Grandad's centenary

It would've been my maternal Grandad's one hundredth birthday today. That's him above, holding me, as my Gran looks on adoringly at their gorgeous first grandchild. Ahem.

Alfred Frederick Crowe, known as Alf, was born at his parents' home, 124 Scovell Road, in the London borough of Southwark, on Saturday 7th of November 1914.

He died in September 2000, in hospital in Warwickshire, following a fall at home in Kenilworth.

The commemorations, in July this year, of the start of World War I reminded me that this centenary was coming up. It really hit home to me that my great grandmother, Emily Crowe, must have been around six months pregnant with my Grandad when war was declared on 28 July 1914. It was an uncertain time for everyone in Europe, but bringing a baby into the world in London, into what I now realise was overcrowded poverty, must have been truly frightening.

I ordered a copy of my Grandad's entry in the birth register a couple of weeks ago and it has revealed some interesting extra information. It reveals that Grandad's Dad, Robert James Crowe, was in the army at the time, in the 5th Wiltshire Regiment, which I've now discovered saw active service in Baghdad and at Gallipoli. I know that Robert James Crowe survived the war and went on to have many more children with Emily; thirteen in all, with eleven surviving into adulthood. (Twins both died as toddlers, according to family legend which is confirmed by the 1911 census, on which the details of the deceased children were wrongly, but now very helpfully, included.) I must now order his war record to find out where he went. If he survived Gallipoli, I'm impressed and wondering why I didn't know this before.

Here is Grandad's birth certificate. Someone was a little confused over what the month was, as they've crossed out September before correcting it to November. This registration was actually done on the 3rd of December 1914, and Grandad definitely celebrated his birthday on 7th November, so I presume the amendment to be correct.

Scovell Road still exists, but it seems that the tenement block which existed one hundred years ago is no longer there. Google maps reveals the current road to be truncated into little more than a layby and a path. Here's a map and two very dull screen grabs of it.

 

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 1

#1 McAlmont & Butler - Yes 

It could have been Snow Patrol's 'Just Say Yes' (their belated answer song to the cast of Grange Hill*), but that's a bit boring. Instead we're ending with a massive, joyous 'Yes', which is what I hope Scotland wakes up to on Friday, if that's what they want too. You won't find words like 'should' and 'must' in my discussions of the referendum. It's another country's election and it's up to the people in Scotland to determine their own future. I'm happy that the referendum campaign has seemingly set in motion an unstoppable force for more local accountability in the other parts of the UK, whatever the results, and that's long overdue. Thank you, Scotland..

I can only say that I would be voting for independence in any independence referendum, because I believe in democracy being as local as is practical and in giving people a democratic say in their own future. I would be looking to Estonia as an example of a successful, small country and aspiring to be governed by the people that my own country votes for. 

Whatever the result on Friday, we could do with the campaigners in Scotland to come down and give us a hand to wake people up before the general election in May. With 97% voter registration and a turnout which should be well over 80%, plus the long-overdue enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year-olds, we can only look on in awe at how successful this campaign has been and how engaged the people of Scotland have become. I wish them well.

"Yes, I do feel better. Yes I do, I feel alright."

* Not really.

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 2

#2 The Proclaimers - Cap In Hand

It was only last week that I remembered this song again, when it made number 6 in the Official Scottish Chart (plus #62 in the UK chart and #47 in the UK 'sales only' chart). It's the second track on The Proclaimers 'Sunshine On Leith' album, which I've had since its release in 1988. It doesn't get played much these days(!), so I'd forgotten what a powerful pro-independence song it is, here with a video from the Yes campaign. Still relevant after all these years, just a little less so since devolution, as the twins themselves say in one of the live videos of this on YouTube.

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 3

#3 Take That - Do What U Like

A few months ago, when David Cameron finally realised there was a referendum coming up and he should do something about it, he urged 'us' in the rest of the UK to "send a message" to Scotland to tell them what we thought about the referendum.

So, because I am a dutiful citizen, I did, via the medium of twitter. It said something like, "David Cameron has asked us to tell Scotland what we think about the referendum, so here goes. [Clears throat.] 'Do what you like'."

That tweet became one of the most popular I've ever sent and was retweeted loads of times, by both Yes and No supporters. It still sums up my attitude to the referendum. I know how I'd be voting if I lived in Scotland and I realise that the knock-on effects do affect all of us (hopefully with increased democracy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), but I'm not going to tell people in Scotland how to vote. (They wouldn't take any notice anyway.) It's their decision.

And apart from that, this is an excuse to see Take That's leather, jelly and bums vid again.

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 4

#4 Sting - If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free

"You can't control an independent heart."

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 5

#5 Lulu - Independence

FACTOID: Only two artists have had Top 40 hits in the UK with the word 'independence' in the title. (Virtual point for the first person to name the other one!)

Lulu wins out in this battle by virtue of being Scottish, even though the other track is a work of brilliance.

"I want my independence. I want my freedom, right now."

Chig's Referendum Countdown - Number 6

#6 Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

Okay, it's only the title that's relevant to the referendum.
The title may not even be that relevant if there's another referendum in two years.

But still, it's a brilliant song.