52 ancestors Week 35 (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): Unforgettable

 Week 35 (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): Unforgettable

From Amy Johnson-Crow - Family history is about remembering. Who or what in your family is unforgettable? What have you discovered in your research surprised you that it was forgotten? What are you doing to make sure your discoveries aren't forgotten?

There is no way I could pick just one person for this theme of “unforgettable”.  There are 4 people that fit to it and they made up 2 couples.

The 1st “unforgettable” couple are Auntie Sue and Uncle Fred.

Susan Roberts was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire On 2nd October 1933. She married in July 1953 to my Mum’s Brother Frederick Thompson, who was born in outwell, Norfolk on 12^th March 1926. After they were married they moved to Elm, a village on the outskirts of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. They stayed in the same house until Fred died in 1998. Sue then moved back to Ely where she stayed until she died in 2010.

They never had any children of their own. But they were loved by all the children that knew and visited them. 

I remember many a good time spent with them whilst growing up. There was always a bowl of sweets on the coffee table that us children were allowed to help ourselves to, no questions asked, and our pockets were always filled with more before left. 

Uncle Fred was a keen gardener and had a huge garden, I remember spending lots of time out side with him, helping to water his veg, and pick it etc as well as having picnics out there on nice days. I would say that 90% of his garden was fruit trees and vegetable plots, with a small grass and even smaller patio area. He was a farmers son and grew up on the farm, so growing his own stuff wasn't anything new. Uncle Fred had a big deep booming voice and would always shout, but not in a nasty way. This got worse as he got older and started to lose his hearing.

Auntie Sue was a very big built lady, she was lovely and always had cuddles for us. She worked in a factory for many years, but had also grown up linked to farming (not from a farming family though) so learnt to cook from her Mum and would often be making cakes and pies.  She was softly spoken but with a proper country accent.

I remember when I was a teenager I noticed that a piece of wallpaper was “upside down” on the lounge wall. I mentioned it and Uncle Fred commented that it was done on purpose and something he always did to see who noticed and it always made conversation. They both loved country and western and line dancing and travelled all over the UK to attend events. The photo of them was taken at a country and western event. 

We could just turn up at their house (and often did on the way back from holidays at the seaside) and we were always welcomed.

They were truly “Unforgettable” people in my life.

The other 2 people who were “unforgettable” were Auntie Dora and Uncle Bert (they were my Great Aunt and Uncle). 

 Dora Haylock was my Mum’s Dad’s sister (so Mum's Aunt), she was born 23^rd November 1904 in Alcester, Warwickshire and Albert Cox  her husband was born 14 November 1915 in Upmarden, Sussex. 

Unlce Bert died 26^th January 2000 in Chichester and Auntie Dora moved into a local nursing home, she died 2 weeks after my eldest son was born 23rd November 2002, but before she died she got a lady in the home to knit her a nurse doll and blanket for him (which I still have.)

Up until recently I was under the impression that they also never had any children, and as a married couple they didn’t. BUT, Dora did have a daughter outside of marriage as I found out on a census and birth certificate. Sadly, she was never mentioned and was sent a long way from home during the 2nd world war.

Dora worked as a house keeper at the local vicarage on Thorney Island Emsworth, Hampshire. This is where she met Albert (Bert) as he was the gardener for the vicarage. They married at the Church on Thorney Island where they both worked. They have a burial plot there (where their ashes were interned).

As with Auntie Sue and Uncle Fred, Auntie Dora and Uncle Bert always had something on the coffee table, however, they didn't have sweets but they had a bowl of fruit that we could help ourselves to whenever we liked. 

Uncle Bert also liked to grow fruit and veg, but not in his garden as it was too small but he had an allotment a short walk away, of which I used to go and help him. 

As they lived down on the south coast we couldn't just nip round but I remember spending many weekends and school holidays with them, and although they were old they always looked after us and spoilt us and took us on trips to local places including the Mary Rose at Portsmouth. 

Auntie Dora was always in a cleaning type job, but she loved to bake cakes. I remember going with Auntie Dora to feed the ducks at the local pond. 

Their house was a square of rooms, by this I mean you entered the front door and had the stairs infront of you, you could go left to the dining room or right to the lounge, the lounge was a long rectangle and had a door at the end that led into the kitchen, the dining room was a square and also had a door into the kitchen. This meant that you could run around completely (and I often did!) They were not very modern people and didn’t keep up with changing times, they didn’t have heating in the house but hot water bottles and horrible itchy blankets on beds. They did have a tv but it was a very old one.

They were also truly “unforgettable” people in my life.