I last saw Auntie Mildred and Uncle Tony, as he was called in the UK about 66 years ago.
From about the age of 10 My sister Joan and I were put onto a bus alone in Manchester to go and stay in Golborne. This was a regular school holiday occurrence.
We stayed with Grandma and Grandad Lloyd, Auntie Marjorie and Uncle Bob and Auntie Mildred and Uncle Tony.
I loved it, coming from the terraced streets of Manchester a family of 6 in a 2 up and 2 down house, with no hot water and an outside toilet it was pure luxury.
We played outside in the fresh air and green fields, and even had the pleasure of having a bath as well.
We didn’t seem to be a burden to anyone, and felt quite welcomed by all.
It was that realisation that there was a different world out there that made me move out of Manchester at the earliest opportunity.
And that is because of the warmth of our hosts during the formative years of my early life.
I have a lot to be grateful to them all, and they made me the man that I am today.
After a very successful and long career with British Telecoms’, and at the age of 77, Carol my wife and I are living in the South West of France and enjoying our retirement.
Alan Ashton, son of Mabel and Joseph Ashton