The Aunties - my personal memories

 

Here are the Aunties as I remember them

Apart from Clara, the only one I knew to be married, (she married Robert Whitmore in 1922 and was my grandmother) they lived together at 93 High Street, Standish, next door to Marsdens paper shop. Prior to 1960 they lived across the road in High Street next to The Globe Inn. That house is now demolished.

They were all very religious (Roman Catholic) and attended St. Maries church more often than the manditory one time per week and they were all actively involved in church cleaning and with it's flower arrangements.

To my knowledge, they rarely left Standish, visiting Wigan only when absolutely necessary, though at least one of the Aunties did make a trip to Lourdes.

They were very old fashioned, and frugal beyond belief. They always had the front parlour which housed their best furniture and ornaments and was kept spotless just incase the Queen happened to be calling unexpectedly for tea.

The living room always had a large table, usually with a velvet type cover with tassles. The table legs were also covered with the same material. this measure wasn't a guard against clogs as the material was far too flimsy for that, but was a more puritanical / Victorian thing.

Not forgetting the clothing rail on pulleys hanging from the ceiling in front of the fireplace that was constantly adorned with clothes being dried and aired.

Later they did have a T.V. but was it only turned on for 10 minutes each day to watch the six o'clock news. I remember with fond humour that my wife, Moreen provided them with their first fridge in 1988 which was quite a puzzlement to them.

Edith seems to have been born before her father married, hence having her mothers maiden name. In life Edith was a forceful woman, heavily buit, and certainly the boss of the clan.

Evelyn had a speech impediment that often frightened me as a young child. Looking back, it may well have been that she was deaf. I was too young to know of these things at the time.

Theresa was taller and whispier that the other sisters, and loved to laugh. I don't think that she ever really grew up!

Betty was as they say "the better looker" of the girls, and as the story goes..to the great dissastisfaction of the family, once had a boyfriend. It stopped there.

 

I remember Steve having a great love for his vegetable garden at the rear of the house, being ever so proud to show off his runner beans and peas to me, while sharing his Uncle Joes mintballs. He was small in stature but just like the rest of his family, had a very big heart. His grandfather was a market gardener and this is obviously where his love of growing vegetables came from.

 

I do remember him telling one time that he had a brother that he had lost in the war which still saddened him.

The local work for them was the weaving sheds for Carrington & Dewhurst in Bradley Lane.

At family gatherings (usually funerals) I do remember other family members being there from Shevington and Standish Lower Ground but I was to young to remember their names.

I have fond loving memories of them all, and will forever remember the smell of mothballs.

May they all rest in peace.

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This Page Last Corrected and Updated 17/05/2009