This is my grandfather. The photo captures him at his trade: a linotype operator at the Western Mail & Echo in Cardiff who turned journalists' words into the magic of print. His trade has long vanished, along with the steam train fireman and lamp lighter.
Grampy died 44 years ago in December 1966, some five years after he retired. I was just three at the time, so I have just one clear memory of him. But it's a precious one: we were sitting in front of the fire in my grandparents' home in Penarth, Glamorgan, and Grampy was showing me how to shell peas.
I was thrilled last week to find this photo of me (and my sister) with Grampy. I reckon I was between two and three years old, which means it dates from the spring or summer of 1966. (Was it taken the same day that I watched Grampy shelling peas?) I like to think it captures Grampy's pride in his two grandchildren. It's strange to think that my son Owen is the same age as I was on that far-ago day in the 1960s.
Thanks for these photos. I have no idea why I seem to be wearing my Twickenham school uniform dress in Penarth. Perhaps it was to show Grandma and Grampy?
Grampy used to walk me down to the beach at Penarth. There was a post box in the wall on the corner of Beach Rd and Rectory Rd. It had a loose metal front plate (the one that shows the collection times). We'd both thump it so that it made a loud noise!
Grampy also introduced me to "work sandwiches", the sandwiches he used to take to work at the Western Mail night shift. They consisted of thick bread (no such thing as a ready sliced loaf then!), with butter, corned beef and tomato ketchup. I still enjoy them now.
A truly gentle man
Posted by: Bev | March 13, 2011 at 03:28 PM
Lovely memories, Bev. As I said in the post, I cherish my one memory of Grampy. Not sure about the corned beef sandwich, mind - but then I've never been a fan!
Posted by: Rob Skinner | March 14, 2011 at 09:00 PM