Henry and Florence: Christmas 1959 by quietpurplehaze

Henry and Florence: Christmas 1959

My maternal grandparents having a restful time one Christmas. As with so many families, one of their sons went off to war and never came back.

I remember my grandmother always being a jolly lady and my grandfather just quiet, smoking his pipe.

I think this photo was taken at my parents' house and I am interested to know if anyone can identify that camera on the sideboard.....
David says it looks like a slide projector. He may even have one in the garage. I'll get him to look for it tomorrow and let you know.
December 24th, 2018  
@onewing

Thanks, Babs, and David, never thought of that. We did use to do those slideshows!
December 24th, 2018  
What lovely grandparents you had!
December 24th, 2018  
A great family photo.
December 24th, 2018  
@jacqbb

Jacqueline, I think they were typical of that era and of their 'class'. My grandad worked in a cement factory and also delivering coal but I always regarded him as a very intelligent man, just had no education. He kept an allotment, mended watches and clocks for other village folk also put dolls back together again etc! A real countryman. My granma was in service as a tweenie (a maid who worked between the kitchen and the parlour) and then devoted her life to her family. She lived to 91. (And now I have nearly written an essay!)
December 24th, 2018  
@jacqbb

p.s. A photo of the same grandparents which I think is their wedding photo: https://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/add-ins/2012-08-13
December 24th, 2018  
What a fabulous photo tp have. I love them!
December 24th, 2018  
A lovely photo and memories of your Grandparents. They do look a happy pair.
December 24th, 2018  
Wonderful photo! Happy Christmas, Hazel!
December 24th, 2018  
Such a lovely memory photo of your grandparents...Merry Christmas, Hazel.
December 24th, 2018  
Love this precious family memory Hazel. Happy Christmas!
December 24th, 2018  
Lovely treasured image Haze as for the camera it looks like a standard 8mm movie camera but could even be a slide projector:)
December 24th, 2018  
I like this picture. Merry Christmas to you.
December 24th, 2018  
I love your grandmother expression! Like she is trying so hard not to giggle ! What lovely memories-Merry Christmas Hazel
December 24th, 2018  
@samae

You are right - she did laugh a lot. My dad made a Christmas tape one year. I remember reciting The Listeners by Walter de La Mare (with great drama): grandad said nothing, absolutely nothing and granma dissolved into laughter punctuated every so often with an 'I can't!'
I'm going to look that out tomorrow, thank you for stirring up memories!
December 24th, 2018  
Salt of the earth Hazel! It would be interesting to know how old they would be in this photo....younger than we expect I would think!
December 24th, 2018  
@happypat

You have me reaching for the family tree: he was 76 amd she was 73. Surprised?!
December 24th, 2018  
@quietpurplehaze Yes I am actually Hazel, I thought they might be younger than that as everyone looked much older than they do now! She is three years younger than me though so I think I have a slight edge perhaps! We dress younger now I think, hopefully have great advantage in much freer lives! They both have lovely faces! Thanks for posting!
December 24th, 2018  
@happypat

My granma lived to be 91!
December 24th, 2018  
Both photos of them are great. I recently saw a picture of my great grandparents that I had never seen before. They are such a treasure to have.
December 24th, 2018  
What a jolly old photo :) Merry Christmas :)
December 25th, 2018  
Awesome picture.
December 25th, 2018  
Lee
Such a wonderful and fascinating photo.
December 31st, 2018  
@gamelee

Thank you for a lovely comment.
December 31st, 2018  
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