Eva Petulengro (1939–2024)

Interesting, different biography. Eva is born to a travelling Romany family, living in England. Dubbed "gypsies" by the "gorgers" (the non-travellers), they make their living going town to town for fairs and festivals, setting up whatever can sell and (her mother's specialty) reading palms. Eva never attended school, but through various means taught herself to read and write. The family lived in a Vardo (a wagon) most of her life, with no electricty, running water, refrigerator or anything. Bathrooms were the local pub, if they were lucky, or a toilet that Dad pitched at each site. More room was set up at each site with "bender" tents. She thought it was perfectly normal to put away the beds, so the family could eat and entertain. And the family's savings were worn - in the form of jewelry, since banks wasn't an option for a travelling clan. Amazing how the families would keep in touch with each other. Now that lifestyle is mostly gone.… (más)

This is an engaging memoir about a way of life I only know about through the usual stereotypes. Eva and her family are an engaging bunch, and although life is not always easy for them, Eva looks back at her childhood in the idealised way that many of us look back at our own childhoods. There was a lot of love and fun however, although her father was a peculiar man given to sudden inexplicable cruelties. What comes across strongly however is how sad it was for the Romany people to watch the slow decline of their way of life. The idea of listening to the rain on the roof of an old painted Romany caravan is a romantic one – and certainly appeals to me. Although she didn’t go to school Eva made sure she educated herself, and was a determined young lady. Eva Petulengro finally settled in Brighton and met the love of her life, but tried to give her own children the same thrill as she had had – of waking up in a new place from time to time.… (más)