I feel fortunate to have lived so near Granny and Grandad for most of my childhood. I have many fond memories of Christmases, trips on La Cucuracha, picnics, Polly etc. and I didn’t really know where to start my piece of writing.
However, the time which springs to mind is Tuesday (?) March 23rd 1982. I was nineteen and must have been home for the Easter holidays. At approximately 10.00p.m. Dad knocked on the bathroom door and said "I need to go over to Granny now because she thinks Grandad has died". Anyone who knows my father will know how calm and reassuring he usually is, and this statement was uncharacteristically blunt. Mum was out but Dad had been able to contact her and had asked her to meet him at Granny’s house but not to go in until he got there. I got out of the bath feeling very shocked… as far as I was aware, Grandad had not been ill and only three days beforehand, we had celebrated his seventy-fifth and Dad’s fourtieth birthdays (20th March). I remember feeling worried for my sister, Joanna, who was very close to Grandad, and was studying in France at the time. Grandad had been feeling unwell during the evening but had enjoyed watching the Paul Daniels Magic Show and some snooker. I understand that Granny was not able to watch any more snooker after that evening. Grandad retired to bed early and Granny called out Dr Tom Fairbairn ( a close colleague of Dad’s) when she realised something was wrong. It was decided that I would go and stay with Granny for a few days. I don’t remember anything about the days but I do remember the pale yellow bedspread in the spare room on the low double bed… Granny didn’t cry but I went to see her early each morning. I’m not sure who comforted whom but I felt honoured to be there. The funeral was on Peter’s birthday (30th March) and I seem to remember Peter, Richard and I ending up at the Red Lion in Martlesham afterwards.
Granny and Grandad had booked to go to Stratford for a weekend to see a Shakespeare Play, with some friends. Granny typically didn’t want to let the friends down so I went with her and drove them everywhere in their bright green Fiesta. Granny and I slept in the same room and there were lots of discussions about snoring! (Granny snored not me!)
Granny was one of my best friends. I particularly remember her Paisley pyjamas and her prickly earrings (some pewter flower shaped earrings which she used to wear most of the time but which were very scratchy if you needed a hug!). She could tell me home truths about myself, which I could not tolerate from anyone else and she was very wise. She was always interested in what everyone was doing. I believe she and Grandad are the main reason I have the relationships I have with my cousins now, which I value very highly. We were very lucky to live so near because whenever anyone came to visit Granny and Grandad, we usually caught up with their news too! She made me feel very safe and understood. She wrote excellent letters although they were difficult to read! I still have one of the most poignant which reassured me when I discovered I was expecting Ben, our third child in less than three years. Granny gently pointed out to me that she had Mum , Frank and Barbara in less than three years during the War and then went on to have Ian and Robert (!), and she was sure I would cope!
Finally, another fond memory I have, is sitting with Granny in her garden at 19, Cherry Tree Road drinking homemade lemonade and eating shortbread fork biscuits! The sun always seemed to be shining!