Things you remember about your own grandparents.

My paternal grandparents died before I was born. My Nanna was lovely and gentle, round and soft and she sat in a chair by the fire in a wrap round pinny with her long grey hair in plaited coils round her head. I know now that the reason for her agoraphobia (she never left the house)was trauma from the blitz. She died in the Asian Flu epidemic - she was 64 - one year older than I am now. My Poppa (he was Jewish) as the most gentle man with the most wonderful manners. he was very much loved in his community. Poppa was gassed in WW1 and died from lung cancer a few years after Nanna - he was 70 - same age as DH now. they are both a wonderful memory.

I agree with BRredhead59. I have written my memories so my great grandchildren will learn about their great great greats. My maternal was a redhead and retained the colour til the end. she had a temper. She told me that she lost her first baby because she had no idea how the baby would be born and she wouldn't lift her skirts in front of the male doctor and the baby suffocated. She had 7 more children including my mum in 1900. In 1942 I was granted compassionate leave because she was dying. Whilst visiting her she suddenly said "I'm not going to die because he'll be down the Fellowship pub every night and won't look after himself." She lived another ten years! My grandfather was a printer, a strict trade unionist. A friend of Kier Hardie. My mother said not many could say they sat on Kier Hardie's knee when child. My father was one of 13. I never saw his father and only visited his mother when she was dying.

I have no recollection of my Grandfathers, one died before I was born and the other shortly after.

My maternal Grandmother I remember always wore black and died when I was about 8. I have a vivid memory of her bathing me one day and saying 'Lets get you out and put your bloomers on'. I thought it was strange, I didn't think I wore bloomers.

My paternal Grandmother lived on a farm in her later years with her daughter and family. I was taken there for 2 weeks every year until she died and on arriving at the farm was presented with a box of buttons and an old set of weighing scales. This was supposed to entertain me for the holiday. As you can image I wanted to go home from about the 2nd day. However, I do have fond memories or this Grandmother and when she died in 1968 having just read a letter from my Dad (which I now own) she went to sleep in her chair and didn't wake up again, I thought what a lovely way to go.

Thanks for the memories Daddima.

My paternal grandparents died before I was born . My maternal grandparents lived. 2bus rides away so we did not see a lot of them I don't remember them visiting us my I remember my grandma in wraparound pinny standing with her back to coal fire warming her legs my grandad was a miner as were my uncles he was a quiet man I don't remember them cuddling me much I'm opposite love to cuddle my gchildren want to create warm loving memories for them ❤️

My maternal grandfather died in WW1 so I never knew him but I absolutely loved my maternal grandmother to bits. We lived in London and her house was destroyed in the Blitz so she lived with us until I was 4 when she returned to her rebuilt house. Every happiest memory of my childhood encircles her and her house. I remember she always referred to my sisters and myself as 'her little cherubs'. I loved the description and the concept. My love was not based on any particular behaviour or look. It was just we were on the same wave length and she understood me, which wasn't always true at home.

She died quite suddenly when I was 14. It was the first, and for many years, overmastering tragedy in my life. After she died and her house was sold, I could not bring myself to walk down her road and past her house for over 30 years, even though we only lived a few streets away.

My paternal gran died before I was born, and paternal grandad shortly after, and I have no memory of him.
On the maternal side, nana was always busy working, she was a secretary/typist. She was a wonderful cook, but seldom bothered, preferring to spend her time sitting relaxing, "I've been at work all day"!
Grandad however, was the most wonderful man I've ever met! He used to sit me on his lap and read dictionaries and encyclopedias with me from a very early age. He read stories with me too, but he firmly believed in education as the second most important thing you can give a child, the first obviously being love! He was tall, with pure white hair and as I, as a child described it, a nose like a red indian chief! He taught me to play the spoons, the cornet and the piano, and attempted to teach me to tap dance, but I have two left feet! He suffered from Parkinson's and died aged seventy nine of pneumonia after breaking a hip in a fall in their living room when I was twenty five. He met my husband, (then boyfriend) but only once, and it really hurts that he didn't live to see me married, or meet our son. My nan, however, lived to be ninety five, and stayed as selfish as she'd always been, but of her four children and eight grandchildren, mum and I were her favourites, maybe because we accepted her as she was. She was eighty three when my son was born and she absolutely adored him, and they had a brilliant and close relationship for the rest of her life. She was still a bit 'cold' with the rest of the family, but relished being a great grandmother!

