So, over Christmas I took my tribe to stay with my parents who live in a large Victorian House in Essex. I have a lot of fond memories from my early childhood there, not least of my Grandparents who lived with us – in fact it was actually their house first, anyway I digress. Whilst relaxing over the Christmas period in front of a roaring fire, my Mum came across a large box of old photographs of family going back generations. Now obviously I love photographs, especially of people and old photo’s hold a special magical feel to me. All those lives lived, what were they thinking, what did they feel, look at the fashions etc etc. We spent a good hour or so going through the box laughing at the clothes, funny expressions and for my Mum obviously a lot of fond memories (her family not my fathers) from many of the pictures. A few we found had duplicates and I was very grateful to be handed those to keep, some of which I thought I might share with you.

The first set are of my Grandparents, who were married for over 50 years until my Grandfather died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 77. My Gran who was 4 years older than him already, went on to live to the ripe old age of 98 and got to see my second son Joseph (her great great grandson), before she died. My Grandfather was a fascinating man, who served as a major in the British 8th army in world war 2, he spoke 14 languages fluently and was apparently a freeman of the city of London for services rendered amongst many other things (too many to mention and most I hadn’t got a clue about and didn’t find out until he died – a very modest man indeed). My Grandparents were a very big influence in my life and I was certainly blessed to have been able to spend so much time with them – my Gran with whom I shared a very close bond, was a fab photographer!

The second set are of my Mum as a little Girl and of my Uncle David (Mums brother), who sadly I never got to meet as he was killed in a traffic accident when he was only 11.

I hope you enjoy a few pictures from yesteryear and some of my family history.

Courtenay Photographic – Dorset Wedding Photographer