UNCLE HENRY AGED ABOUT 15

Uncle Henry and Auntie Muriel lived in `Wayside Cottage` on Dunsford Hill in Exeter,  just down the road from us.  Separating Wayside from St Thomas church, was a narrow lane which led to the square where people in middle management lived, they were very proper and did not like us outsiders venturing into their square..

We rarely saw our cousins at home in Wayside, but Grandad and Granny Satterly were often there.
Apart from `Baby Thora` who was one of us.                         We loved Thora dearly.

The rest of them were mostly busy.   I remember them shouting to us as we passed by their house. 
Auntie Muriel was a lovely woman. She had a hard life growing up in the rural village of IDE.
Aunty Muriel and her sister Thora had flirted with the Forte boys, and swapped about a bit, until they had ended up with one of them.
Nothing could hide her tremendous pride in her children and her obvious disappointment in everything else, but she was a good mother and full of pride at her childrens accomplishments. 

Muriel with hrer brother Harry Satterly.

Aunty Muriel Today and below with Dominic and I when we visited her in July 2006

We used to share our summer holidays with them in Torquay.

Torquay Harbour   view of  Vaughan Parade

There in Torquay, Dad and Uncle Henry jointly, ran an ice-cream parlour, Cafe' and Restaurant on Vaughan Parade, which runs alongside the harbour side.
We used to spend our time with `Baby Thora`, who was not in the least a baby, but only called that to differentiate her from Auntie Muriels sister, Auntie Thora, who married Uncle Tommy.
Those long summer holidays at Torquay were full of adventure and excitement.

Aunty Muriels twins were apprenticing Jockeys at the same stables as the young Lester Piggot. They were doing quite well, and had begun to win a few races.
The twins, Dominic and John had all the attributes for being successful. They were totally dedicated and sensitive to the needs of others.

Dominic & John. "The TWINS"

Dominic Forte and Lester Piggot apprentice Jockeys.

I remember that they had begun to take boxing lessons at the stables.  Eager to show off to their Mother, and encouraged by her, they had invited us to come and play in their part of the house above the shop.
Once there, they began to show us how to Box ,  Mum did not want us to Box and had a row with Auntie Muriel,  Auntie Muriel then had a go at Uncle Henry, which caused some dissension between him and Dad.
Things were a little strained after that, and I believe led to the dissolution of the partnership.  This was not the childrens fault there was some sort of rivalry between My mother and Aunty Muriel.

MICHAEL.

Michael was a lovely chap, just like his Dad. He was always happy and straightforward, with a wonderful sense of humour.
We all enjoyed Michael’s company very much. Being slightly older than us, he was able to do more complicated work in the business.  Even so whatever he did was with a ready wit, he was true and a steadfast friend to us. He made the ice-cream, prepared the cakes and buns for the shop, and anything else that needed doing.  Michael met and fell in love with Kathleen, a lovely girl with a brilliant smile who adored Michael.
Kathleen had to keep an eye on us in the early days, she was always very kind to us, and we looked upon both of them as trusted allies.

Michael and Kathleen and their lovely children.

Michael & Kathleen and their Gorgeous Grandchildren.

Uncle Henry was a gentle man with a great sense of fun, he worked very hard with Dad, and their first few years at Vaughan Parade were happy ones.

The Vaughan Parade ice-cream parlour was within two large shops that had been joined together.
Facing on the left was the milk-bar bit, and on the right the restaurant. We all lived in spacious accommodation above.
The Milk bar had a counter running the full length. Behind this counter we prepared coffees and Teas, Ice-cream confections and simple snacks.
Upstairs above the restaurant was a kitchen; this was used to prepare the cooked meals.

 Our lovely baby Thora who we loved as a sister.

 

Photographs of Angelas wedding (above)

Baby Tommy (called that to differentiate him from Uncle Tommy,  was a likeable lad, who had been born with some problems. The result of which left him with a constant running nose, which was always red, and an easy body and mind. We would often take baby Tommy out with us on our adventures, He was a lovely lad who was very kind by nature and very dear to us all.

MORE PHOTOS AT www.edmundspictures.co.uk

The twins. Aunty Muriel and uncle Henry were immensly proud of their boys who are shown here as apprentice Jockeys. They were at the same stables as Lester Piggot at that time. Although they had many wins the most memorable were the Lincolnshire Handicap and the oaks in the same year as Charles Forte was Knighted.

Photos of our cousin Angela.

Our Lovely cousin Michael in his twenties. below Michael in his later years and below his lovely Kathy.