Patricia and Malcolm met 14th February 1962 at the united reform Church, Valentines dance and that was it, love at first sight.
During the following year they courted walking Cyra Patricia’s dog, Holidays in Devon and Youth Hostelling in the Yorkshire Dales with Friends.
Malcolm worked for the Gas board in admin and Patricia a secretary for the local council.
23rd March 1963 Patricia and Malcolm were married at The United Reform Church Heckmondwike. Moved into their first home in Peel Street Heckmondwike.
13th April 1964 Patricia gave birth to their baby Daughter Simone and became Mum and Dad. 1967 they moved to Lemans Drive Staincliffe and May, Patricia's Mum also came to live with them, a recipe for disaster you would think but Malcolm was so easy going, willing to learn and take advice from his mother-in-law learning how to decorate including wallpapering and gardening something both Patricia and Malcolm loved to do. Living the good life growing Vegetables, salad and fruit. Lots of jam making, chutney, pickling home baking and home brewing.
Holidays were spent in Paignton Devon, Patricia's sister and brother-in-law’s ( June and Frank) caravan at Cayton bay and Margate where Patricia's Aunty Kath and Uncle James lived.
Malcolm loved the stars and space, having his own small telescope and getting up at silly o’clock to watch the moon landings
26th October 1970 Patricia had a home birth, giving birth to a healthy baby boy, Carl, and the family was complete.
The next few years continued with Holidays, gardening, extensions to the house, new family dogs Petra and Dana, Cat Sweep.
1976 saw the family move to Ossett new adventures, fields to walk the dogs and a new garden to prepare with a view of Ossett Albion football and Ossett cricket club, surprised Malcolm actually got any gardening done but there were a few decapitated cabbages. Patricia after being a stay at home Mum from Simone being born, now started a part time job in a butchers/greengrocer, next a receptionist at the local Dairy which then lead to being a careers officer for Wakefield Council.
The late 70’s, they had a little touring caravan, holidays in the Dales. North Yorkshire Moors, Wales Devon, Cornwall to name a few. Malcolm even helped to organise caravan/camping weekends with people he worked with at the gas board.
During the years with the touring caravan Malcolm found a new Hobby, Train Spotting and when not out and about spotting trains he had his own train room at home to do model trains. Patricia helped out making tea and coffee during the intervals at the Ossett Elizabethans Operatic society whilst Malcolm was front of house guiding people to their seats and selling programs.
10 December 1990 Patricia and Malcolm, became Grandparents for the first time when Ellen Louise was born followed by
Georgina Emily 5/7/97
Jay 17/7/2004
Cara Lily 12/2/2008
1991 Malcolm took Redundancy and early retirement from the Gas board, followed by Patricia retiring from Wakefield council a few years later.
As towing caravans was getting a bit strenuous Patricia and Malcolm decided to get a Static caravan at South Beach Hornsea where they enjoyed many weeks away and any babysitting duties required the Grandchildren going to Hornsea, don’t know who was the happiest, grandparents, parents or the grandchildren.
First holidays abroad, coach trips to Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy.
Then flying to Greece a few times with friends Susan and Malcolm and Italy with friends Noreen and Donald.
Sadly, 7/2/2008 Malcolm, Dad Grandad died, Patricia found it difficult with the loss of her Soul Mate, Malcolm but another new grandchild, Cara born only a couple of days after Malcolm died kept her Spirits up.
Patricia still went to the caravan for a couple years and enjoyed holidays in Devon with friends, visits to Felixstowe, to see family and when Carl, Kate and Family emigrated to Australia she went there for a month. Patricia loved the weekly walking club (talking and going to the café club), swimming club, (a little less talking club) monthly visits to the acupuncturist to reset her body and visits from her grandchildren. This continued until sadly after a 3 year battle with cancer and latterly dementia Patricia joined Malcolm on 10/10/22.
I’d like to think Patricia and Malcolm, wherever they are, are walking hand in hand down a rutted country farm track at sunset, with the smell of mown grass and wildflowers all around them, surrounded by their Dogs and Cats.
They will always be around to talk to when we need them.
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