All 4 of my grandparents are deceased. My paternal grandfather died when I was just a toddler and I have no memory of him at all. Apparently I liked to sit on his lap and comb his hair but I do not remember that. I cannot picture him in my head. I know what he looked like as I have seen photos. I don't have any on this computer to show you.
My maternal grandfather died when I was about ten years old. I think it was 1969. I remember it because my Mum worked as a dinner lady at my primary school and on the day her Dad died she wasn't there. My teacher, Mrs Trotman had the task of telling me that my Mum had gone to London because my Granddad was dead. I think I cried but it didn't have much impact on me.
My maternal grandmother died before I was married. Off hand I can't remember the year. I have them all documented off course for my family history but I don't recall without looking it up. Wendy will know exactly as Nan lived with Wendy's family in those last years.
This photo shows My Nan and Granddad on a day trip out with their 4 daughters. My Mum is the last one on the right. From L-R Joan, June, Nan, Grandad, Glad and Iris.
My Paternal grandmother was the last one to go and she lived just long enough to see her great grandson, my eldest Samuel. She was probably the one that I liked best. My Mums, Mum was rather fierce. Or at least that was how I saw her. Dads, Mum was softer. I didn't see her as much as my maternal grandmother though. We always saw much more of my Mums family than my Dads. Also I spent a lot of weekends and school holidays with Wendy and I would see my maternal grandmother then as she lived close to Wendy's family.
I didn't have the same relationship with them as my children have with their grandparents. Things were very different back then. They were very much of the generation that children should be seen but not heard. I actually hated most visits to my grandparents as we just had to sit and be quiet while the adults talked. It was really boring and seemed to last an age. They certainly never took us out or anything like my parents did with my children.
This is my paternal grandmother. Nanny Sansum we called her. This was taken on a caravaning holiday that she came on with us. I can't remember how old I was but I do remember the journey. My Dad had his first car a tiny little Austin A 37? It was small. My Nan was a large lady. My sister and I sat either side of her in the back of the car for a very long journey. It took hours as there weren't motor ways and things in those days. I don't actually recall where we went, just that the journey was awful.
As I have done so much on my Sansum side of the family I have a few photos on here of Nanny Sansum. Here are some more.
This was taken before she married outside the sweet shop where she worked. She is the one on the right.
As a young woman.
This one was taken at her home in Station Road. The dog is Rover.
It's strange isn't it how grandparents have changed over the years. As I said mine had little to do with me. Earlier generations would have been much more hands on helping with day to day care etc. Then there were my own parents generation who were fitter, healthier and had more money. They enjoyed their grandchildren. Took them out and spent time with them. Then there is my own generation: we seem many of us to have come full circle as nowadays grandparents often have a roll in helping to look after the grandchildren whilst parents work. I hope though that we still have the fun with them that my own parents did. I know I do.
I hope when they grow up that my grandchildren will be able to look back and know how much I love them. I hope they will remember all the fun things that we have done and the places that we have been. I hope that they will remember that I was always there for them. I never had that with mine but I don't think that was their fault. I think it was just the way things were at the time.
Jilly
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