Sunday 20 January 2013

Grandad

I'm writing this as the sad  news of my Grandfather's passing hasn't yet fully sunk in.

I'm sad of course, but like to think that he is with his beloved wife again and it gladdens my heart to imagine them together.

The project we began to write his memoirs was completed shortly before Christmas and for that I can take some comfort. We will always have the record of his life to remember him by. He did so many things that he had not really spoken of.

Here are a few extracts:



"I don’t know anyone on active service who wasn’t scared stiff when they had to go into battle or face the foe, no matter what anyone said.  We are not all heroes, no one is really. You do what you have to do and that is that."   
 This was written about his service in WW2. To imagine what it must have been like for those young men.. To me, they were all heroes to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude and without whom I probably wouldn't be writing this! 


"We had physical training by a warrant officer called Matt Busby. All PT instructors were given the rank of warrant officer and most of them were former footballers. Matt Busby became manager of Manchester United and was eventually knighted. He was a delight to know and a good PT instructor."
Grandad was an incredibly modest man. He never bragged about things he had done, places he had been or people he had met over the years. This is just one example of what a fascinating life he led.

"People meet up in all sorts of circumstances and it was quite fortuitous really; we had both been invited to the same function and perchance we met. When we met I found she was a very intelligent girl, up for a bit of fun... I knew then that I had met somebody special"
This was about his beloved wife, my Gran. 

"She has been much missed by all the family and she was well loved by them and loved them all. There is not a day goes by that I do not think of her as I was so fortunate to have such a loving wife and mother of my children."

RIP dearest Grandad.
Much loved and will never be forgotten
xxx

3 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear of this. Sending strength to you and yours.

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  2. Lots of love to you, Anna at this sad time. And thank you for sharing some of your Grandad's memoirs with us. It sounds as if he led a fascinating life. I'm so glad that you finished recording his memoirs - they will be a lasting testament to someone who sounds like a truly amazing man.

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  3. Your beloved Grandad will live on in your memories and in the words he shared that you have written. Hugs xx

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