Extended Family

There were lots of cousins all more Maureen’s age so they were all moving in work circles or training to teach and I was very much the young lad who turned up after Mass on a Sunday to say hello. If at a few venues a threepence oddly shaped coin found its way in my direction to buy some sweets of course the visits were all very worthwhile. Uncle Bert and Aunty Vera had Tricia who did become a teacher. Aunty Vera Morris had Mary, who became a hairdresser and ran the Admiralty St hairdressers, Uncle Ernie had Biddy who became a librarian and Walter had a son and three daughters. His grandson Michael became a Labour Councillor for St Peter’s Ward in 1991 but that’s for later.
Grandma Riggs was a passionate Irish Republican and when a few whisky’s had been consumed would sing the songs of her time during the uprisings in Ireland. I remember one about a Kevin Barry giving his life for the cause of liberty and she talked about the “black and tans” not the drink the English Army in the conflict in a most strong way about the brutality of the times.
Quite a number of the parish priests were Irish and many had good voices for singing so they were regular visitors especially if there was whisky on offer and they would sing for her. All the family could sing pretty well and as long as the alcohol was flowing usually if a good standard. So Christmas parties were lively affairs especially as Uncle Bert’s birthday fell on Boxing Day more of that later.
On Grandma Ingham’s side of the family she came from a large family of Warren’s out of Charlotte St and Morice Town and they were almost all girls. Amy had no children and ran the Off licence in Fleet St and Grandma generally stayed here going down to Vanguard Terrace in the mornings, where Miss Manning from Keyham Barton lived in the upstairs flat. Hetty lived in Fleet St and had a disabled son Wilfred who grew up with Dad. Aunty Vera’s mum was another sister and two others lived at Stoke and were married to the Williams Brothers who were builders and famous rugby players. Grandma herself had two boys Frank who was a few years older than Dad and went into the RAF and had a very distinguished career settling in York where they had Peter,Pat and John and like me John thinks we were both accidents, and Dad. So the inter connections by marriage brought about quite a strong and lively family and it seemed to me as the youngest that they had a comeradery especially if there was a problem. All sorts of debates and arguments could happen but as soon as there was a problem either individually or collectively then they would stand together.
As a child I was always struck at how different to my Dad his brother seemed.True I only saw him when he visited or was down on holiday but he was so jovial and always seemed to have the answer for anything.John tells me he had the most lovely letter from someone who served with him during the War. He was a Plymouthian and after the City took massive bombing was worried and upset about his family. Apparently Uncle Frank arranged a long week furlough provided he guaranteed to be back on time,so he was able to come home to see his family was safe.