In the midst of busy family photographs, you sometimes find a special moment: a look, a touch, a smile that can scream down the generations and remind you that the great thing about common humanity is that it is common to all.
This photograph was taken shortly after my brother, Roger, was born in 1943. He was the first of a new generation in the family and his arrival provided an opportunity for all the grandparents and uncles and aunts to gather together. I won't name them all, they are of limited interest to those outside the family,
Focus, however on the lady with her arm in a sling - it is my grandmother, Harriet-Ellen Burnett. And focus, in particular, on that look - a look almost dangerously overloaded with pride and hope. I know the look well - I saw my grandchildren this morning.
I have not seen that photograph before. It's the best I've seen of Enoch and Harriet-Ellen together. That is exactly how I remember them. I guess Albert was behind the camera, except that his style was to crop heads off. Who is the head behind grandma Beanland?
ReplyDeleteThat's Uncle Harry - he wasn't particularly tall, don't forget he always wore special shoes to make him look taller. As there are both sets of grandparents and Aunty Amy and Uncle Wilf and Auntie Annie and Uncle Harry, I assume it was your christening.
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