100 years ago today…

100 years ago today my paternal grandfather was born. He lived through 2 world wars, had 3 children (one of whom became a bit famous, working on Doctor Who, amongst other things), 8 grandchildren and knew one of his (now 5, soon to be 6) great-grandchildren before he died in 2005 just short of 91. Today’s blog-post is a tribute to Grandad, also known as Magic Grandad.

Grandad was not your usual grandad, here are some pretty cool things about him:

  • He was an actual magician, and a member of the magic circle, so used to entertain us with magic tricks whenever we saw him. Can you imagine how AMAZING that was for us kids?
  • He was a ventriloquist and had a dummy called George. He performed with George during the second world war, when he was stationed with the RAF. He appeared with Sir Harry Lauder when he was based in Scotland during the early war years, and then with Sir Noel Coward when he was stationed in Southern Rhodesia.
Grandad with George and one of brothers and one of my sisters in the 80s

Grandad with George and one of brothers and one of my sisters in the 80s

  •  When he was a student he had a holiday job where he would paint the elephants’ toenails at Chessington Zoo (as it was then), before the elephants performed in the Chessington Circus. I love telling this story to L every time we go to Chessington 🙂
  • During WWII he was a padre in the RAF, and was based in Rhodesia. He would be taken up on maiden flights to make sure they got through ok, as he was a man of the cloth and it was thought that his presence would protect them. His presence apparently did something as he made it through the war unscathed.
  • Then there was his day job – Grandad was also a local vicar, and he used to give some pretty cool and interesting sermons.

Grandad, you might not be with us anymore but you live on in the retelling of these stories, and in your terrible jokes which carry on with our dad. In your memory:

My brother's christening in 1978 with Grandad, who christened him, in the top right. (I'm the suck-a-thumb in my dad's arms, age 2 and 1/2.)

My brother’s christening in 1978 with Grandad, who christened him, in the top right. (I’m the suck-a-thumb in my dad’s arms, top left, age 2 and 1/2.)

In Granny and Grandad's garden in the late 1970s with 3 of my 4 siblings (I'm in Granny's arms).

In Granny and Grandad’s garden in the late 1970s with 3 of my 4 siblings (I’m in Granny’s arms).

Grandad with my mum and dad (his son) in 2000, age 86.

Grandad with my mum and dad (his son) in 2000, age 86.

I’m linking this post up to #PoCoLo:

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9 Responses

  1. Christine says:

    Sounds like you have some great memories to remember your grandad by – he led an interesting life! My grandad would also have been 100 this year (makes me feel old,)

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      I do have some great memories, it’s lovely. My maternal grandfather would have been 100 next month too, and I know loads of people whose grandads would have been 100 this year.

  2. HPMcQ says:

    that’s an epic grandad you have there, what wonderful stories x
    HPMcQ recently posted…12 months 365 2013My Profile

  3. He sounds like an amazing man and it’s great that you can keep his memories alive on here for future generations 🙂
    Lou’s Lake Views recently posted…The Expat Experience – Feeling at Home.My Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Thanks, he was pretty amazing, and I loved writing this so that I can share this with my girls when they’re a bit older.

  4. Verily Victoria Vocalises says:

    Wow! Your Grandad was quite a man. This is a great post and one I should do to honour mine too 🙂 Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Thank you, he was pretty amazing, and I really enjoyed writing it – I would totally recommend it.

  1. 04/02/2014

    […] few weeks ago I wrote a blog post in memory of my paternal grandfather who would have been 100 that day. Now I am writing a similar post about my maternal grandfather who would have been 100 years old […]

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