Kate Heath, formerly Edwards, formerly Spargo, née Andrew (1860-1950).

The only one of my great-grandparents to survive my birth!

Location and date unknown, but exactly as I remember her.

My maternal grandparents:

William George Shakespeare (1878-1952);
Kate Spargo (1882-1967).

'Grandpa' was a keen photographer and introduced ladder photographs into the family. A cricketing trophy was named in his honour.

Birmingham, 1950ca.

Clara Perkins née Waters (1881-1963).

My paternal grandmother.
A widow for more than fifty years.

Birmingham, 1957

Arthur James Shakespeare (1915-1984).

My namesake and uncle. He left England in 1948 and I only saw him once thereafter, in 1972. He died just a few months before I was due to visit.

London, Ontario 1982

Stanley Joseph Williams (1919-1985).

Uncle Stan was a local estate agent who worked hard for Washwood Heath Methodist church, both as Trust Secretary and Boys Brigade Captain.

In his spare time he loved attending auctions and funerals!

Bristol, 1984

The Revd. G Sydney Freeman (1908-1988).

It was uncle Syd who coined the phrase 'Gone to Glory'. An excellent water colourist who would often use one of my slides as a subject for his work, which he then gave to me.

He was the very proud owner of the 'Pig' picture.

Bristol, 1984

Lilian Bassett Talbot née Shakespeare (1891-1989).

My great Aunt Lily. We thought she might equal her mother's record and live to be 100, but it was not to be. She left England for New York state in 1927, moving to California in 1945.

Salinas, 1987

John Henry Shakespeare (1921-1989).

Uncle John. For 30 years the PE teacher at Saltley Grammar School. Described by his headmaster as 'the scourge of the idle': what a wonderful compliment to pay a school teacher! Latterly, a pillar of the Old Saltleians Rugby Club, where a larger version of this photograph now hangs.

Birmingham, 1987

Hetty Constance Shakespeare née Smart (1915 -1989)

Though disabled following a stroke Aunty Hetty taught my uncle to bake cakes, which he and I enjoyed for many years after she had left us.

Birmingham, 1987

Elizabeth Bassett Blades née Shakespeare (1910-1990).

Aunty 'Bessie' - a first cousin once removed. A lovely person who conveyed the impression she was half a yard behind you, when in fact she was half a yard in front!

Birmingham, 1989

Grace Harriet Shakespeare (1911-1994).

Grace: a first cousin once removed. She never married, claiming that her young man was 'lost in the War - the Boer War!', and that she remained 'an undiscovered treasure'. These comments were typical of this delightfully eccentric lady.

Birmingham, 1989

Frank Smith (1909-1994).

Uncle Frank: a thoughtful spin bowler, a much less successful goalkeeper, and a lifelong snooker enthusiast. Tim and I had a very soft spot for him - not least his sense of humour.

Claybrooke Magna, 1984

Beatrice Maud Macnaughton née Shakespeare (1906-1995)

My eldest aunt and godmother. For many years the senior member of the family, she loved to be photographed with whoever was the youngest - on this occasion 17 days old - when she was 85.

Albert Billingham (1915-1996).

Uncle 'Bill': Methodist local preacher, chemist and metallurgist. He had a quick but gentle sense of humour - and loved my slide shows!

Bristol, 1984

William Joseph Shakespeare (1914-1998).

Uncle Bill: a keen cricketer. In his last season he took all ten wickets in an innings (for 25) - and still they lost! He was second only to his sister Maud in his enthusiasm for the family.

Like his father a trophy was named in his honour.

80th birthday, 1994

Audrey Shakespeare née Holyoak (1917-1998).

Aunty Audrey: her body left England in 1948 to go to Canada with Uncle Jim, but her heart never did.

Birmingham, 1985