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Occasional memories from Kevin and Mary’s family life.
The Christmas Candle
The Christmas Candle was one of the essential Christmas traditions. Kevin and Mary wanted to make sure that their four sons remembered that there were many others less fortunate than they were. The Christmas Candle was prominently displayed in the centre of the…
Easter celebrations
As Easter approached, initially in Currock Road, the top of the Brinsmead piano in the front room was used as the place to display the Easter Eggs which were given to the family. These were to look at and not touch…..until Easter Sunday arrived. At that point,…
Kevin and Mary’s wedding
Kevin Rafferty and Mary Hodgson were married on 13th October 1951. Click for more details about their wedding.
Music in the house
Both Kevin and Mary had a musical ear, Kevin as a tenor in various choirs, including while serving in the RAF in India, and Mary having studied for her LRAM degree at Goldsmiths’ College in London. With this strong interest, music was regularly heard in the house,…
Family outings and picnics
For the family outings, such as to Silloth or Beckfoot, the picnic lunch was an essential. After a morning of activity on “The Green” (football or cricket depending on the season) and the beach, the picnic lunch was always enjoyed. The contents of the picnic were…
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Christmas Recollections Christmas was, as with many families, a time for great excitement. Early Days living in Carlisle When the family lived in Carlisle on Currock Road, memories include: The arrival of a larger than normal delivery from the grocer, Richardson’s,…
Recollections on food
A few memorable moments about food and meals. While travelling through France, after one night in Rouen, waking up to the aromas of bread from the adjacent bakery was soon followed by a breakfast that included fresh croissants that had obviously just been delivered…
69th Wedding Anniversary
Reminiscences on the 13th October, 2020 Too much sugar! Mary asking her grand-daughter, at the end of a family meal in an Italian restaurant, having already enjoyed one cup of a Chantilly, to get her a second, with extra sugar in that one. Kevin, while at Lanercost,…