Roy Firth

What can i say about our "GRUMPS",my grand-dad.He's been there my whole life and wouldn't change a
thing. My Grand-dad Roy was born in Bradford in 1937 and became another member of the "Firth" Clan.
I don't know much about my Great Grand Parents but "my" did they have a mighty family,8boys:ROY(my
grandad)JIMMY,ERIC,CHARLIE,TERRY,HARRY,KEN,RODNEY-and a sister MARLENE. our family must be huge, i
can imagin the get together now. Roy's 1st job was working on the coal i remember the stories and
his trade has pretty much always been wagon driving. I know my grandad met KATHLEEN WILKINS- my
nan(mum) at a local dance hall,but roy's mum weren't much impressed, and told roy she didn't like
him dating older ladies,my nan(mum) was only 14months older than him though so thats not much older.
Roy married Kathleen and between them had their own family starting with the 1st born son JOHN
LESLIE born on 22nd Nov 1956, then a baby girl- LINDA followed on 14th Jan 1958, then a baby
girl-GILLIAN on18th June 1960, completing the Firth family the last child a baby girl- PATRICIA was
born on 17th March 1962. Roy and Kathleen lived with their children on Stonegate Road Thorpe edge
and then moved with the kids to 20 Bracken Edge.Roy was a hard working man but also loved holidays
with his family to Butlins Skegness and knew how to have fun. I remember my grandad coming back from
his favourite pubs in Skeggy The Cherry Tree and The Lumley and then deciding to show us he could
roller skate,it was always fun going on hols with the Firths.Over the years roys family grew and
grew Together between them Roy and Kathleen have 17 Grand Children and 27Great Grand Children, we
were all his little Grumpys. He liked a drink and if any of us wanted Grumps we all knew where he'd
be in the Tap Room with his work pals i can stil hear his laugh and him asking for a pint of
Tetleys, nearly every sunday he'd get out from under my nans(mum) feet and have a few pints in the
local while she got dinner,he'd come home for dinner and say "Gladys" i think i might throw a
Cobbler's Monday what do you say? he'd plonk down in his favourite chair have his dinner,rest his
head back and next thing would be snoring mouth open,me and ady used to torment him by poking his
ears or nose then hiding behind his chair. Roys last favourite pub was the Hogs Head in Greengates
and he always sat in the same place,i loved saturdays and sundays with him down there each week more
and more of the family would meet,Something changed Roy about 4years before he passed and he stopped
going out, stopped meeting in his local and gave up drinking altogether my grandad didn't look the
same, he stopped going out altogether in 2007 and began to get weaker my nan(mum) knew something
serious was wrong, his apetite became non existant. Roy had always been a big stocky man 6ft with
hands like a shovel, i knw believe me, to see him poorly and weak was very hard for everyone, On the
night of 16th October 2007 carly one of his grand-daughters phoned me and i could tell from her
voice" its grandad he's asking to go to hospital" she didn't need to say anymore his family knew if
he was asking to go there it was bad.Roys children,grand children and great grand kids all went to
be with him and Kathleen,his family round him, within 5 mins my partner Aaron had dropped
Patricia,me(nichola) and carly(patsy's)daughter Mum was already waiting for us all, i asked where's
my grandad mum.. i knelt beside his chair..held his hand i knew. He passed away in his favourite
chair beside the fire watching telly surrounded by his family.Roy was 70years old and he died of
Cancer,Roy and Kathleen were Married 53years.Im Nicky Linda's daughter and Roys first G-Daughter i
moved to 20 Bracken edge too in 1975 my grandad's always been in my life, i want to thank him for
giving me such a wonderful upbringing and i love him very very much, from all the firths grandad we
want to say we love and miss you,we send kisses upto heaven wishing you a Happy 71st Birthday
Grumpy.XX