Aunty Doreen and Aunty Chris

Most of you know through my emails that Aunty Doreen passed away at the end of April. Sandy (daughter of Stephen Henry and Doreen) and Bob were able to be with Stephen (son of Stephen and Doreen) and Annette and with her so that was a little comfort to them.

I searched my pictures file but I don't have a single picture of Aunty Doreen to share with you. I wonder if Sandy or Steve have a picture of their wedding?

We didn't see Aunty Doreen much when I was small. We visited them in various houses around Cardiff. There was one rather wonderful place that I remember as a country cottage. Steve was just a little boy then and Sandy and I - and I think cousin Bernard or perhaps it was Yvonne and Jacky - anyway we went across the field to the stream where we picked some watercress. We all thought it would be rather wonderful to have it for tea and carried it back triumphantly.

The leaves were washed thoroughly and when we all sat down for tea I noticed that everyone tried the watercress except me and Aunty Doreen. My Mum asked me why I wasn't eating it and I replied "Sheep walked in that water." everyone except Aunty laughed and carried on munching. Aunty caught my eye and gave a little tiny nod of her head as though she too knew about the sheep and their dirty feet.

Then came the news from Cousin Pete in Canada that Aunty Chris had died on 11th May and with her passing we, that's all the grandchildren of Frederic GIBBON became the older generation.

sometime in the 1950s

I have several memories of Chris, mostly they are memories of Chris and Val and Kath because it seemed that until Chris left to work in Africa the three of them came as a package.
I know this isn't true but it did seem that way. to a small person. Chris worked in the offices of an architectural firm and one of the reasons she went to Africa was because she had fallen in love with her boss. It's amazing what you can overhear when you are lying quietly on the hearthrug "reading".

I don't know details but I do know she came to my mother for advice and my mother told her to find a new job because he was married and never going to leave his wife and family or risk losing his reputation, while at the same time not giving a fig for Chris's reputation.

Cornwall 1952/3

 My mother was usually right. As a result of this advice Chris got a job in the Crown Services and went to Nyasaland, as it was then. From there she went to Borneo and places east and eventually she found a job in the Yukon in Canada.

She was always full of fun when she was young, although she could be the responsible big sister to the other two.

I don't have any up to date pictures of Chris so if anyone does please could I have a copy for the blog and for our website. That's the website we have had for a year and not done anything with yet.

Chris, Val and Kath with Ma standing behind them