Reginald James (2 Feb 1923 - 19 Sep 2018)

I’m no good at writing poems, so here goes just some words about the things I will always remember about My Grandad – Reginald James

Always…..
Clean shaved, Well dressed, Generous, and Polite.

As a child growing up…
His amazing multi-level playground of a house, that he built, which always amazed me
The smell of tomatoes growing in his greenhouse
Orange Club biscuits, ripping the wrapper in half and smacking it on the back of our hands
Blowing up his biceps through his thumb – used to love that
His safe in the downstairs laundry room, which we always thought was full of money!
The smell of his new cars (always kept clean)
A full size electric organ and a mini one too, but unfortunately can’t ever remember hearing him play

When I became an adult (still growing up)…
Deposit for my first house and a lot of physical work getting it modernised.
A cash ‘handshake’ whenever I saw him on my weekend visits, to cover well needed petrol money (always £40).
And as a poor student, he bought me a suit to graduate in.
A very generous man who looked after me when I needed it most.

I will always remember my Grandad as the great man he was and not the one that Dementia took away from us. Goodbye Grandad RIP