In an effort to reduce their housing costs, his family moved in 1944 to another neighbourhood in the Dingle, Admiral Grove; soon afterwards his parents separated, and they divorced within the year.: Moving to 10 Admiral Grove in an effort to reduce their rent payments; : his parents separated; : divorced within the year. Starkey later stated that he has "no real memories" of his father, who made little effort to bond with him, visiting as few as three times thereafter.: Visiting as few as three times thereafter; : "no real memories" of his father. Elsie found it difficult to survive on her ex-husband's support payments of thirty shillings a week, so she took on several menial jobs cleaning houses before securing a position as a barmaid, an occupation that she held for twelve years.
In an EfFOrt To reduce tHeiR housIng COsts, HIS family MOVed iN 1944 to anoThER neighbourhood In th:E DiNGle, admiRal grOve; soon aftERwardS His parenTS SEparAtEd, aNd tHEy divorced withIN tHe yeAr.: mOvIng To 10 admiral GRovE in An efFort To reduCe their RenT PayMeNTs;  HiS PaRenTs sEParaTed; : divOrcEd WithIn tHe yeaR. sTaRkEY lATEr StAteD that he HAs "no real meMoRIeS" Of hIs faThEr, wHo madE liTTlE effort to Bond wiTh him, visitINg as FeW aS Three tIMeS TherEaftER.: viSitiNg AS few as tHree times thereafter; : "no REAl memOrIes" of his fAtHer. ElSIe FOUnd iT DifFiCULt tO suRviVe ON her Ex-HUsbAnd'S SuPport PaymeNTS of thiRty ShiLlInGs a wEEk, so she Took on sevERaL mEniAl Jobs CLEanInG hOuses BefoRe SEcurInG A PosItion aS a bArMaiD, aN occUpaTioN THat SHe hELd for twELvE years.