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Happy Memories

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rich47 | 13:14 Wed 21st Sep 2011 | ChatterBank
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It is the tenth anniversary of my grandfather's death at the ripe old age of 107
he having lived in three centuries. He was 7 years old when Queen Victoria died; can you imagine the changes that he witnessed and experienced over the years since 1894?
He was a farmer working with animals all his life and was the most contented person I ever met.
I will never forget his parting shot every time I left after a visit - "haste ye back"
he would say in the marvellous Doric dialect which he spoke.
In fact an American professor from Aberdeen University spent many hours tape recording the stories he told of his life. She was fascinated by the Doric.
Happy memories.
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Lucky you....

It's nice to have happy memories :-)
What wonderful memories you must have of him, sounds like a good book could come from such a wonderful gentleman's life story.
Only a couple of weeks ago my Grandad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and secondary bone cancer in every bone in his body.. this only a week or so after running 20 miles! He said the other day that he's 'had a fantastic life so whatever happens happens' and I think he's going to keep doing shorter runs until the end. He's told us all kinds of stories over the years but it's his running that's made him almost famous around here, he's ran, I think, 28 marathons since my nan died when he was in his 50's and at 88 was supposed to be running the Liverpool marathon with me until we got the bad news, he's even had students write essays on him.
It's still numbing the thought of it all but his attitude has helped us all, he's such an incredibly positive person but in a 'just get on with it' sense.
I never had a Grand-dad and I often feel I missed out. My maternal grandfather died 2 years before I was born. He had been shelled losing half his foot and gassed in WW1where he was a runner at Paschendaele and was never very well after. I haven't a clue about my paternal grand-father - I don't even know his name! One day I'll try to find out. I do have lovely memories from my maternal grand-mother though - I don't know what those gand old folk would think of society today.
Wow, Paul! What an incredible, brave man!

rich47, As mamya said, a book on his life would make fascinating reading.
I don't have any grandparents left, but I do have some lovely memories of them. It's nice to think of them, with a smile on your face, isn't it :)
rich,
how fantastic you have his recollections on tape .. the older generation can tell us so much history .. fascinating! Do you have a copy of these tapes? Keep them safe if you do!!
Hi rich,

Treasure the memories, treasure the tape recordings, and treasure what nmust have been a wonderful life of your Grandad.

Pleased for you that you can have such good thoughts on his 10th anniversary. :0)

Be proud....always :0)
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Thank you all for your thoughts ...I do feel privileged
That's lovely, and to get to 107, there's hope for you yet!
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Thanks em, I always prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
rich47 - you've been left with precious, happy memories of a man who had a contented life - what a legacy he left!
Most of us hope we have a fulfilling and interesting life, of course many don't get that, so it's always welcome when you hear these stories.
Fantastic - my maternal grandfather died when I was around ten, my memories of him arwe hazy. For the last five years or so of his life, he was debilitated by a stroke, and what we now know is dementia, so i never got to know the 'real' man.

My paternal grandfather was quite a distant person, he owned a sweetshop and i remember his brown dustcoat, and contstantly saying "By the gingo!" and never knowing what it meant - if anything!

My girls have enjoyed a fantastic grandad in my father-in-law, especially the youngest because he had retired when she was small, so he spent a lot of time with her as a little one.

I am trrying to be the best grandad I can for my four - it's certainly easier than being a dad!
How wonderful rich, it sounds like you had a very close relationship with your grandfather. I enjoyed my grandfather hugely , he was the only person I have known to give freely unconditional love , I miss him. Like you I have the most wonderful memories .
I had all 4 of my grandparents until I was in my 20s, I lost the last one when I was in my 40s. I feel I was very very lucky to know them as both a child & an adult.
how wonderful to have had your grandad for so long, my one and only grandad died when I was five but I still remember him coming home at lunchtime [ wartime] and taking me on the crossbar of his bike for a ride to the beach & back then having his lunch and straight back to work.. he was
only in his late 50s when died, my grandma who was my best friend lived on until 83.
Rich47, it's one of the reasons programmes like "Who do you think you are", are so popular, finding out who our parents, grandparents were, their lives, loves, and to some extent finding themselves in the process. I found some of mine, though i haven't been able to get back to the ones in Ireland as yet, but i'm working on it. No very long lived ones as i recall, but wars brought an an end to so many.
My personal fave of the Sledge sister's tunes......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaHp4i2mCdE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaHp4i2mCdE
My grandad died 30 years ago. He was in the medical corp in France during WW1 and I wish I had asked him about his experiences like I was able to ask my own dad who served in the RAF in WW2.
Ok....dont laugh.........i'm on the wrong thread.....i apologise, rich.........gone piggin' bright beetroot colour now,.....glad you cant see me.....LOL

beam me up scotty......

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