My paternal GF died when my father was a teenager. F died when I was 11 so he was never talked about. I was not close to paternal GM as she lived with her daughter and almost brought her D's children up so they were the only GC she seemed close to. Maternal GP's both died before I was 5 so the briefest of memories of them. How lucky most of our GC are today who have lovely, caring and loving GP's

Every one dies twice - once when they die and again when the last person who remembers them dies.
Write down your memories as far back as you can go. All life stories are interesting.
Leave them for those who come after you and hand them down through the generations.

I remember my father's mother telling me about when she was a girl. She told me about penny bazaars where nothing cost more than a penny and she also described Queen Victoria's funeral as she lived in London and actually remembered it. Amazing. It was like having real direct contact with history.

My grandparents were total opposites and I doubt they ever spoke after my parents married.

My maternal nan was from a Lancashire mill working family and had brought the mill girls out on strike because the machines were not safe. Strangely, they didn't sack her and did sort something out to improve things. My maternal pop was of Irish catholic background. His father was an overseer in a mill, so a bit more upmarket. Pop's mother died of 'childbed fever' after her 7th baby was born. And, a year later her husband committed suicide by hanging himself from the bannisters. My pop found him. A friend of the family took all the children in and eventually my pop was sent to work as a clerk for Hansard. He eventually (why don't I know how?) became an electrical engineer and rose to be the Chief Engineer responsible for developing the first diesel engines for LMS. He was quite austere but loved me to bits. My nan was very kind but never really lost the feisty nature she exhibited in the mills. We all did what she said.

My paternal GPs were wealthy as my GGF had a factory making galvanised buckets! They were also Irish (but protestant). My GF was a director of an oil company but took all his investments out of the company, resigned and gave the money to a man who took it to America and disappeared (wish I knew more of that story too!!) My father was sent home from his prep school, on his own, on the train because his fees hadn't been paid. They then owned an hotel in Derby which was really down to my granny's hard work. She had been trained in London as the first woman pastry chef and was a phenomenal cook (as was my Dad, her son). Granny was very glamorous - she had furs, dripped with diamonds, drove open topped cars, smoked with a holder but barely spoke to we children. When they sold the hotel, they bought a huge house which was full of (what I now realise was) fabulous furniture, silver, porcelain etc etc. The house was very forbidding though and a bit scary. The only comforting thing was the steady tick and regular chimes of the grandfather clock which is now in my hall.

Sorry for the essay - I started to type and couldn't stop. No need to read but it did me good to write.

My gran on my mother's side was Welsh-speaking and a staunch Methodist. She never drank, and had a cup called a Rechobite(?) cup which was something to do with the Temperance movement. I can't remember her smiling, ever.

My grandfather was a blacksmith in the local pit. He was in charge of the cage carrying the miners up and down. One night the cable snapped and the cage hurtled to the bottom of the shaft. It was empty, but my grandfather felt responsible and had a nervous breakdown.

My paternal grandmother had, in retrospect, a sad life. She brought up 5 children in post-Depression South Wales. Her husband, my grandad, was a violent man who beat his wife and children. My father left home at 15 to escape him, although he managed to take O Levels and get a decent (ie white-collar) job.

My paternal grandfather died before I was born. My paternal grandmother was a little whisp of a woman, dad used to take me to see her Sunday mornings, I don't remember her ever showing me affection although she did often slip me a few pennies.
My maternal grandfather died when mum was young. Step grandad was in the merchant navy so I didn't see much of him. My maternal grandmother is really the grandparent I knew well. I would take myself to her house and take her very overweight JR for walks. She was a lovely cuddly nan in every sense of the word. Until I was about 12 she lived in a large house (rented) with outside loo and gas lighting.
Sadly neither of my DC met any of my grandparents.

