The more observant among you will have noticed that I have changed my profile picture from that rather ugly head shot of myself, to an old photograph of my father and me, in the front garden of the house we used to live in.
My father passed away on 23rd April 1970, at the age of 35 from a heart attack. He was born and raised in Leeds.
I don't know much about his father but his mother, Charlotte, or Lottie, was one of 5 daughters. Her parents owned a shop in Leeds, and I think from what has been said, she had a pretty comfortable up bringing for the times.
The 5 sisters, doted on Dad, and he was probably surrounded by them constantly growing up as he was the only child, from all 5. Sadly, I suspect that they really hoped he was a girl, as there are some photos of him growing up, which if you didn't know better, you would swear he was dressed as a little girl.
I suspect that he left home as soon as he could, to get away from the smothering love of the sisters. Sadly for him, having gone into the Army to do his National Service, his father became ill, and rather than be posted abroad as many others were, he was kept at home to be near his father.
After leaving National Service, he became a herdsman, looking after dairy cattle on various farms, following a move to the South of England. It was here that he meet and married my mother. They had 4 children, 2 daughters and 2 sons, of which I am the youngest. Well leave the best to last!!!
They lived in tied-cottages on the farms, which came with the jobs. However this was all well before labour laws and workers rights, and farm managers often sacked farm hands, without reason or cause, just so they could employ a friend. This happened once to often for Mum and Dad, and the insecurity of losing their home with the job, lead to my father becoming a postman.
One of the great regrets in my life is that I didn't know my father. I was only 4 when he died and although I have seen many pictures of him, with the family and with me, and have heard many stories, I have no clear memory of him. I could look at many photos and tell you where we were and what happened, but this is from what I've been told rather than from my own memory.
I am often told how much I look like my father, but I suspect that's more to do with the receeding hairline than anything else.
Another good Blog Dave. My spelling and Punctuation/grammar has deteriorated since I have been using the Computer/Iphone, I blame it on Predictive Text LOL. well that my excuse anyway. Like you I lost my father at an early age, I was born in 1943 so did not really see Dad very much until he came out of the navy in 1949 and he died in 1953 at the age of 38, I was only 9, and my sister Eileen was not born until the October (on my 10th Birthday) so dad never saw the daughter he longed for I also have two bother one born in 1947 and one in 1949. anyway I really do enjoy reading about people, and have a good day.
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