We held the church service at St Mary’s then buried Mum on Thursday in Denbigh Town cemetery. Many thanks to the Church, funeral directors and staff at the Guildhall for a wonderful service, funeral and wake. Also, to our family and friends, who c…Read more…
Margaret Gray 1941-2023
My sisters’ Helen, Lucy and I lost our Mum on Tuesday evening. She died at her home in Ruthin peacefully in her sleep. She had been in poor health for quite some time but we did not expect to lose her so soon.The picture of Mum pushing one of us in a p…Read more…
Goodbye and thank you Queen Elizabeth
Yesterday I was driving from London to North Wales, due to a family medical emergency (my Mum Margaret Gray) when I heard the news that the Queen was unwell and that members of her immediate family had been called to her bedside in Balmoral, Scotland.&…Read more…
Happy 73rd Birthday NHS
Happy birthday NHS. Makes me think that my Mum is 80 and was born when there was no NHS, but she was lucky that she had no major health problems when she was little.
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Happy 80th Birthday Mum!
This is the 2nd “off message” post in a row but it is my personal blog and many families in the UK (and elsewhere) are in similar circumstances. Gill and I spoke to my Mum on FaceTime this morning to wish her happy birthday and had a lovely chat….Read more…
Happy Mothers Day!
Off message but…
Happy Mother’s Day Mum! Lovely to speak to you on Facetime tonight and so sorry we cannot meet up at Easter due to virus.
Keep safe and well.
Lots of love
John & Gill xxx
(me with spade, big sister Helen and little sister Lucy…Read more…
Student Nurse Margaret Matthews circa 1960
Off message but marvellous picture of my Mum, Margaret Gray (nee Matthews) when she was a student mental health nurse aged 18 in Denbigh, North Wales around 1960 (she is on the left).
It was originally in a local newspaper (?) and our family had thoug…Read more…
Kyffin Williams: The way to the cottages
Love this. Calendar present 2018 (March) from my Mum. Painting by Welsh artist Kyffin Williams sometime 1990 – 2006. Read more…
Happy Mothers Day! (and End Maternity Discrimination)
Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely Mum, Margaret Gray and shout out to @rokhsanafiaz #Rokhs4Mayor call to end #maternity discrimination on this #MotheringSunday
As a trade unionist I know that mothers are sacked or forced out of work every day of the w…Read more…
Kyffin Williams, ‘The Gathering, Farmers on Glyder Fach’
Top present this Christmas from my Mum was a 2018 calendar featuring the North Walian impressionist painter, Kyffin Williams. The “Gathering” is my favorite. Read more…
Some facts and figures about 8 June
Hat tip to Dave Ratchford for the chart and figures below. Worth reflecting about I think.
“Labour Share of Vote in recent elections
1983 206 seats 27.6% of the vote 8.4m1987 229 seats 30.9% of the vote 10m1992 271 seats 34.4% of the vote 11.5m19…Read more…