A LINTHWAITE man has created a touching tribute to his late grandparents – after discovering their poetry talents long after they were gone.
Martin Rothery, 35, was so moved by a pile of poems he found while clearing the home of Frank and Jessie Littlewood, he decided to publish them in a book.
The Oakes couple – who were married for more than 65 years – never wanted to share their work with their loved ones while they were living.
Frank, a former mill manager, died in 2010 at the age of 93. His death came just a year after Jessie passed away in 2009, aged 91.
Their step-grandson Martin – a poetry writer himself – was thrilled when his stepfather Charles unearthed the poems at their home on Wheatfield Avenue.
"It was quite touching when I found them,’’ he said. "One or two of them brought a lump to my throat.
"They are certainly a reflection of their lives together.
"I thought these are too good to keep all to myself. I wanted everyone in my family to have a copy.
"I wanted to share their work as a legacy. They are too good just to put in a file. It is my way of remembering them."
The poems offer a insight into the couple’s life together, including a poem written by Frank about how they met as teenagers at a church carol service.
"The one I really love is one my grandad wrote about meeting my grandma," said Martin.
"It is quite a romantic poem and tells the story about how she shared her hymn book with him.
"He also wrote a really comical piece about her shopping habits.
"They reflect their personalities very much and I can hear their voices in them. The book is them in writing."
Martin typed the poems up and sent them off to Dearnside Press, Scissett, for publishing.
Then, in another twist of fate, he received a phonecall.
"It was someone called Chris Gaunt who ran the company asking me if I had sent the poems as a joke," said Martin.
"It turns out I had sent the book to my stepdad’s cousin, without even realising, and they were his Uncle Frank and Auntie Jess."
Chris kindly offered to print the book – called Nonagenarians – for free.
Martin decided he would donate all proceeds from the book – around £130 to date – to the luncheon club his grandparents supported at Parkwood Methodist Church, Longwood.
Martin added: "If they were still alive, I think they would have been a bit embarrassed, but I know they would have been chuffed to bits."
Read one of the poems on the next page.
On Scapegoat Hill There Lived A Lass, by Frank Littlewood
On Scapegoat Hill there lived a lass
‘Twas many moons ago
When a fine young fellow made her a pass
And he became her beau
When he’d had his fill of climbing that hill
To go up there and court her
That bright young lad just asked her dad
If he could wed his daughter
But he could not take her for his bride
And they had to hold their horses
To King and country he was tied
For he had to join the forces
So she said “Adieu, I’ll wait for you”
He said “It’s not much fun,
But I’ll be back in my peaked cap
And we’ll marry in ‘41”
And sure enough on January fourth
They kept that solemn oath
At Parkwood chapel on that day
They both plighted their troth
But she was late and he had to wait
For the arrival of his ever loving
She said “Do you know, I got stuck in the snow
And the taxi took some shoving”
As the years have rolled along
Their family circle growing
They’ve brought pleasure to all, with a smile and a song
And the seeds of happiness sowing
But if he lost the car key or gobbled his tea
Or forgot where he left his glasses
She’d fix him with a stare and give him a glare
But he thinks she’s the best of lasses
