General Chat

i spent every summer holiday in sussex with my grandparents and i loved every minute. walking in the bluebell woods with nan, baking, picking berries, learning to knit and sew . building a wall with my grandad,learning all the old rugby songs, the phone conversations when i had problems that i couldnt talk to mum about, that with their wealth of experience they could answer me and guide me. grandad was a yorkshireman and nans a londoner both real honest hardworking and genuine - i dont think they realised what a difference to my life they actually made and what an influence they were on me and the choices that i have made in my life. my kids have the same relationship with their grandparents!

I only knew 2 Nans & a Grandad, other Grandad had died before I was born. Grandad, Dad's Dad always said he'd buy me a horse when he had a win on the horses, we had a stable, and his father was an ostler so I always believed he would, his main income was as proffessional gambler. & when he came home after a big win he used to give me 10 bob, I was quite small, and he'd give my brother, 6 years older than me £50.00 I always thougt I got the better deal:) I never got the horse, but the thought that one day I might get it, was exciting. He taught me never to expect anything:) Mum's Mum, had 13 children, and squillions of grandchildren, she never remebered our names, whenever I saw her I always clambered on her lap, and would slide down it because she never held on to me, but I knew she loved me, she just never said it. She spoke about her father and his father who came from Ireland. Her father was a bare knuckle boxer, so her stories were intereting. She taught me not to have so many children that you couldn't remeber there names:)) Now Dad's Mum was my darling, and I was hers, she'd had 2 sons, and 2 Grandsons, then I came along, and she adored me and I her. She took me out, to restaurants, to not a thing a lot of people did in the 50's, she played games me whenever I wanted her to, she told me stories, the same ones again, and again, about her life as a child. She took me to see her brothers and sisters, she took me on holidays, we'd go on the Brighton Belle, a wonderful experience. She'd sit and cuddle me and tell me just how much she loved me. She'd tell me what naughty things she'd got up to in her youth, no stone unturned, she made me laugh. She taught me to have a good time, to laugh, to be kind & loving to others, and to speak my mind. If I'm half the Nan, my Nan was to me to my Grandchildren I'll be well happy. I feel for those who never had lovely Granparents. Jean you Grandson has one of the best for a Nan with you x x Val you're so right take care of your Grandparents.

I didnt have the pleasure of knowing any of my grand parents,which is really sad. my daughters have only 1 grandmother and a step grand father which they adore. i have always said if i ever become a grand mother i will cherish every hour spent with them so hopefully when they are older they will be be able to answer this question better Sharon

How I wish I could turn back the clock, my maternal grandparents passed before I was born, although my paternal grandmother lived until I was 13, I have no memories of her as I lived 12,000 miles away, I feel a huge hole in my life, researching my family tree has given me an insight, but oh to have 10 minutes with them...sadly history seems to be repeating itself as I have two small children and I have lost my parents, all I can do is to keep the memories alive to my children.

I was born in 1955. My paternal grandparents died in 1930 and 1949. I never knew them or anything about them other than where they were born, which is how this family history thing started in 1986. My maternal grandparents retired to the South Coast and we used to stay with them one week a year until I was six. Then my Mum and my Gran fell out and we stopped going. Grandad wouldn't travel so I never saw him again and although he didn't die until I was 13, I have no memories of him. My grandmother moved back to the Midlands after Grandad died but my mother worked very hard to keep me away from her, so I have very little in the way of memories of her either, although she lived until I was 30. In turn my mother disowned me and my children so my children have no memories of their maternal grandparents either. Thank God the other set have more than made up for it. Wish now I'd gone against my mother and spent more time with my Gran, especially as she knew her grandmother. Also looking forward to having grandhildren myself, although neither daughter shows signs of obliging as yet. Sheila

My Scottish Grandma yes, I can still cry so easily for the loss of her......she was so kind, just like my other Scottish relations, not much money, but rich in love and caring...... Both Grandfathers died just before I was born, but my Mum told me my Dad's Dad was a lovely man, and my Dad loved him to bits. His Mum, my Gran, well, she had so many grandchildren, I don't think my Sis and I figured much in her life, I only remember her as an old lady, after a couple of strokes.....she was a Victorian Mother in every sense of the word. So the answer Lynda is yes, I feel my life has been guided by my Granny, I have been so lucky so there must be some sort of guiding hand for me......She used to call me Ma Wee Hen......and now I'm crying......

