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In 1912 James Lee returned to work in the mining pits as a Safety Officer. The family moved out of the hotel to a cottage on Foulford Street in Cowdenbeath.
Although life in Cowdenbeath could be difficult for mining families like the Lees, they were comfortably off by mining standards and Jennie had a very happy childhood. She had toys, smart clothes, took piano and violin lessons and the family even had modest holidays by the sea. She was encouraged to read constantly which she loved, and - unlike most girls of the time - was not expected to take on domestic chores such as cleaning and cooking. As a result of her upbringing Jennie grew up confident, independent and non-conforming.
In the audio clip on this page, Jennie reminisces about her love of books as a child.
The photo below shows Jennie aged about 11 with her younger brother Tommy, taken c.1915.
