Document 419

Biggam Collection Letter: 26

Author(s): Madge Taylor Law

Copyright holder(s): Mr William Biggam

Blackrod

Bolton

12 December 1991

Dear Joan

We came back from the funeral on Friday. The weather was miserable although the rain kept off. It was very dull and overcast. The funeral service was long they played Amazing Grace and sang Abide With Me and The Old Rugged Cross. The Vicar talked quite a lot about her lifetime even although he said that he didn't know her himself.

John's son John and Esther went to live with John & Doll about 8 weeks ago. They were both knocked out of work and lost their house. Although that was unlucky for them it meant he wasn't living by himself when Doll died. She died of pneumonia. John seemed to be well enough but he looked a bit shrunken in stature to me. His family were all very considerate and kind to him so I don't think there is any need to worry about him. He understood that the journey would be far too long and tiring for you and Chrissie and he knows how Jimmy is placed. Norrie and Lily were not there either. I think he was pleased that John L and I were there. We found the journey very tiring and we are only half the distance that you are from Basingstoke. Linda's husband picked John and me up at the Railway Station and took us to John's house. The same night Eileen gave us a lift back to the Railway Station. We stayed with Robert on Thursday night and travelled back to Blackrod on Friday morning. It was John L's birthday the following Monday he was 70 so we had a little birthday tea party on Sunday afternoon I made him a cake and put 2 candles on it. James say's why has he only got 2 candles, he can't count up to 70 yet but he knows its a lot more than 2. We played Spin the Bottle and Thomas was in charge of spinning and kept pointing it at himself so he could tell us all his schoolboy jokes. I was able to tell him some I got from The Sunday Post's Oor Wullie page. It was a bit of enjoyment after all the gloom of the past week.

I'm sorry I couldn't talk very long on the telephone when I 'phoned you from Normans. He tells me not to worry about the time but I feel very conscious when they are all in the same room.

I 'phoned Chrissie from Roberts and she told me about Isa. It seems to be a never-ending problem. Its a great pity she can't get a job and make herself independent of Murray, it must be awful to be financially dependent like that on him. Surely there will be a light at the end of the tunnel soon. I certainly hope so.

Hope your arthritis isn't so bad now. Maybe we'll manage to meet up when the cold weather is over, you may be able to travel here again or I may manage up to visit you all there. When its not so cold I'm going to have the electrics checked and some wiring and plugs done so it will mean floorboards up and a bit of upheaval for a while but I think it will be safer to have it done. I'll say cheerio for now, we are keeping fine so try and have a nice Christmas and a good New Year.

Love from Madge & John.

Information about Document 419

Biggam Collection Letter: 26