signed up and was stationed in Scotland then within a short time he was sent abroad. But what about the ring? Well my Mum gave it to my Dad as he went away to serve his country. It was to be a token of their love and a talisman to bring him safely home to both her and my baby sister.

He carried it with him as his regiment travelled through North Africa and Europe. It was whilst he was travelling through the desert that he discovered the ring wasn’t in his pocket. He thought there was no chance of finding it! But he carefully retraced his steps and there it was nestling in the sand just waiting to be rescued.

Well it did bring him good luck as he returned home safely to my Mum and his daughter and the ring came back too!!

Much later that special ring was given to my sister. She loved rings, and still does to this day. She was delighted and promised to take good care of it.

She was wearing it one summers day when we were visiting our cousins. They lived in a big house with a big garden ad we really enjoyed playing in it. All of a sudden we heard my sister shout out in horror “my ring” we all rushed to see what had happened and there was the ring but without the Opal!! We knew how special the ring was to our Mum. What if we couldn’t find it? What would we tell her!!

We started painstakingly searching for the Opal. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack! Then suddenly there it was nestling in the long grass!! We were so delighted!! The stone was reset and the ring was as good as new.

It was given to me some years ago, and I too, like my Mam before me wear it with pride. Also when I wear it I feel encircled by the love of my family.

I wonder where the rings journey will take it in the future. Perhaps another country? But wherever it takes it the love will go with it, what an adventure it’s been on!!