I adored both my grandma's and my paternal grandad, mum's dad died when she was 11. Paternal grandparents were aged 41 & 42 when I was born.
We lived on next street to them from me being 7 and as my dad's youngest sister is 2 weeks younger than me, we were and still are best friends. I was at their house everyday. Grandma used to help us make pastry which we rolled out so much it finished up grey but she still let us put currants in and bake it. We used to camp in the backyard, old wooden maiden with army blanket thrown over it, she'd make us banana butties and glasses of milk for our picnic. She had the patience of a saint, she taught us to knit and sew, tell us stories nothing was too much trouble. Grandad used to sing silly songs to us, wear his flat cap back to front when he was chopping wood and was everyone's Grandad Billy. On Sundays all the family, children, grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren used to descend on their little house for a buffet lunch. We always had great fun playing games, putting on shows for the adults. They both died of cancer within 6 months of each other, they were married for 56 years and rarely went out without each other, they'd had to get married at 18 & 19, the baby they had been expecting died at the age of 6 weeks and people didn't think their marriage would last, but theirs was a match made in heaven and they were the heart of the family.
My maternal grandma was almost 20 years older, she was 60 shortly after I was born, she used to wear a wrap around pinny. I remember having tea at her house and then listening to Sing Something Simple on the radio as she didn't have a TV. When I went to secondary school I went to her house for lunch every day, Wednesday was my favourite as it was baking day and she made the most amazing pies. As I grew I loved going to see her on my own during school holidays. Taking her black and white mints, her favourites, we'd sit and talk for hours. I was 17 and still at school when she had her first stroke, I was devastated, but she was determined and although she needed a wheelchair if she was going farther than the end of the street, round the house she did fine. She had a wicked sense of humour and the first time my boyfriend went for tea, she said to him, with a very serious expression" I hope you' ve brought your own food, cos you're not eating mine." He didn't know what to say, I told him not to take any notice and then she started laughing, she never let him forget it. After a further 2 strokes she died at the age of 84 just a couple of months after I got engaged.

I was lucky enough to have two sets of grandparents. One set came on holiday with us when I was about 5. I treasure the photo of us on the beach. Granddad in his suit with shirt and tie. Nan with her best dress and what looks like a sun burned face. My other grandmother was a tiny lady. Very controlled hair and always a wrap around pinny. She was scared of cars as she got older. Not surprising as she grew up with horses and traps. Granddad was a quiet presence but a benevolent one helping me when i needed it. He died in my early life. I loved them all deeply.

I had four grandparents, growing up in the 1950's and my dearest gran has made me what I am today. She loved to garden, and I remember how she squirted soap on peace, her best rose, made ice cream, let me watch Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy etc.
I also remember not knowing my "other" paternal grandparents. My grandfather married a woman in his 70's and I am sure she was OK, but as a liittle girl, and later, an adult, I had no connection
i have a picture on the wall of my gran, and some ornaments I will pass on. Strangely, my grampa, who was a headmaster at primary school, ignore me, and I ignored him.

My paternal grandpa was a real gentleman and a 'gentle man' - so benign and caring. He died when I was 7 but I knew him long enough to have only happy memories of him. He was the only person I ever saw wearing spats. Funny how some things linger in the memory!

Grandad came twice a week with lucky bags and the most outrages stories. We loved him and he loved us. The sweets, the story telling, the attention and affection were in short supply in our house. So he made a massive impression. He was the loveliest man. Funny enough he wasn't a particularly good dad to my father

I loved my Nan and 'NanDad' :-) and so did my girls. They were lucky to have been able to share their lives for over 10 years as kids.

