My Aunty Kath was one of 9 Children born to Violet and Robert Garner. She was born 20 years before my mum. I can remember visiting Kath from a very early age at her home in Parkfield Avenue in Birkenhead. The fire was always lit, the house was spotless. I remember going to the bakers at the end of the avenue, and getting day old iced buns for twopence,When I got back to the house, my aunty would spread the buns with what she called 'Best butter' I think it was the difference between that and margerine which I hated..lol
The parlour (or front room) was never used except for special occasions in those days. There was no inside bathroom or Toilet, So all the family had to bath in front of the fire in a tin bath which was hung in the back yard. The house was a two up two down terrace. All of the children were born at home, and as far as I know, kath just got on with her work within hours of their births. There was no stay in bed and rest with my aunt!
When my aunty was having her first son, George she was standing in front of the fire brushing her hair, when her nylon nightdress caught fire, leaving her with severe burns on her body. When George was born, she still breastfed him which must have been excruciating because it wasnt long since the accident.
In the 1980s, Parkfield avenue was to be demolished so My aunty and Norman had to move. The move was to a house In Tranmere, which was a couple of miles away. Before they left they were given a statue of The blessed Mary that was in the front garden of the little sisters of the poor convent. The convent was in the avenue and it was to be pulled down too.
It was the first time in the 40+ years she was at parkfield Avenue that they had an Inside toilet and bathroom. We visited there every tuesday, mum and I. Kath had always made us a hot dinner when we visited.
Unfortunatly, another accident befell her at the age of 75 when she was crossing the road. A car hit her and she was very badly hurt. She Broke her leg, her foot was nearly severed and her arm was broken. My aunty had an excellent constitution, and brushed off her Grandaughter Gillian when she cried at the sight of her, with the words 'Now, Our Gillian!, im going to be fine! and she was!
Kath and Norm had to move again because of kaths inability to climb the stairs, her foot started to bother her with arthritis. They got a bungalow. There they both lived til My aunty Kath died at the age of 87. My cousin moved out and followed her at the age of 60, from cancer. It had been a hard life, but My aunty had survived it all, including losing her husband in his forties, being left to bring up her 4 teenaged children.
The house that they had lived in, along with all the others that had been built in the recent years in that street, had to be demolished not long after because of vandalism. Children of the age of between 8 and 10 had set fire to empty properties in that street.
Kathleen and Norman, you are sadly missed XXXX
A MASSIVE thank you to Rosie K for sponsoring My aunty Kathleen!
The parlour (or front room) was never used except for special occasions in those days. There was no inside bathroom or Toilet, So all the family had to bath in front of the fire in a tin bath which was hung in the back yard. The house was a two up two down terrace. All of the children were born at home, and as far as I know, kath just got on with her work within hours of their births. There was no stay in bed and rest with my aunt!
When my aunty was having her first son, George she was standing in front of the fire brushing her hair, when her nylon nightdress caught fire, leaving her with severe burns on her body. When George was born, she still breastfed him which must have been excruciating because it wasnt long since the accident.
In the 1980s, Parkfield avenue was to be demolished so My aunty and Norman had to move. The move was to a house In Tranmere, which was a couple of miles away. Before they left they were given a statue of The blessed Mary that was in the front garden of the little sisters of the poor convent. The convent was in the avenue and it was to be pulled down too.
It was the first time in the 40+ years she was at parkfield Avenue that they had an Inside toilet and bathroom. We visited there every tuesday, mum and I. Kath had always made us a hot dinner when we visited.
Unfortunatly, another accident befell her at the age of 75 when she was crossing the road. A car hit her and she was very badly hurt. She Broke her leg, her foot was nearly severed and her arm was broken. My aunty had an excellent constitution, and brushed off her Grandaughter Gillian when she cried at the sight of her, with the words 'Now, Our Gillian!, im going to be fine! and she was!
Kath and Norm had to move again because of kaths inability to climb the stairs, her foot started to bother her with arthritis. They got a bungalow. There they both lived til My aunty Kath died at the age of 87. My cousin moved out and followed her at the age of 60, from cancer. It had been a hard life, but My aunty had survived it all, including losing her husband in his forties, being left to bring up her 4 teenaged children.
The house that they had lived in, along with all the others that had been built in the recent years in that street, had to be demolished not long after because of vandalism. Children of the age of between 8 and 10 had set fire to empty properties in that street.
Kathleen and Norman, you are sadly missed XXXX
A MASSIVE thank you to Rosie K for sponsoring My aunty Kathleen!
