R.I.P. Granddad!

On 26 June 2017, at the age 92, my Grandfather passed away, together at last with his wife Poppy, my Grandmother. The loss of a loved one is always difficult; for me, more so, because I hadn't seen either of my Grandparents for many, many years; nearly twenty in total.

We stopped talking  for reason's I can't even recall now; whatever the circumstances, they are unimportant. 

Granddad was the last of my Grandparents to pass away. Only now, through loss, do I appreciate what I once had. Death is the final chapter, but  memories never fade!

In today's entry I just wanted to mention a few recollections, of my Granddad John; I can at least pay that tribute to a man, who was a huge part of my childhood. My fondest memories were going with Granddad, in his Land rover, to our local forest, near the small village of Wickham in Hampshire. As Children, myself, my brother, my adopted Uncle and Aunt, who were the same age as us, used to pile in the back of Granddad's work horse, with the dogs, and spend a fun filled afternoon, trekking through the Forest of Bere. I haven't recalled these particular memories for many years; I remember them just like they were yesterday.

My Nan and Granddads house, was always packed to the rafters on a Saturday, as everyone, from our large family congregated together, talking over tea and coffee; chatter, Big Daddy, wrestling on the TV, following the Saturday afternoon film on ITV, which Granddad always made a point of watching. All the women in the family, including me, as a child, would sit in the breakfast room, all the gentlemen, in the sitting room; a kind of family tradition, long since gone!

Granddad was fond of gardening, always keeping a neat and tidy patch. He was also a carpenter; I remember he made me a fort for Christmas one year. He also made walking sticks, indeed anything he put his mind too.  Granddad also enjoyed country pursuits; walking, shooting and hunting. A well known character in the local area, he was  a kindly soul; traditional tweed cap, walking one of his dogs, who always passed the time of day, with whoever he met!

​Growing up in the 1970s was a fun time. Towards the end of the decade all of our family went on  holiday to Dorset, staying in a large house in the village of Chiddock. Surprisingly for me, it was the only holiday I ever went on as a child. My parents, like my Nan and Granddad, never really left the small town, where they grew up. Granddad was  a village boy at heart, spending life in the place he loved. I did have an idyllic childhood, happy memories and acquired knowledge; thanks in part, to my Grandfather. Granddad is the last of his generation in our family, a link to the past that is no longer there. His presence will live on through his five children, my Mum, Aunts and Uncle and all his Grandchildren, a permanent reminder of John, the man I was lucky enough to call my Granddad!

I am enclosing a copy of a book my Grandfather wrote, about his life, in three parts. I read it again last night. It's interesting to see, just how peoples lives have changed over the generations, since Granddad was born in 1924. Copies of my Granddads original manuscript were printed, bound and distributed among the family. This particular document, I have used in my family tree research. It gives a wonderful insight into times gone by!