My Nandad was a coal-man and used a horse and cart when I was little. I used to go out with him on a Saturday morning on his round to collect his money. Then we'd stop at the pub, The horse would be tied up and I would be left on the steps outside with a glass of squash and a cone of winkles ( Londoners :-) )

After some time my Nandad would roll out the pub , and the horse would take us back to the yard which was lucky as non one else on the cart was capable LOL

I have millions of amazing memories and stories and even now my girls talk about them. I can only hop[e to leave those sorts of precious memories for my own grandchildren and great grandchildren if Im lucky :-))

All of my grandparents died before I was born. My brother new our maternal grandparents and he adored them. I feel I got to know them through the loving memories he and my Mum had of them.

Only knew my maternal grand-mother. Cold and haughty, immaculately dressed and bejewelled- playing bridge and sewing for the poor (!)- she wouldn't let us come anywhere near if we had a cold- I can still see her with a handkerchief on her mouth, lest she caught germs.

My mother was orphaned age seven and my paternal grandmother died a year before I was born so only knew one grandparent and adored him , we lived in South Wales but he had moved down from Anglesey and untill his death when I was twenty two he chose to speak in Wenglish , he taught me so much , to respect all mankind regardless of colour or creed, to always question why when hearing of a person doing wrong not accept he did wrong end of. And he sang Myfanwy as my lullaby . Oh he is responsible for me being known in the family as Anniebach, bach when I grew to five feet seven inches and had three sisters five footers was rather amusing

I was lucky enough to grow up with all 4 grandparents. My maternal grannie died when I was 13, my first major loss. I remember them all with love and increasing affection and respect. They each of them influenced my personality and understanding of the world. They were all gentle, kind and made their 7 grandchildren feel we were quite the cleverest children who ever walked the earth. How lucky were we.

I remember my maternal grandparents as lovely gentle people , I do remember cuddling Grandpa and feeling the hole in his chest/side he was in a mine collapse years before in the Welsh valleys , he never fully recovered as his ribs were crushed but he managed to open a working man's cafe here in London where he brought his wife and two daughters when he could no longer work in the mines. He was in and out of hospital a lot and once wrote a beautiful poem about the nurses on the ward. Nan died when I was 10 she used to take me in the garden and pick antirrhinum flowers she would pinch the flowers to make them 'speak'.
My paternal grandfather died at the Somme before his son my Dad was even born so I only knew my step grandad he was very standoffish and didn't have much to do with us my Nan was a fat rolly polly Nanny who played records on the gramophone and we would take turns winding it up and dance around the front room.

I knew all 4 grandparents, not sure that 2 of them knew me.

On the paternal side, they had 9 children. Many of those went on to have big families, there were about 36 grandchildren, so although my father took me and my younger brother up the lane (we all lived out in the countryside) to visit them they really only knew we were one of their grandchildren. Granny was 'doting' and Granda was local gravedigger and grew veg which he transported into town every day on his bicycyle. He'd sail past me on the road on his bike, don't think he knew who I was, I was about 8 at the time.

On the maternal side, they lived in the town so in the heart of winter I'd stay with them during the week to avoid trudging 2 miles in the snow, alone, at about 6 or 7 or 8 years. No bus route and no car, DF worked shifts and cycled to work. One day Granny cut my hair during school lunch break, she lived near the school. Can you imagine a grandparent doing that nowadays. Boy !! was she a hard taskmaster. Did sewing for the neighbours. First person in the street to have a fridge. I thought she was very old with her white hair and pinny but she was only 60 when she died from cancer. Our family (4 of us) then moved into the house in town with maternal grandfather. I was then 11 and we all lived together until I left home at 24 years. Maternal Granda died from pneumonia at 86.

My grandparents were all deceased and sadly, I never knew any of them. When I got married my husband's grandmother attended our wedding and we used to visit her often. A wee Glasgow lady and the laughs we had, I loved my visits to her, and she was the nearest thing to a grandmother I ever had. I was blessed that she lived to see both of our children and many other great-grandchildren from the other family members.
We all still remember her with great affection to this day.