Graham Cartledge (21 Jan 1949 - 18 Jul 2015)

Graham Cartledge.
Graham was born on 21st January 1949 and was the middle child of Edna and Eddie Cartledge. Graham grew up with his sibblings Eddie, Denis, Ray and Barry on Deanwood Crescent, Bilborough estate.
As a young boy Graham was always in trouble and would recall how they would love to steal bikes just so that the police would chase them. He would earn money by fetching beer for the neighbours from the local shop.
One of Graham’s jobs when he left school was working with his brother, Eddie, and the two of them would cycle to work together on a tandem. In 1972 Linda Scott was living next door to Eddie. Graham would visit his brother regularly and started a friendship with Linda that blossomed into romance and Graham and Linda set up home with Linda’s children. In 1973 Graham and Linda were blessed with the birth of Angela, followed in 1976 by Melanie and Kerry in 1980.The family moved to Basford and while Graham worked as a labourer Linda worked in the evenings as a cleaner. Life revolved around the large family meaning that Linda and Graham didn’t have much time for themselves. The children remember Graham as a strict father who didn’t allow them to “chomp” on crisps or sweets and couldn’t stand them smacking their lips while eating. However, despite being such a strict father graham became a grandfather who was such a softie with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved music, particularly the music of the 50s and 60s and also enjoyed watching old black and white films. After all the children had grown up and left home Linda and Graham moved in 2006 to their present home on Bramerton Road. Graham enjoyed fishing with family at Trent Lock and holidays at Chapel St Leonards and Ingoldmells staying in caravans until he brought his own touring caravan and enjoyed many holidays always staying at one particular caravan site.Linda and Graham enjoyed going out for meals together and also shopping on Fridays followed by a pint and fish and chips. When grandchildren came along both Graham and Linda were delighted. Graham loved all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a brilliant grandad and great grandad who loved to take them fishing and looked forward to seeing them on Sunday afternoons and always had sweets ready to give to them. Graham loved his pet parrot Charlie and spent hours teaching
Charlie to talk. One year the family were going on holiday and as they were transferring Charlie to another cage to transport him he escaped and flew away. Graham wouldn’t go on holiday but was lucky that Charlie was found on
Wollaton Park and taken to a bird sanctuary. Graham had taught Charlie to say the family address and ‘phone number
so that when he started to talk and repeated them his was able to be reunited with Graham. Due to health problems Graham retired in his fifties. He had several health problems which gradually increased and his health started to deteriorate until during the last six months he spent time in hospital on several occasions. Sadly, Graham passed away peacefully at home with his family at his side, which was how he wished it to be, on 18th July aged 66 years. Graham will be remembered as being stubborn and impatient, even sometimes “mardy” and also carrying the family trait of having a quick temper. However, Graham was lovely in his own way, always putting his family first and willing to give them his last penny. He was a brilliant grandad and great grandad who will be so sadly missed. Graham will be missed by all of his family and by all who knew him.