CCHS

Pauline’s mum had been to the Labour Exchange and got her a job! She worked in the office at British Road Services and went to night school to study book-keeping. When the company relocated to Ipswich, Pauline didn’t like the commute, so in November 1953 she took a job as Sales Ledger Clerk with HE Williams, which later became the well-known Colchester shop, Williams & Griffins.

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In her spare time, Pauline learnt bellringing at Bures Church. As she became more experienced, she also started ringing at St Peter’s Church in Colchester where Harry Millatt was the Tower Captain. Harry was 19 years older than Pauline and a formidable character in ringing circles. He started giving her lifts on his motorbike and romance blossomed. They announced their engagement at Christmas 1954, and were married the following summer. They had 4 daughters: Wendy, Rosemary, Sally and Lesley (all Old Girls of CCHS!).

When they got married Pauline gave up her career to be a home maker. Each Friday she would cycle home from town, bags balanced on the handlebars of her bike with a week’s shopping for a family of 6, and often one of the children in a seat on the back! Pauline enjoyed knitting and sewing, making the girls’ dresses and cardigans, and later the bridesmaids’ dresses for Rosie and Sally’s weddings.

With the children growing up, in 1981 she decided to apply for a part time job at Shrub End Post Office. She was up against people far younger than her, but she got the job as she was the only candidate who could add up the stamp book correctly! She worked at the Post Office for over 35 years until she was over 80. Although she said she would leave when they brought in computers, she went on the IT training and carried on. She loved the job, and got to know many local people when they came to collect their weekly pensions.

Bell-ringing was Pauline’s biggest passion for 70 years. She rang her first peal in 1953 for the Coronation, and also rang with Harry in a peal to mark their engagement. She rang regularly at Shrub End church and was the secretary and treasurer for the tower, welcoming visiting bands of ringers. She was a long-standing member of the Ladies Guild of Ringers and the Essex Association of Change Ringers.  At the age of 83 Pauline had a knee replacement and, much to the astonishment of the surgeon, after the operation she asked if she could still climb a ladder! She was, of course, keen to get back up the bell tower, managing to continue bell-ringing until Covid restrictions brought things to a halt.

Pauline’s faith was very important to her. She was an active member of All Saint’s Church for over 50 years, and co-ordinated the distribution of the monthly church magazines.

Pauline and Harry were married for 48 years until he passed away in 2003. They celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in 1995 by going on a hot air balloon ride over Colchester. In 1996 they flew for the first time, visiting Lesley in the USA, and ringing the bells at Washington Cathedral. Pauline also went on various holidays organised by the church, including trips to Europe, and bell ringing holidays in the UK.

For the past 36 years Pauline lived in Stanway, in a bungalow built by her dad, Henry, in the 1960s on the piece of land next to where she lived as a child. She loved being outdoors and was often seen weeding or trimming the hedges. Despite her mobility declining, Pauline was very independent and was determined to continue living in her own home.