My Aunty Kath was one of 9 Children born to Violet and Robert Garner. She was born 20 years before my mum. I can remember visiting Kath from a very early age at her home in Parkfield Avenue in Birkenhead. The fire was always lit, the house was spotless. I remember going to the bakers at the end of the avenue, and getting day old iced buns for twopence,When I got back to the house, my aunty would spread the buns with what she called 'Best butter' I think it was the difference between that and margerine which I hated..lol
The parlour (or front room) was never used except for special occasions in those days. There was no inside bathroom or Toilet, So all the family had to bath in front of the fire in a tin bath which was hung in the back yard. The house was a two up two down terrace. All of the children were born at home, and as far as I know, kath just got on with her work within hours of their births. There was no stay in bed and rest with my aunt!
When my aunty was having her first son, George she was standing in front of the fire brushing her hair, when her nylon nightdress caught fire, leaving her with severe burns on her body. When George was born, she still breastfed him which must have been excruciating because it wasnt long since the accident.
In the 1980s, Parkfield avenue was to be demolished so My aunty and Norman had to move. The move was to a house In Tranmere, which was a couple of miles away. Before they left they were given a statue of The blessed Mary that was in the front garden of the little sisters of the poor convent. The convent was in the avenue and it was to be pulled down too.
It was the first time in the 40+ years she was at parkfield Avenue that they had an Inside toilet and bathroom. We visited there every tuesday, mum and I. Kath had always made us a hot dinner when we visited.
Unfortunatly, another accident befell her at the age of 75 when she was crossing the road. A car hit her and she was very badly hurt. She Broke her leg, her foot was nearly severed and her arm was broken. My aunty had an excellent constitution, and brushed off her Grandaughter Gillian when she cried at the sight of her, with the words 'Now, Our Gillian!, im going to be fine! and she was!
Kath and Norm had to move again because of kaths inability to climb the stairs, her foot started to bother her with arthritis. They got a bungalow. There they both lived til My aunty Kath died at the age of 87. My cousin moved out and followed her at the age of 60, from cancer. It had been a hard life, but My aunty had survived it all, including losing her husband in his forties, being left to bring up her 4 teenaged children.
The house that they had lived in, along with all the others that had been built in the recent years in that street, had to be demolished not long after because of vandalism. Children of the age of between 8 and 10 had set fire to empty properties in that street.
Kathleen and Norman, you are sadly missed XXXX
A MASSIVE thank you to Rosie K for sponsoring My aunty Kathleen!
The parlour (or front room) was never used except for special occasions in those days. There was no inside bathroom or Toilet, So all the family had to bath in front of the fire in a tin bath which was hung in the back yard. The house was a two up two down terrace. All of the children were born at home, and as far as I know, kath just got on with her work within hours of their births. There was no stay in bed and rest with my aunt!
When my aunty was having her first son, George she was standing in front of the fire brushing her hair, when her nylon nightdress caught fire, leaving her with severe burns on her body. When George was born, she still breastfed him which must have been excruciating because it wasnt long since the accident.
In the 1980s, Parkfield avenue was to be demolished so My aunty and Norman had to move. The move was to a house In Tranmere, which was a couple of miles away. Before they left they were given a statue of The blessed Mary that was in the front garden of the little sisters of the poor convent. The convent was in the avenue and it was to be pulled down too.
It was the first time in the 40+ years she was at parkfield Avenue that they had an Inside toilet and bathroom. We visited there every tuesday, mum and I. Kath had always made us a hot dinner when we visited.
Unfortunatly, another accident befell her at the age of 75 when she was crossing the road. A car hit her and she was very badly hurt. She Broke her leg, her foot was nearly severed and her arm was broken. My aunty had an excellent constitution, and brushed off her Grandaughter Gillian when she cried at the sight of her, with the words 'Now, Our Gillian!, im going to be fine! and she was!
Kath and Norm had to move again because of kaths inability to climb the stairs, her foot started to bother her with arthritis. They got a bungalow. There they both lived til My aunty Kath died at the age of 87. My cousin moved out and followed her at the age of 60, from cancer. It had been a hard life, but My aunty had survived it all, including losing her husband in his forties, being left to bring up her 4 teenaged children.
The house that they had lived in, along with all the others that had been built in the recent years in that street, had to be demolished not long after because of vandalism. Children of the age of between 8 and 10 had set fire to empty properties in that street.
Kathleen and Norman, you are sadly missed XXXX
A MASSIVE thank you to Rosie K for sponsoring My aunty Kathleen!