Very much a part of my young childhood all my aunts and uncles lived within two street of one another and granma was always there for us kids all the family houses were open house for all of us wonderful days even in the hard times xx god bless you gran xxx

Sadly I didnt know any of my grandparents. My mums mum died when she was only six years old, and she never knew who her dad was. This meant that my mum grew up with her maternal grandparents and called them mum and dad. Therefore I call them my grandparents although they both died long before I was born. My parents seperated when I was a child and so I never knew my dads parents. My grandmother died when I was 6 years old and my grandad died 7 years ago when I was 23, but I cannot remember either of them as contact was not kept up after my parents seperation. I didnt see my dad for 20 years either. Pat

Some lovely memories from everyone here. My maternal grandparents were a huge part of my life. We saw them quite often even though they moved north and I have wonderful memories of them both. They used to run a pub in Lichfield and Nana and I used to get up early in the morning and get dressed in their huge airing cupboard as the rest of the house was so cold. Then we'd light the fire and go through to the pub to polish the copper top tables. That smell still reminds me of her. My Nana passed away almost 10 years ago and my Da (family name for Grandad) passed away two years ago aged 92. I miss them both so much. I only knew my paternal grandmother who was lovely but extremely strict and religious. She passed away when I was 8 but I remember she was a stickler for afternoon tea, every day, and always served it using her silver tea service and we cooked fresh shortbread especially. I still use her recipe. My Dad's Dad died when he was only 2 and my Grandmother never spoke about the family so none of us knew him. My Dad didn't even know who his grandparents were so researching his side of the tree is very exciting for him. Daisy

no but my mum is a huge part of my kids lives and her 3 great grand children

Thanks for all your contributions, really enjoyed reading your tales of your Grandparents, some are very moving. Thanks for sharing them.

Topical nudge

Actually My grandparents played a VERY large part in MY life.. Like most of the posters' If it wasnt for them, I/we wouldnt be here..... Of course thats a little flippant, but true.......... Bob

I'm sure I missed out as both of my grandfathers died before I was born. having watched my father with my children and my husband now with our grandchildren I am sure . My grandmothers where both getting on in age when I was born and I treasured the time I can rember with them. Due to this I am trying to spend as much time with my grandchildren as possible with out spoiling them.

Sad to say no as three of my grandparents had already died when I was born. My maternal grandmother was the only one still alive but only until I was ten years old. I didn't know her very well, as she lived with one of her other daughters for the first 8 years of my life but, did come to live with us for the last 2 years. By then though, due to her age and physical health, we were never encouraged to interact with her much, as it was thought it may take too much out of her. Neverhteless, we loved her very much, just never got the opportunity to show it properly. Jen

We stayed with my maternal grandparents every school holiday while Mum and Dad worked. We had lived upstairs in their house until I was 3. Grandad worked shift work for London Transport and used to take me to his allotment on his time off. I remember him pulling up carrots and scraping the dirt off with his penknife before giving them to me to eat, saying 'Don't tell your Nan!'. Nan taught me to knit and sew, play Rummy and Newmarket for buttons and cook 'good plain food'. I was my Grandad's little poppet and I loved him to bits, as he did me. He was determined to come to my wedding, even though he should have been in hospital, and he did, returning to hospital the next day. Sadly he died a short while later and I still miss him 38 years later. They taught me to respect my elders, to make do and mend, and to keep smiling :o) I never knew my paternal Grandad, and only met my paternal Grandma 3 times as they lived in Canada. I used to write long letters to my Grandma, telling her all sorts of things that I wouldn't have dreamed discussing with my parents or maternal grandparents. She had 2 Canadian grandaughters the same age as me, and was very close to them, so I suppose I thought she would understand my problems better. She had a very modern outlook on life and was a very good listener. I like to think I am like her in that respect. Sue xx

I, unfortunately don't see my grandparents often, as they live far away. But our yearly visits are very important to me. :-)

I only knew one grandparent and he died when I was 4. The others all died before I was born. I remember my grandad very clearly, I used to sit on his lap and he read to me, I would always ask for more and he used to complain he had no voice left and have to get a drink of water - I never let him off though! I also remember helping him in the garden - he used to grow veg and gorgeous geraniums. I wish I had known my other grandparents - particularly my dad's dad - I would love to ask him if he really DID stow away when he went to New Zealand! Maz. XX

I sadly don't know my paternal grandparents. But my maternal grandparents brought me up. Grandad died when i was 11, but Nan is still going strong. I call her most days and see her at least once a week. MY god without my Nan and grandad i dread to think where i might've ended up. Currently Nan is my rock, in every sense. And i make sure my kids see not only their grandparents, all three sets!!!!!LOL (maternal, paternal and ex's parents!!!!!) But they also see their great grandparents, my Nan and his Nan who are still alive, although sadly they have lost their paternal grandfather recently. Memories are so small but count for SO much xxxxxxxx