Such a special find - and always my hero

We have had a busy few days trying to rationalise and sort out our garage. We have moved a seriously huge amount of stuff and have thrown out three boot loads too. We have a pile for car boot and a pile for e bay and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. I guess the trouble is that we have a very big garage and workshop and it is too easy to say 'put it in the garage for now'.

There was treasure in the garage though.

There was a folder I had put in there when we cleared Daddy's house when he passed away and a lot of the things from Daddy's I couldn't bear to look at as it was too raw. They had lain untouched for the past 11 years.

I brought the box folder in and sifted through it last night and found things I had never seen. There were the deeds for the hotel and the bungalow, the sale documents for both and then right at the bottom an old enevlope with Daddy's home address at his parents before he got married.

Inside where his papers from both the navy and the army, his discharge papers, his medal forms, some petrol coupons and, most important of all, a newspaper article about Daddy that I had never seen.

The photo is one I have used before and seen many times, but I had no idea it was from a newspaper article. The paper was very fragile and yellow but it was such a special find and talked all about him and what he had done in his 20 years on earth thus far.

It mentioned he had run away to sea aged just 13 1/2, lying about his age and boarding a ship. It didn't mention the horrors he saw at that age as he was immediately caught up in the battle of the atlantic, seeing things grown men would balk at, let alone young boys.

It talked about his army career and his success with the Royal Signals Mototcycle Display Team. I was just so proud as I read it.

I remember when Daddy died and Nigel gave the eulogy he said that my Daddy was a hero and compared him to a Red Arrows pilot of his day; an utter daredevil. He said Daddy had always been my hero - and he still is.

I wanted to preserve the cutting in the only way I know how. Not to keep it in a box hidden away but to put my hobby to its full use - to record memories and keep precious things in an acid free environment. After all, that's why we scrap isn't it.

 I confess to being terrified to use something that, to me, was so precious, and I have struggled all day, but here is the page to record that article.

 

 

Like every page about Mommy and Daddy there is a dragonfly of course,

 

 

and I am not sure if this will be readable but here is the article

 

 

and yes - I DO look just like him! I don't have his risk taking genes ... I have my Mom's cautiousness. But I so have his sense of humour. I think he'd have loved this page and would have smiled at me recording this as I have. I think he is smiling right now!

 

Today I am thankful for

• treasure that is beyond monetary value
• family history
• a Daddy I am still so very very proud of

 

 

Comments

[michelle jessiman]

What a wonderful find Karen, a true treasure for you. Could you explain the significance of the dragonfly please.

[Scrappyjen]

That is just brilliant. And I was going to comment on the family resemblance but you already did. Very special page. Jenx

[Maureen]

What a wonderful find - I am so pleased for you. Having read your blog for a number of years (and first time commenter) I know that you have been disappointed that you weren't a scrapper until after your parents had passed away. I imagine that these treasures will be scrapped, rescrapped and incorporated into many pages in the future and I am looking forward to seeing them. Best wishes, Maureen

[Jules]

You did the right thing, memories like that need to be recorded. And what an incredible young man he was! You have every right to be hugely proud.

[Barb in AK]

Awwww, that is so wonderful, Karen! Makes cleaning and organizing worth it when such a find occurs.
The layout is beautiful, and yes, I was able to read the article. You should be proud :-)
I love it when we are able to preserve and remember sweet memories through our scrapping. Congratulations!

[Tracey mac]

I am glad u find this photo it was nice reading about your dad.