A FASHIONABLE HAT

This beautiful young lady with the fashionable hat is my paternal grandmother. I never knew her very well. I was 6 when we left England to migrate to Australia in 1949 and left all my grandparents behind. When I returned to England for the first time in 1970  this grandmother was the only surviving grandparent that I had. Unfortunately, she had dementia and wasn't sure who I was. I tried to explain that I was her son Len's daughter but she seemed to think I was his wife. My dad was an only child and my brother and I were their only grandchildren. Now that my grandchildren live overseas, I know how sad it must have been for my grandparents. However, I am lucky in that I can manage to visit mine once a year.

My grandparents  never saw us again after 1949 when we were 6 and 11. We could never afford to return to England as a family, but my parents went in 1965 they tried to get my granny to come to Australia but she wouldn't move from her home. My grandfather and maternal grandparents were no longer living.

I think she looks a beautiful young lady and I wished that I had known her then. My dad often remarked that his mum was very reticent about discussing her family. He always felt there was some sort of secret involved. I wonder what it was? My mum used to show me this photo and say, "This is your granny when she was young and her waist was only 18 inches." I love her hat and dress. I think the photo was taken about 1912.