Finally.... Day 25

Day Twenty Five:  Monday.

I began this day with some optimism - and it proved to be well-placed.  I have been keen to find the grave of Grandad Glover - my dad's dad who took his own life in 1919 - a few weeks after the birth of my dad.  I knew from  burial records that he and my grandmother (his wife) as well as my auntie Kathleen and great-aunt Lil were sharing the space with grandad Glover.

Without going into agonizing details, I will just say that I read the information I had a little differently which gave me hope that if I searched a particular area of the Elswick/St. John's cemetery - different to the area Dennis and I searched in 2016 - I may be lucky.  And lucky I was!  I found the grave which holds William Fisken Glover (grandad), Catherine Fisken (grandmother), great-aunt Lil and Auntie Kathleen.  I am delighted.  (as a bonus I also found a grave of a first cousin 2xremoved and his wife).

Their names are carved around the sides.  The stone which seems to be at the head is actually the back of the stone of the grave in the next row.  There were a lot of weeds and I regret I wasn't prepared for a clean-up project but I did my best with my bare hands.  I also regret not being confident enough to bring flowers with me but I asked Jenny to say a prayer which she did by giving thanks for those who have gone before us who have helped make us who we are.

Before heading for the cemetery, Alan and Jenny and I went back to Ethel Street and had a picnic at Elswick Park.  It was easier this time to be in Ethel Street - being with someone with more personal memories than me.