My Clandestine Journeys with Paul Memoirs of Christine Oldendorff

The edition of Christine Oldendorff's diaries does not purport to be great literature but was prompt-ed by the desire to preserve a life story of an interesting and amiable relative. Her diary entries speak of a deeply felt love, provide outstanding descriptions of the English landscape, and offer insights into everyday English life between 1947 and 1973.
Christine Oldendorff is a descendant of a German family that emigrated from Germany to England in the 19th century. She was born on 11th May 1904 as the youngest of the four daughters of Ern-est Henry Oldendorff and his wife Cornelie . Ernest was born in Hamburg on 6th March.1855 and died in London on 8th August,1921. Cornelie Henriette Elisabeth, née Greeven was born in Krefeld, Germany on 11th August 1864 and died in London in 1946 , Christine’s sisters were Alice, Gertrude, Louise and Dorothy.
Christine grew up in London at 201 Camberwell Grove. Her father was a sugar broker at the London Commodity Exchange. In 1903 he met Hans Becker from Uelzen, Germany, who also worked as sugar broker. The biggest sugar beet factory in Germany at that time was situated in Uelzen and had been co-founded on 15th April,1884 by Hans Becker’s father, Gerhard Becker (1835-1916). Consequently, Hans Becker was already engaged in the sugar business. He was ini-tially employed by Ernest Henry Oldendorff and later became his partner.