Betty’s Story.
Hello, Betty here, thank you all for coming to my little get together.
Sorry you can’t sing, especially wearing those silly masks you have on...I’ll
never understand these modern trends. Anyway, here we are, so I think as
is customary, I’d better recap some of the highlights of my life.

I was born in Ecclesfield on the 6th January 1930. Yes, it was a long time
ago I hear you say!
I had a brother called Ron and a sister Eileen. I particularly liked all of
Ron’s dishy mates that he brought home!

I left school at 14 and started work at the Co-op where I met and worked
alongside my lovely lifelong friend Connie.

I was particularly proud of my sit up and beg bicycle, complete with front
willow basket which I used to travel to and from work every day. George,
remember later when you got the job of repairing my endless punctures?

In my mid-teens I joined the Hoyland Co-operative player’s Drama Group
with my close friend Connie, we had so many laughs.

Now for the fun bit, I’m a teenager and whilst out with friends at the
Futurist cinema at Elsecar, we were approached by a group of handsome
lads, one of the lucky lads was called George who asked me out. I say he
was lucky, because I said yes!

I was twenty years old and after going out with George for a while,
tragedy struck. George had a bad accident at his place of work.
Fortunately he survived and a year later, on 25 th August 1951, we were
married at St Peter’s Church in Hoyland.

And what a day that was, the sun was shining and I felt like a princess.
Fast forward sixty years and we received a telegram from the Queen,
congratulating us on our Diamond wedding anniversary. And yes George, I
would do it all again.

I had started my married life in a prefab, but later returned to my
childhood home in Chapel Street, where I looked after my sister and cared
for Mum who was very ill with cancer.

In 1953 a Stork landed on our rooftop and delivered a little bundle which
we named Marie. That Stork must have had a good memory because he
found our rooftop again and dropped off an even smaller bundle, which
we named Carol. To complete our family, my sister Eileen came to live
with us... happy days.

It’s now May 1955, George and I now have a new home in Greenside lane,
Hoyland.
Times were hard and money was tight but what magical times I had with
our family, celebrating milestones in our children’s lives. George spent
hours in the garden pruning our much loved roses, the garden was full of
them.
The tea bags were out and the kettle was always on for friends, family and
neighbours.

George had many modes of transport, starting with motorbikes and later
a motorbike and sidecar for the kids. Then strange little vehicles with two
rear wheels and a wobbly front one. George loved his Reliants!

In 1971 the kids made a dash for the door and left home.
The company George worked for shut down and we had to sell our lovely
home and start a new chapter at Stannington in Sheffield, where
George found new employment as a school caretaker.
I was so proud of George for winning the award for the best kept and
maintained school boiler house in the UK.
I also enjoyed working part time at the school as a dinner lady, cleaner
and teacher’s assistant where I enjoyed teaching the children how to
bake.

We had a really happy twenty two years there with wonderful memories
of family celebrations.
Oh and did I mention I passed my driving test?

!How time flies, it’s now 1993, we retire and leave Stannington with all of
our worldly goods on the back of an Arnold Laver lorry, moving to a nice
little bungalow in Dinnington.

George is engrossed in his garden and greenhouse, once again the kettle
is on and the teabags are out!

Marie had married Peter and Carol had married Richard. Now I have three
lovely grand children Stephanie, Jonathan and Michael, followed by four
great grand children. I’m so very proud of them all.

Dare I also say they were very proud of their ‘Cool’ Nan when in my
eighties I was #Betty on a viral wedding video!

Over the years, we have had lovely trips abroad but our favourite place
was Blackpool where we had many special memories of dancing in the
Tower ballroom, going to live shows on the pier, riding on the trams and
walking along the promenade hand in hand.

On a sunny day I also loved to sit at the Pier Cafe in Cleethorpes with
George, drinking tea and enjoying a cream scone just looking out to sea.
Simple pleasures but so nice.

Well, I’m getting on a bit now, my original hip failed its MOT and had to be
replaced with a shiny new stainless one they tell me.
I am not quite the person I once was and have so many tablets to take I
should rattle.

In my later years, my mind had started to misbehave. I began to forget
people and places, at times I felt lost but not all was bad, I made new
memories to cherish.

I will love and miss all of my family and friends, but my biggest Thank You
goes to George for sharing his life with me. No matter where we were or
what we faced, we did it together and I thank him for that.
Over seventy years of wonderful everything...

We will meet again,     Love always, Betty. XX
PS..Now I really must fly, God expected me some time ago and I’ve kept
him waiting long enough...
PPS..hmmm...I wonder if he has tea bags in Heaven!