A-Z Challenge 2024: Family Traits - J is for “ JOINER"

My Theme for the A-Z  Challenge 2023

Family Traits, Quirks and Characteristics 

      J for  "JOINER"  

My mother- Kathleen Weston, née Danson 

 

My mother Kathlee Weston, nee Danson (1908-1999) was "A JOINER.  NO- I am not talking about being skilled in carpentry, but her ability to make the most of her life by joining in groups and activities, asie from her role as housewives and mother.

Mum and I  - 1944


I love this photograph above.   Surprisingly  I was 27 years old when I first saw it, when my great aunt presented it to my husband, just before our marriage.  I presume it was taken for my father away during the war, but  a copy  never made it into the family photograph album. I have no memories of Mum other than with grey hair, so it is especially lovely to see her here,  looking very stylish.

Mum in 1930's

Kathleen Danson was born in 1908 in the small town of Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool,  daughter of William Danson and Alice English. At the age of 14, she was apprenticed to be a tailoress and was still making her own clothes in her 80's. For her going  into a fabric shop was like going into a jewellers”  If she sat down, she was rarely without a needle in her hand.  She was a creator in patchwork, crochet, collage, knitting, embroidery, smocking,  dolls and dresses, with dabbles into  rug making, millinery, lampshade making and china painting.

 

 

Besides being a stitcher,  Mum  was a "JOINER"  Because of my father's work, we moved around a lot,  and Mum joined whatever women's group were in the locality  - Townswomen's  Guild, Mother's Union, Choir, Parent Teacher's Association, Women's Rural Institute (WRI) .  She was content to beaver away in the background.   and never aspired to be an office bearer.  But  whenever there was a coffee morning, bring & buy sale, spring fete, summer fete, Christmas fete, Mum was there,  with her contributions for the sales tables - aprons,  cushion covers, doll's clothes, soft toys and of course home baking. 

 I don't have Mum's skill, but I have inherited her love of crafts  and she left me with tangible memories of a true homemaker whose family was her life.  

 

Mum and I in 1972

 

But she also  left me with an important lesson for later in life - on how to make friends and become involved in the community  -  by being a JOINER.   

 

 ********************

 Onto K for KEEPER OF THE FAMILY ARCHIVES

 

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED

A for ADVENTUROUS

B for BIGAMOUS    

 D for DEVOUT

E for ENTERPRISING  & ESTEEMED 

 

F for FEISTY

  

G for GENIAL & GOOD LOOKING  

 

H for HEROIC  

 

I  for INSOLVENT