Mum was born on 9^th September 1923 in Hulme, Manchester.  They were difficult times but it was also a time when the word ‘respect’ had greater meaning.  Granddad worked on the docks in Salford.  It was hard work, no such thing as ‘Health and Safety’ in those days!  Accordingly, Granddad worked hard and played hard.  Weekends were for drinking, and Granddad was a specialist.  He would often arrive home drunk and abusive and it was only our mum, or Dodo as he called her, that could pacify him.  He would have thrown the whole family out of the house, with the exception of Dodo of course.  Mum would then settle him down and when he was asleep, she’d let the rest of the family back in again.  Granddad, although subject to these moments of drunkenness was also a good father.  He provided and cared for his family with a passion and mum always told us that she had a good upbringing.  During the war, when Manchester was bombed with a vengeance (it being near the docks of course) many children were evacuated.  Granddad would not hear of this, saying simply “we stay together.”  It is only years later, when we have heard of abuse of evacuees, that his decision was applauded.

Mum went to work in a local laundry at the age of 14 for the princely sum of 8 shillings and sixpence a week (42 pence).  Boredom and utter frustration caused mum to rebel, climbing in amongst the prepared laundry and stamping all over it.  Mum was fired of course but she had already secured another job in a nearby factory for an even greater wage of 10 shillings.

Mum met dad while working at the Theatre Royal in Manchester in the early 1940’s and they married on 12^th December 1942.  Jacqueline Ann was born first (just Ann to the family) some five years later in 1948.  Beryl Sylvia was next to arrive two years later.  I was born (John Robert) in 1958, just two years before dad died in 1960.  Dad had contracted malaria during his time in Burma in the Second World War.  This obviously had roughened the lining of the heart, which had later contributed to his myocardial infarction.

Caring for the family as usual, mum continued to work hard and provide a loving family home.  Mum missed dad a lot and throughout her remaining life always referred to him as the only man she could ever love.  Even when Ann and Beryl married and moved, mum was always the ‘rock’ available when sanctuary was sought.  John married last in 1981, leaving mum at home alone.  Living in her cosy council house, we thought mum was always happy.  It wasn’t until a chance occasion showed how wrong we all were!  John had taken mum home after a day out and she’d said “will you see me in love?”  After a chat, we discovered that the woman who had moved in next door was very intimidating and mum was even worried to walk out of the house!  Our mum!  Who had been so strong through her life, now in her seventies, was afraid in her own home of the young loud mouthed lout next door.

We made immediate enquiries and within two weeks, mum was in her new apartment in Eccles, Manchester.  Mum’s new home was close to Ann and John and on an easier bus route for Beryl.  From the very start we knew this had been the right decision and mum lived the rest of her life happily in those flats.  The views were phenomenal and mum would never tire of watching over the city, especially at night.

After a relatively short illness, mum was taken from us with Motor Neurone Disease on the 19^th March 2006.  Never would a mum be so missed.  Our rock and sanctuary now gone, there is never a moment when we don’t think of mum with fond memories.  This strong lady who went through so much, didn’t have many friends.  Her family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her life.  Mum always said “I might not have much money but I’m rich I am.”  As shuffle along this mortal coil, we appreciate mums legacy more and more.  She gave us so much love and attention that we could never forget such an incredible lady.