Ruby and Tammy were married on 25 May 1920 at Holy Trinity Church, Folkestone, and set off on their honeymoon - a caravan tour of the New Forest. First came a train journey to London, and they managed to leave their tickets behind with the Best Man, but persuaded the ticket collector at Charing Cross Station to let them through as they were newly-weds and not quite 'with it'. Two days later they had picked up their horse-drawn caravan in Winchester and set off for an adventure. Clementina the bicycle was hooked on behind. The horse was called Fitzy, not to be confused with Mrs ('Fitz') Fitzgerald, the chaperone on their pre-marital motoring trip to France. Fred, whose identity is not explained but was probably the hirer of horse and caravan, came with them a little way to show them how the driving is done.

Hut Farm, Chandler's Ford, provided a pitch for the caravan, stalling for the old horse Fitzy, and a most useful milk-and-bread-provider in the form of Mrs Bugge, the farmer's wife. The field was yellow with buttercups -- dogs, cows and chickens came nosing round. Fred went back with a small gratuity to lubricate him on the way, and the adventure started.

The next day they started about 10.30 and, having had lunch at North Stonebarn, reached Houndsdown in time for tea. The farm folk provided milk, butter and eggs, and the paddock was altogether delightful for the purpose. The whole of Saturday they spent at Houndsdown, moving off on Sunday to Balmer Lawn. The scenery on the way was glorious. Coming upon sunlit glimpses of the Forest between the huge old oaks on the side of the road, it was a great temptation to resist camping there and then.

Balmer Lawn and Brockenhurst left behind, Wooton was the next halt. A little way off the main road, a clearing in a pine wood looked most alluring, and here they stayed two days. June 3: Tooty and Tammy packed up once more, and lunched on the way at Everton. Keyhaven was reached before teatime, and Mr Brown allowed the caravan to be put up in his farm. They walked to Milford to fetch letters and made friends with the bulls and calves and chickens on the farm. After shopping next morning they made their way to Milford and pitched on the beach in front of a convenient white house. Whereupon a female approached and voiced a complaint against caravans in general and this one in particular. So they moved off a bit, and tactful Tammy was detailed to go and make friends and secure a supply of water, which he miraculously did. The lady completely succumbed to his charms, and was most civil and useful. In the evening they chased a shoal of little tiny silver fishes which had gathered near the shore, by throwing stones in their midst, which made them move on.

The next day they hired a bicycle, and with Clementina bicycled to Lymington. Sun 6, Tammy's birthday. Tooty had stupidly left his birthday present in her trunk at Winchester, so to celebrate the occasion they went to church, and had tea with Mrs Reilly, who lived absolutely alone in this large house, neglected and over-run with chickens, and who rather raised the wind by appearing with a gun, and pointing to a hole in the back of a sofa which it had made on a former occasion. In the evening they made a little bonfire, and consumed large quantities of strawberries and cream. The next day Tammy felt ill, either as a result of strawberries and cream, or from bathing the day they arrived at Milford -- and icy cold it was too. Mrs Reilly proved most friendly and made them have tea with her, all having supper in the caravan later. When they had to leave she presented Tooty with a whole crowd of things -- two little china pots, some eggs, jam, matches and vegetables.

Highcliff was reached on June 8th, and on the next day a beautiful grey caravan pulled into the pitch. Tooty went to call and found a Mrs Holness and a girl friend, both dressed in breeches and leggings, who had made the caravan their home, and did the entire work themselves.

The next day the way led through Hinton Admiral and some delightful scenery, to Wooton where, this time, only one night was spent. Highland Water, about two miles from Lyndhurst, was a perfect paradise. The ground was strewn with centuries' fallen leaves from the old twisted oaks, through whose branches the sun spread mottled patches of light. A little stream was near, and in an open space Tooty and Tammy pitched the caravan.

Saturday, June 12th was a day of much rain. It rained continuously all day. Tammy biked into Lyndhurst, and came back in a taxi with bran and oats. After tea they put on bathing dresses and mackintoshes and went out in the rain, paddled in the stream and climbed trees to the evident astonishment of the local cattle. The next day was fearfully hot and muggy, so they did not do much except walk over in the afternoon to the woodman's cottage to see Fitzy, and played cricket in the evening.

On the 13th they left Highland Water. it was raining, and continued to do so all day. After shopping in Lyndhurst, they reached the Cyclist's Resort, Houndsdown in time for tea, and afterwards mucked about with a golf club and ball in the paddock. Wednesday morning after leaving Houndsdown Fitzy was shod at Totton, and outside Milbrooke they had lunch. Chandler's Ford was reached at tea time, and left the next morning. The caravan got to Winchester about 3.30. Tooty packed and tidied up in the van while Tammy fetched a taxi with trunks, and they went to the George Hotel.

Friday the 18th. Tooty had her hair shampooed and waved, and Tammy had his cut. Then they packed and caught the 2.24 to Exeter, with tea and an hour's wait at Basingstoke. They stayed at the Rougement Hotel, and moved into No. 3 Homefield Place next day. Their wedding presents had been sent c/o the manager of the Rougemont, but when they went to find them only the black trunk could be found. Then ensued a wild chase all over Exeter, lasting several days. The railway van driver provided a clue, for when at last he was found, he shewed Tammy a piece of paper on which a man at the Rougement had signed for a packing case at the kitchen door. Tammy went straight to the lower regions of the hotel, and discovered that the packing case had been presumed to contain sides of bacon!

(And with the end of the caravan adventure and the recovery of wedding presents, one can say that the honeymoon was now over and married life began. But that's another story . . . . )