Page 8 - My Memoirs - Max Kurz

1948-1953 Return to England
We returned to England, living at 3 Elizabeth Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Our home was typically one of rows of terraced houses made up of four levels: ground level living, dining and kitchen, upper level three bedrooms plus attic and cellar. As a child I viewed the home as large and scary. Albeit when I returned as an adult in 1972, I realised the house was actually very small. The surrounding area was typical of an English suburban area, middle to lower class; to me it was drab. As a child my memory was of my school, play areas which were mainly back lanes, JLB (Jewish Lads brigade) parks (not many), Bellevue Hill Zoo, “Picture Houses” (Movie Theatres), and Salford.
On the 14 August 1948 Sabine, my sister was born. I have no recollection of the events leading up to that date on arriving back in England. However, I do remember the day, it was Saturday, and my mother was about to give birth, therefore, to occupy my time I was allowed to go to the picture house in Cheetham Hill Road. On my arrival at home I had a baby sister.
My school was not a good environment as I suffered from antisemitism there. The religious demographics of the area in which I lived was made up of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. As a Jew, there was ever-present harassment from individuals or groups (gangs); I had to learn how to navigate my daily life including going to and returning from school, and at school, I remember being constantly on guard and frightened. Therefore, I tended to play truant a lot from school, content to find my way alone and escape to semi country areas or to the Bellevue Zoo; anywhere where I was alone and safe. I had no money, so it was a case of learning how to travel on public transport, access the zoo or get into picture houses and find food without money. At home I was alone reading books, building a model zoo, aeroplanes, reading comics; anything that was self-entertainment.
I remember attending the local public school in Cheetham Hill Road, my memories of my schooling were not good as far as interacting with other children. The school was made up of children from poor socio-economic backgrounds.
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