I love this picture of the old man. It was taken, I guess, in the late 50s. It’s Exmouth, by the beach he would a few years later make his (and, in time, my) home. I spent many sunny days tottering along that wide concrete wall where his right foot is resting. Beyond it, a drop of 2 feet or 10, to the sand.
Great shot of your Dad, very dapper! The slipway jutting out to the left with the other cyclist on is still there, so the exact spot where he's stood is easy to find.
I was one of the ones who got the free Clarks shoes, I loved the ones with the compass built into the sole and the moulded animal tracks, Wayfinders I think they were called. There were also Clarks Commando shoes, probably even cooler, considering so many kids in Exmouth, including myself, were military brats of real Royal Marine Commandos serving up the road at Lympstone's CTCRM base!
That tenuous military connection I had with your dad and his RAF service meant we always had something to talk about, usually whilst proping up the bar at Rolle College!! Great memories!
A precious image that's clearly well worth framing and spending time in the open rather than tucked away in a box, Mark - says he with box-loads of photographs to sort out after my father-in-law passed away.
As the generations gradually take their leave, one thing's for sure. Those old photos need labelling and documenting. Otherwise, it's all too easy to lose track of our families' past. I have a photograph of a family group that includes my great grandfather, but no-one knows which of the eight children he is.
On the other hand, my paternal grandfather is all too easy to spot amongst the images that document his life. Although I never met him, his life in photos tells a tale. From the navy to the Flying Squad and then life behind the bar in pubs across the land. A man with 'hands like shovels', yet my nan, I think, ruled the roost!
Great shot of your Dad, very dapper! The slipway jutting out to the left with the other cyclist on is still there, so the exact spot where he's stood is easy to find.
I was one of the ones who got the free Clarks shoes, I loved the ones with the compass built into the sole and the moulded animal tracks, Wayfinders I think they were called. There were also Clarks Commando shoes, probably even cooler, considering so many kids in Exmouth, including myself, were military brats of real Royal Marine Commandos serving up the road at Lympstone's CTCRM base!
That tenuous military connection I had with your dad and his RAF service meant we always had something to talk about, usually whilst proping up the bar at Rolle College!! Great memories!
A precious image that's clearly well worth framing and spending time in the open rather than tucked away in a box, Mark - says he with box-loads of photographs to sort out after my father-in-law passed away.
As the generations gradually take their leave, one thing's for sure. Those old photos need labelling and documenting. Otherwise, it's all too easy to lose track of our families' past. I have a photograph of a family group that includes my great grandfather, but no-one knows which of the eight children he is.
On the other hand, my paternal grandfather is all too easy to spot amongst the images that document his life. Although I never met him, his life in photos tells a tale. From the navy to the Flying Squad and then life behind the bar in pubs across the land. A man with 'hands like shovels', yet my nan, I think, ruled the roost!
I can see you in his eyes.x
Such a very cool pic. Beautiful words x
Great blog. I’m really glad you’ve restarted this side of things.