My birthplace

Southwark Cathedral has one flagstone for each parish in the diocese except for St Dunstan Bellingham, for which it has two flagstones.

St Dunstan vicarage is where I Anthony Martin was born (the third child) as were David Mark Dunstan (fourth) and Andrew Stephen (fifth).

Peter John (first) was born in St Peter's Battersea vicarage, Margaret Dorothea (second) in the Nightingale Lane annexe of the South London Hospital for Woman and Children (closed in 1984, the main building opposite Clapham South tube now a T***o supermarket).

Mary Elizabeth (sixth) and Timothy Simon (seventh) were born in St Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead (closed in 1986) and Anne Clare (eighth) in the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, Woolwich (closed in 1984).

Eight children: eight south Londoners, as were my mother Dorothy Florence Gould born at home in Newcomen Road, Battersea (just north of Clapham Junction station) and nan and grandad, Dorothy Vera Eva Starks and John Gould (Jim and Jack), born in nearby streets.

My father Anthony Deans was from Lincolnshire, born in St Margaret Huttoft vicarage near Skegness before moving to St Mary's Stamford vicarage.