Family Memories Birmingham Grandfather

Holidays

Sometimes we would have a week on the farm at Billingsmoor with his Uncle and Auntie and their three sons, or with another Aunt, Uncle Harry and cousin at their Farm, where Dad loved to help especially at harvest time or an early morning rabbit shoot. One Whitsuntide as we went through Stratford on Avon on our way to Devon it started to snow heavily, such snow flakes everywhere, but when we arrived at the farm in Devon the apple blossom was in full bloom and it was petals from the blossom that fell when disturbed by the wind. On Sundays we went to the country church and what Harvest Festivals they had and what produce. Fruit, vegetables, sheaves of corn and how everyone sung so lustily "we plough the fields and scatter".

Our seaside holidays were enjoyed at Torquay with its Rock Walk, Teignmouth, where the Railway ran along the edge of the sea. How we and Dad enjoyed a dish of cockles from the stall on the sands. At Weymouth with the Pierrots and the minister who wheeled a harmonium on to the sands and had a service with a crowd of children joining in. Cowes in the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke Castle and the lovely pine woods at Newton Abbot. When my brother was a Boy Scout, he went with his troop to camp near Stratford on Avon. Mom and Dad went on a parent's day to see him. They had a pleasant walk around Claverdon where Dad had lived in earlier days. While on holiday, Dad would suddenly say, "Today is a Free Day" you can all do what you like. I remember when at Weymouth Mom and Dad chose to go to Bournemouth as their choice. My brother and I went to Portland Bill Lighthouse. On one occasion while at Weymouth dad took us to see a Tithe Barn. We went by train to Uirey. As we walked from the station so did a party of holidaymakers singing as they went. To my embarrassment Dad stepped out to the front of them waving his arms about, leading the way like a chorus master. They all enjoyed it.

At home the pleasure Dad had at family gatherings, greeting his brothers and his pleasure when he met his sisters. They would have happy talks telling of amusing incidents remembered from childhood days. Such happy laughter. Dad always wrote letters and sent greetings for birthdays and Christmas.