Yes, I remember Mavis. Seem to recall she had a crooked finger, or did I dream that? Norman was my uncle but after I left home at 15 years old I mainly lost touch with all the family. I know he married again but can't remember the name of his second wife. I believe they lived in Whitstable, or somewhere down that way. At 80 years old my memories are all rather vague! Anyhow, my condolences at the loss of your mum. though it seems she lived to a ripe old age.
Great to hear from you. Yes, she did have a crooked finger - strange what one remembers. So you are my Auntie Edith's eldest son?? Or someone I never knew? I am very happy you've made contact with this site. Dad's side of the family is more of a mystery to me though I have made up a rough family tree. There are a lot of gaps in it. For example, I don't even know Charlie, my grandfather's family: what were the names of all of his brothers? Maybe you know. My dad's second wife was Joan. She had many problems, least of which was she had a terrible car accident with my two children in the back seat. They all survived, thank goodness, but she lost one of her eyes. Anyway, that is one of many stories. It was very tragic that my dad died so young (he was younger than I am now). He had so much more to give and my children lost a wonderful granddad early in their lives. I hope we get a chance to meet. Are you still living in Yorkshire?
You're right, I'm Gordon, your aunt Edith's eldest lad - the black sheep of the family! And I'm still living in Yorkshire, mostly in sunny Huddersfield though I spend a lot of time with Sheila, my partner of 21 years, in the Yorkshire Dales. She keeps me young and active; I'd be a couch potato without her. Mum died about ten years ago and had a grand funeral at Brighouse Parish Church where I read the lesson. I think she was 89 - so I'm hoping I've another 9 years left, at least! Sorry I can't help you with any of the names of grandad Charles Booth's brothers. I never knew. In fact, you already seem to know more of our family history than my old brain can remember. You refer to one of my Grandma's sisters as Lisa. We always knew her as Liza (rhymes with miser), maybe the middle bit of Elizabeth? Oh, and the two people sat with my grandma in one of your pictures are aunt Edith and uncle Harry who lived in Blackburn. Two of my sisters, Pat and Mavis tragically died of cancer several years ago, before their mum. The rest of us, Billy, David, Iris, Bunty and Angela are still going strong. Iris and Angela have both lost their husbands. One of Bunty's boys started to research our family tree a while ago, but don't know how far he got with it. I'll try and find out. I started my Blog three years ago as an online diary to aid my failing memory. Surprisingly, both it and me are still going strong! ReplyDelete
Great to hear back from you and sorry I'm a late responder. I've been torn between my live music pastime and my bid to get work that has the potential to earn me money, that of English tutoring. You note I say 'potential'! The last time I saw you was about 30 years ago now. Time certainly flies by, especially as you get older. I was sad to hear about your mum's passing, and that I'd missed her funeral. David told me the last time I saw him. We used to exchange the occasional letter but eventually lost touch. We seemed to have a lot in common and I was very fond of her in the short time that I knew her. You're right, as a child, I don't remember visiting your Mum and her family. Whenever we returned to Yorkshire from Kent, Dad always used to go off on his own. I am very pleased you found your soul mate. Dad would have been happy too as you were always his favourite because, I think, for your adventurous spirit! I remember once you'd pitched up in our back garden in Hawthorn Avenue, Rainham. When totting up the years you have left, you have to add to that life expectancy now and that spark or will to live, which from what I hear, you certainly have! Strange that Grandad Charlie and his siblings are such a mystery. I wish I could solve it. I would be interested to hear if Bunty's son made headway with this. I will correct my information regarding Liza. It is what Mum remembered so you are probably more correct than she. I will also add the names of Edith and Harry to the picture. I was very sorry to hear about Pat and Mavis; also Iris and Angela's husbands. I kept in touch with Iris and Keith(?) for a while, when I was still living in Kent, but gradually lost touch. I saw David about three years ago and spent a lovely couple of hours together catching up with news. It was lovely to see him again and I thought we would keep in touch. Unfortunately, I lost his mobile number, along with my old phone, and he's never contacted me since sadly. I would like to meet you again. I heard from David that you and your partner were still quite active. I know Carolyn would too. Blogs - I must check yours out. They are a bit of a mystery to me and there are features on this I can't quite get the hang of. I just wanted to get things written down though to pass on to my children, so that they knew something of their family history. I write my own diary by hand but it is more a log of my thoughts and feelings, rather than a record of events. As I said before, I am now busy again organising live music gigs in Saltaire. We just had our second gig (Dick Gaughan) which was very successful so we live on to our next one in July, with Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (bluegrass duo from the States). Be good if we could meet up some time. All the best until then!
I've passed on your web address to David, so you might be hearing from him shortly - though he's currently having problems with his laptop. Didn't know you organized musical events. Dick Gaughan must be knocking on a bit now. I like his song 'Now westling wind'. I used to try to sing it! Did you manage to log into my Blog? I've reached the stage where I don't send emails because I can't be bothered repeating what's in my Blog. It's my online diary of events for keeping family and friends up to date with our latest antics. David and Margaret are apparently regular readers. Cheers for now, Gordon.
