In fact, I don't remember ever seeing my dad drunk, except for one occasion when he had had, perhaps, an excess of drink. We were on a family holiday in Ireland, in a horse drawn caravan, which in itself was an experience, especially for the horse as we had no prior experience whatsoever of the care or otherwise of horses. At the end of the first day on the road, we along with several other caravans pulled up for the night at the same farmhouse where we were met by the owner of the caravans who was there to ensure everyone was OK. He collected £10 from all the men (1967) and with true Irish hospitality began to organise the evenings activities. A bonfire was set up and Joe O'Reilly went off to buy the drink and returned with his battered Zephyr car bulging with black Jamaica Rum and a few bottles of coke. The fire was it, the drinks were poured and continued to be poured, as we sang and told stories round the fire. It was quite late in the evening when mum realised that dad was missing," Where's Henry?" she asked. When he didn't appear, she assumed that after a long day in the saddle, all of eight miles, he had gone off to bed. Much to the surprise of everyone dad was fast asleep, perfectly balanced on the two-inch diameter shaft of the cart. His peaceful sleep didn't last long though as mother immediately woke him. "How much have you had to drink?" The reply, laughingly sung out, "What a night, oh what a night." (Henry Ward age 62)."I’ll give you what a night" whacked mum from the top bunk.
Too much drink even when there is good cause can lead to rash actions. My dad had spent the evening with friend and neighbour Harry Slack to celebrate the birth of Harry's first child. The following evening dad asked Harry if he had been to register the birth and if so, what name had he given has daughter. "Don't ask and don't tell missus, she'll kill me when she sees certificate. "Why, what yer done?" "I’ve called her North, it must 'ave been when we came out of pub last night, I saw North Star and it stuck in mi memory. "The chastisement that followed must have had a lasting impression. His other two children were called Neville and Stuart.
Although my dad’s deafness was a severe handicap in many ways, it did not stop him singing. More than once I went along with mum and dad to the 'Sermons' at Woodburn Hill Chapel along with other members of the family. It is not however for his Ecclesiastical renditions that I best remember him, but one song in particular. If anyone knows of its origins, then I would be pleased to hear:
Last night l bought some cheese,
it made my Grandad sneeze,
the cat had a fit in the cellar,
the dog had hearts disease.
The chairs began to walk,
the table did the same
and the beautiful picture of Grandma
stepped out of its golden frame.
Re admitted to hospital
Help needed dad with end stage copd and possibly loosing the plot
Fathers Day............What are your memories of Dad?
End Stage COPD?
My father
