James Raymond Armstrong

This memorial is for my Grandad, He passed away 27 years ago when I was 12, but my memories of him
are still as clear as yesterday.

Before I tell you my memories, here's a little about his lifetime.

My Grandad was born James Raymond Armstrong on 11th December 1903 in Midridge in Co Durham, but
almost everyone in his life knew him as Ray.

Whilst working as a Salvation Army Insurance man he moved to Birmingham, where he met my Grandmother
Constance Kathleen Axup whilst out collecting insurance.
He went on to work in Harley Pit in Telford, he often told the story about his Pit Pony Nimble.
Nimble had one day refused to go down the pit, no matter what my grandad did he wouldn't budge,
before he knew it there was a rock fall in the mine, if Nimble hadn't refused to enter they would
both have surely died that day, my Grandfather would forever be greatful to Nimble for saving his
life.

In around 1935 he joined the Army he was in the Royal Military Police, he served as a private in
Maghera, Northern Ireland for 2 years, he then served as a Corporal in Dusseldorf, Germany.

He married my Grandmother on 18th November 1940, and my mother was born in October 1944, he rushed
home on leave as soon as he was told birth was imminent he got off the train in New Street Station
and ran all the way to Ladywood where my mother was born.

He left the Army in 1947 at the rank of Sergeant.

He then became a milkman working for Midland Counties Dairy for a while, then went to work at
Bermetals metal factory in Woodgate, Birmingham. Finally he went to work as a clerk in the offices
of Hawleys Bakery in Mosely.

During his life my Grandad attended the Salvation Army, in Birmingham he attended in Harbourne and
then The Birmingham Citadel. He played the Tenahorn in the Salvation Army and also sang with their
Choristers.

Unfortunatley he was struck down with stomach Cancer, he underwent surgery to remove the cancer and
had to have his food through a tube all of which had to be liquified, he fought hard against the
disease but sadly gave up the fight on 6th January 1981. As you can see he led a very full life.

At the time of his death he was survived by, his stepmother Linda, sister Evelyn, brother Alan, wife
Connie, daughter Mary and myself. Unfortunately he never got to meet my younger brother Brian who
was born several years after his death, or my children, Sian, Aaron, Krystal John-Luke and Zach.

One of grandad's favorite verses

The kiss of the sun for pardon

The song of the birds for mirth

You're nearer God's heart in the garden

Than anywhere else on earth



Dorothy Gurney






Now for my personal memories.
For the first 5 years of my life, my grandad was a father figure to me, when I was 6 weeks old my
mother and father seperated and we went to live at my grandparents, both my grandad and grandma
looked after me while my mum was working. Once I started school it was my grandad that used to pick
me up at lunchtime for me to go to his house for my lunch as the school was at the end of his road.
One memory that has stayed with me happened one particular lunch time on the return journey he
hadn't put on his flat cap and it started to hail, it was coming down fast and hard, there were tiny
little cuts all over his bald patch on his head, I remember him saying ouch and rubbing his head, we
laughed about it many times as I grew up.

I stayed at my grandparents house every Friday night and loved to get up on a Saturday morning and
have breakfast with them both, boiled egg and soldiers, and toast with Lurpack butter. We used to
spend hours in his back garden, he'd play football with me, have tea parties with my toy monkeys in
my sun house which he built for me, it was covered with Honey suckle which smelt Beautiful in the
summer, or we'd do woodwork in his shed, still to this day I remember the smell of the wood and
shavings in his little shed, hammering and nailing, carving and gluing. We'd either be fixing or
creating, but whatever we were doing we did it together and I loved him for it.

Music was a big part of my grandfather's life, he taught me how to play the keyboard and the
xylophone, we spent many happy hours together singing and playing music sometimes he'd play the
accordian and I'd dance around the living room. We also used to draw a lot, Grandad was a wonderful
artist and I think that rubbed off on me too. There was no place I loved more than being with him
he was the one I turned to if I needed a cuddle.

When he became ill I didn't exactly understand what was wrong, I remember he became frail and thin,
this was after he had his operation, I now know that he was frustrated with not being able to do the
things we had taken for granted. At the time I didn't undertand, I remember staring at him one day,
wondering what was wrong, he was being fed through a tube (I couldn't see this), he snapped at me
and told me to stop staring, I ran into the garden crying, I couldn't understand why, he never
shouted or raised his voice before, what was happening to my grandad? What had I done wrong? Not
long after he came and sat in the garden he told me he was sorry and gave me a cuddle. He explained
that he wasn't well and hadn't meant to shout or take it out on me. I saw a glimpse of the Grandad
I knew and loved.

One day I came home from school, my mum and step-dad were waiting for me, my step-dad sat me on his
lap and told me my Grandad had gone, I couldn't move I remember sitting there for hours just
sobbing. I couldn't believe I would never see him again. I wasn't allowed to go to the funeral as
the family felt I was too young and wouldn't be able to handle the situation. I understand now that
they were trying to protect me, but at the time it hurt not to get the chance to say my own
goodbye.

I wish my brother and my children had had a chance to know my Grandad, I know he would have loved
them and they would have adored him just as I did. Writing this has brought a lot of feelings back
to the surface, the tears have started to flow but I feel that the time is right to set up this
memorial and tell everyone how wonderful he was.

He was my Grandad I loved him with all my heart, he will remain there forever never to be forgotten,
I will always ensure that my children will know who he was and what he means to me.



GRANDPARENTS

Grandparents bestow upon their grandchildren
The strength and wisdom that time
And experience have given them.

Grandchildren bless their Grandparents
With a youthful vitality and innocence
That help them stay young at heart forever.

Together they create a chain of love
Linking the past with the future.
The chain may lengthen,
But it will never part...

~Author Unknown~





If Tears Could Build A Stairway

If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to Heaven
And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why

Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No on will ever know

But know we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store

Since you'll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you'll always stay

Author Unknown



I LOVE YOU GRANDAD, ALWAYS ON MY MIND, FOREVER IN MY HEART.