Yes, I remember Mavis. Seem to recall she had a crooked finger, or did I dream that? Norman was my uncle but after I left home at 15 years old I mainly lost touch with all the family. I know he married again but can't remember the name of his second wife. I believe they lived in Whitstable, or somewhere down that way. At 80 years old my memories are all rather vague!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, my condolences at the loss of your mum. though it seems she lived to a ripe old age.
Great to hear from you. Yes, she did have a crooked finger - strange what one remembers. So you are my Auntie Edith's eldest son?? Or someone I never knew? I am very happy you've made contact with this site. Dad's side of the family is more of a mystery to me though I have made up a rough family tree. There are a lot of gaps in it. For example, I don't even know Charlie, my grandfather's family: what were the names of all of his brothers? Maybe you know.
DeleteMy dad's second wife was Joan. She had many problems, least of which was she had a terrible car accident with my two children in the back seat. They all survived, thank goodness, but she lost one of her eyes. Anyway, that is one of many stories. It was very tragic that my dad died so young (he was younger than I am now). He had so much more to give and my children lost a wonderful granddad early in their lives.
I hope we get a chance to meet. Are you still living in Yorkshire?
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ReplyDeleteYou're right, I'm Gordon, your aunt Edith's eldest lad - the black sheep of the family! And I'm still living in Yorkshire, mostly in sunny Huddersfield though I spend a lot of time with Sheila, my partner of 21 years, in the Yorkshire Dales. She keeps me young and active; I'd be a couch potato without her.
DeleteMum died about ten years ago and had a grand funeral at Brighouse Parish Church where I read the lesson. I think she was 89 - so I'm hoping I've another 9 years left, at least!
Sorry I can't help you with any of the names of grandad Charles Booth's brothers. I never knew. In fact, you already seem to know more of our family history than my old brain can remember.
You refer to one of my Grandma's sisters as Lisa. We always knew her as Liza (rhymes with miser), maybe the middle bit of Elizabeth?
Oh, and the two people sat with my grandma in one of your pictures are aunt Edith and uncle Harry who lived in Blackburn.
Two of my sisters, Pat and Mavis tragically died of cancer several years ago, before their mum. The rest of us, Billy, David, Iris, Bunty and Angela are still going strong. Iris and Angela have both lost their husbands.
One of Bunty's boys started to research our family tree a while ago, but don't know how far he got with it. I'll try and find out.
I started my Blog three years ago as an online diary to aid my failing memory. Surprisingly, both it and me are still going strong!
ReplyDelete
Great to hear back from you and sorry I'm a late responder. I've been torn between my live music pastime and my bid to get work that has the potential to earn me money, that of English tutoring. You note I say 'potential'!
ReplyDeleteThe last time I saw you was about 30 years ago now. Time certainly flies by, especially as you get older.
I was sad to hear about your mum's passing, and that I'd missed her funeral. David told me the last time I saw him. We used to exchange the occasional letter but eventually lost touch. We seemed to have a lot in common and I was very fond of her in the short time that I knew her. You're right, as a child, I don't remember visiting your Mum and her family. Whenever we returned to Yorkshire from Kent, Dad always used to go off on his own.
I am very pleased you found your soul mate. Dad would have been happy too as you were always his favourite because, I think, for your adventurous spirit! I remember once you'd pitched up in our back garden in Hawthorn Avenue, Rainham. When totting up the years you have left, you have to add to that life expectancy now and that spark or will to live, which from what I hear, you certainly have!
Strange that Grandad Charlie and his siblings are such a mystery. I wish I could solve it. I would be interested to hear if Bunty's son made headway with this.
I will correct my information regarding Liza. It is what Mum remembered so you are probably more correct than she. I will also add the names of Edith and Harry to the picture.
I was very sorry to hear about Pat and Mavis; also Iris and Angela's husbands. I kept in touch with Iris and Keith(?) for a while, when I was still living in Kent, but gradually lost touch.
I saw David about three years ago and spent a lovely couple of hours together catching up with news. It was lovely to see him again and I thought we would keep in touch. Unfortunately, I lost his mobile number, along with my old phone, and he's never contacted me since sadly.
I would like to meet you again. I heard from David that you and your partner were still quite active. I know Carolyn would too.
Blogs - I must check yours out. They are a bit of a mystery to me and there are features on this I can't quite get the hang of. I just wanted to get things written down though to pass on to my children, so that they knew something of their family history. I write my own diary by hand but it is more a log of my thoughts and feelings, rather than a record of events.
As I said before, I am now busy again organising live music gigs in Saltaire. We just had our second gig (Dick Gaughan) which was very successful so we live on to our next one in July, with Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (bluegrass duo from the States).
Be good if we could meet up some time. All the best until then!
I've passed on your web address to David, so you might be hearing from him shortly - though he's currently having problems with his laptop.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know you organized musical events. Dick Gaughan must be knocking on a bit now. I like his song 'Now westling wind'. I used to try to sing it!
Did you manage to log into my Blog? I've reached the stage where I don't send emails because I can't be bothered repeating what's in my Blog. It's my online diary of events for keeping family and friends up to date with our latest antics. David and Margaret are apparently regular readers.
Cheers for now,
Gordon.