 My great-grandmother: Lucy LapthornBorn in the first half of the 19th century and married to Ebenezer Lapthorn who was born in 1840. Ebenezer died in 1901. Ebenezer's father was William Lapthorn who was born in 1795 and married Jane Masters in 1830. Judging by the dress, I think this picture would have been taken in the latter part of the last century. Her facial features are very like those of my father.  A picture of my father Bill, born in 1918, my uncle Arthur, born in 1908, and my grandfather Alfred, born in 1873. This picture was taken in Salcombe about 1930. My grandather died in 1942 so sadly I never knew him. I've no idea who the others are in the picture or the occasion. Judging by the suites and button holes it could have been a wedding?  My grandmother: Annie King Horn A picture taken in the 1930s. She died in 1959. Gran used to tickle me with her knitting needles. Her house had no electricity - just gas. In the mid 1950s we moved in with her, my father completely rebuilding the house interior and putting in electricity. We stayed there in Coronation Road, Salcombe until 1959 when we moved to Kingsbridge where my father set to work renovating the next house!  My father, taken in the late 1920s. Within 10 years he was in the RAF and flying Lancaster bombers in WW2. His home in Island Street Salcombe was bombed during the war by German bombers on the way back from a raid on Plymouth. Many years later, and shortly before he died, he had another Jack Russell terrier (Midge) with whom he walked many a Devon cliff top and lane.  Another picture of my grandfather.This picture dates from the 1920s. My grandfather suffered a stroke and was in a wheelchair in his later years. My own father died of a heart attack in 1987. There is a definite family resemblance between my grandfather, my father and me. Let's hope the genetic thread doesn't include the tendency to heart disease as well.  My brother, mother and I on the beach in Salcombe in 1949. I'm the good looking fellow in the middle! As a child we went on the beaches across the estuary from Salcombe regularly.  Me in 1953, aged 5As a child I was interested in my Hornby model railway and all things scientific. I was never a great one for sport (unlike my brother) although I enjoyed golf in my teens playing off a 16 handicap briefly. These days I play the occasional round with my sons, both of whom enjoy golf.  Me, just before starting university in Liverpool in 1967. I was at Liverpool University reading Electronics from 1967-1970 shortly after the city had become famous for the Beatles and the Mersey Beat. |