ANNIE
Always called Nan and regarded as very attractive looking although she was a tall, very heavily built woman. She had a marvellous creamy skin, black straight hair which she always kept immaculately oiled and in the same style throughout her life.
After her husband died, she came down to 106 practically every night, sat watching television, knitting and enjoyed a light supper which was eaten with relish and some unwelcome noise due in part to false teeth. Mother was very hospitable and I suppose it was homely company for her although the conversation was only small talk. She seemed to be at any family gathering at home and probably, as she was about nine years senior to Mother, had a way of giving one the impression that it was expected and right as an older sister.
Aunty Nan was not an intellectual person and did not appear to have any cultural interests but simply followed the pattern of the traditional housewife. Conversation could be rather limited but she was always quite friendly and benign in manner and although not overtly generous in nature would help in her small way when she thought it suitable. As our parents had an open hospitable household it was difficult, as youngsters, for us to understand why she never tried to behave similarly.
Very house proud, her home in South Drive, Hebburn was kept spotless and to our young senses, always had a distasteful odour which we put down to some kind of polish. There were never any family gatherings at Nan's in my memory as I don't think her husband encouraged jollity although they had two children Nancy and Eugene who were quite friendly.
When her husband passed-on, Alan, her son-in-law, maintained the garden for many years reputedly growing lovely vegetables.
Her son Eugene and his wife lived abroad for many years and their children were sent back to England for their schooling. Michael lived with his grandmother Nan and Sylvia lived with us at 106 and became one of the family. Nan idolised Michael and always had a good word for him. Living nearby, young Michael was often at 106.
WILL
Will was much older than Nan and seemed a very strict unfriendly person. He had a good position in the firm Reyrolle but his strict behaviour was not well liked. Certainly a most ungenerous person we tended to keep our distance from him. There was talk of him treating Nan unjustly in the early years of their marriage which led to a strong disagreement between Will and Nan's father and brothers. He seemed to have mellowed a little in later years when his grandson Michael stayed at their house during his period at secondary school. (Rosemary/Terry)
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