Commemoration

The past six years have seen a large number of deaths in our family, culminating this year with my maternal grandmother's death. This has saddened us all, and to help us through the process, we have decided to have a family commemoration day each year on the 1st September.

I have collected some memories of various members of the family, and we intend to use them to celebrate and commemorate the lives of those we have lost. We hope to add to this set of memories each year, ensuring those we have lost are remembered. Here are the first set of memories...

Nell Simpson who decorated her home each week it seemed, always finding something new, be it candlestick holders,curtains or a toweling bath panel. Always giving a little gift to visitors, sometimes the things she made at her craft classes. Her charity work at the Red Cross which brought her so many friends.The most with it person always keeping up with trends.

A table full of treats for high tea, and picnics on the beach unpacked from stripy shopping bags, her enormous iron framed bike. Being madly fascinated by the students who lodged with her. Drying our hair by brushing it infront of the gas fire.

Edie Stabb's afternoons spent telling us as children, about events she had attended in Ceylon so vividly told, one could almost feel the sunshine and atmosphere. Knowing I had a singer uncle who had cut records in Ceylon made me feel good, and uncle who was the Chief of Police in Ceylon and an uncle who was forever as a child through some illness. Knowing that my mum was a very important person in her family doing the family sewing, helping the children, making ginger beer and teaching sign language to other people in the family to enable them to speak to a carer in the family. A little girl adopted by her family and called Topsie, Topsie was tone deaf and droned little songs she had learned eg Row row row your boat gentle down the stream. This was not appreciated by the family at 3 am in the morning. Grandmother Mirim and Grand father Walter were rocks in the family.

Her Sunday wig and lipstick, her amazing house (High Street) full of nooks and crannies and hidden treasure troves behind the attic walls, how impressive it seemed that she had a traffic warden for a friend. Having chocolate mousse gravy because she ahd given the packets from the cupboard to play shops with, and the wrong inners had been put back into the boxes.

Frank Stabb who always gave the girls some money to buy a gift when we visited. The dolls house and desk that he gave to them. He thought on each child equally. Days spent at the sale room or in his shop on High Road West, walking about with care as there was so much stuff in the shop. Recanting twentyfive year old Port for him, he gave us a bottle it was wonderful.

His Morris Minor called Art, listening to Radio Caroline in the mornings, his big bars of milk chocolate that he would share with us, finding out how much he wanted someone in the family to be a nurse.

Maureen Teece, who had a leatherette pinifore dress made for her niece when she was two, making her a swinger. When she presented a wonderful Wendy House to the girls. Like her mother she was offered managerial positions which she was not able to persue. She did successfully run her own salon.

An introduction to 'exotic' chalet life, sorting the hair rollers into the right sections of the trolley in her hair salon.

The time she and Roy Teece sold every thing they owned to start up a Smithy, Roys trade, and the disappointment when following an injury to his hand they had to close the Smithy. Roy giving us a tune or two on his organ he was so musical. He loved company and to discuss cars and curent events with the males in the family. Roy helping Michael to construct an electric guitar the wood was oak and it was very heavy.

Beryl West who used to look after anyone in need, the tea parties at her house on Douglas Avenue when there was always a kettle on the simmer on the fire. Family always came first with Beryl. Parties for the grown ups too many of them.

Mending daisies for me when I pulled their heads off, her glamourous sun bathing on sunloungers. Being scared of the fact that they had foxes in their back garden at Douglas Avenue.

Alan West who loved children and gave love openly. He also put a bet on any horse who's name was in the family. He never told us if he won though.

Always cheerful and cuddly, taking us to the waterstand at the caravan site, never understanding why we had to wait to go to the beach. Going to the family day at the sugar factory.

We would also like to remember Ted Browne, Margaret Browne, John Browne, Paddy Mahon, Dan Egan, Molly Egan, Bridie Kenna and Martin Gleeson.

When my husband and I married in June 2000, all of these people, save Frank and Ted were with us. We are so sad to have lost them, but also so glad to have them in our hearts and our memories.