my dad - desmond alfred edward licquorish

My Dad was born on October 1st 1940 

at 1 Church Lane in Cottingham.

His Father was William Licquorish, unfortunately he died in 1941 

when Dad was just six months old.

His Mother was Agnes Licquorish, 

she was the Head Mistress 

at Cottingham School.

Dad's Mum remarried in 1963 

to George Findlay.

Dad had an elder sister, 

May (Licquorish) Cutliffe. 

May passed away on May 25th 1987 aged 65.

Dad worked as a 'Blast Furnace Man' 

at Stewart's & Lloyd's steel works 

from 1955 to 1980.

He then worked as a 'Bin Man' 

for Corby Council from 1980 to 2005.

He was also a part-time Gamekeeper 

for the Gretton Brook Shoot.

Dad loved going to his 'local'  

"The Silver Band Club"

Dad married Jacqueline Downing 

on January 26th 1959. 

He and Mum were together 

for 57 very happy years. 

Dad had many pets... 

Dogs - Rusty, Shandy, Pip, Fudge, Beauty, Purdey, Webley, Sukey, Solomon, Millie, Lucy,

Cats - Smudge, Lucky, Fluff, Snuff,

Dad passed away 

on Friday November 21st 2014 aged 74.

My Mum was born on December 6th 1941 

(the day before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor) at 32 Sarrington Road in Corby.

Her Father was George William Downing, her Mother was Barbara Joan (Tucker) Downing.

Mum had two brothers, 

Peter (November 11th 1933)

Michael (July 17th 1945)

Mum worked as a machinist 

at the 'Desbeau' (corset & bra) factory 

from 1965 to 1980. 

She then worked part-time 

in the "Derek's Bakery" cake shops

at Pytchley Court Shops 

and on Occupation Road.

Her last job, before she retired in 2001, was as a part-time carer, 

in a nursing home in Middleton.

Mum had an active, joyful life. 

She enjoyed many holidays with Dad, they went to many places including 

Paris, Venice, Scotland, Spain, 

and to Elvis Presley's home 

'Graceland' in America.

Mum had an American pen-pal, 

Elsie Wright, they were friends for 60 years, and enjoyed many holidays together.

Mum was 'The Face Of Corby!'

Mum passed away, in my arms, 

on Tuesday November 24th 2020 aged 78.

Denise was born on August 13th 1959 

at St. Mary's Hospital in Kettering.

Dad's name for Denise was 

"The Duchess!"

the No.1 song in the U.K. 

on the day Denise was born was 

Cliff Richard "living doll"

Denise left school in June 1975.

She married Gerard (Gez) McGuckin, 

aged just 17, on August 6th 1977. 

Her marriage ended five years later. 

Her next partner was John Mills, 

who she had a baby boy to.

Oliver! was born on December 13th 1985.

Denise currently lives in Clydesdale Road with her pet dog Rosie. 

She has three Grandchildren, 

Henry, Layla, and Lily.

Carol was born on October 27th 1960 

at 17 Cransley Gardens, Corby.

Dad's name for Carol was "Baby!"

the No.1 song in the U.K. 

on the day Carol was born was 

Roy Orbison "only the lonely"

Carol left school in June 1977. 

She married Mark Beddoe 

on May 23rd 1987 

(I was their 'Best Man')

Their first marital home was 

93 Willow Brook Road, where they lived with their pet dog Fudge.

Carol is currently living in 

Charnwood Road, Corby, 

with her husband Mark 

and pet dog Poppy.

I was born on Monday, November 6th 1961 at 17 Cransley Gardens in Corby.

Mum and Dad called me

"The Chosen One!"

the No.1 song in the U.K. 

on the day I was born was 

Helen Shapiro "walking back to happiness"

I left school on June 18th 1978 and worked at...

'National Tyres'  26/6/78 to 1/6/81

'Tesco Packhouse'  1/9/83 to 15/7/88

'Discovery' record shop  25/7/88 to 14/6/93

'Colour Reel Printers'  1/11/93 to 2/5/96

'Codan Rubber'  13/5/96 to 10/11/01

'Solway Foods'  26/11/01 to 3/8/18

'Corby Radio'  13/9/21 to 29/3/24

I have owned 3 homes

54 Landseer Court  £3,000

17/4/82 to 23/12/87

10 Warwick Way  £35,000

31/3/88 to 1/2/96

21 Latimer Road  £26,500

11/10/96 to present day

I have had many fab holidays...

America 

(Dallas  New York  Florida) 

Australia

(Brisbane  Cairns  Darwin  Melbourne Sydney) 

Belgium  Corfu  Cyprus  France  Ibiza Ireland  Lanzarote  Majorca  Malta  Rhodes  Scotland  South Africa  Spain  Switzerland  

My Nephew Oliver! was born on 

Friday December 13th 1985.

the No.1 song in the U.K. 

on the day Oliver! was born was 

Whitney Houston 

"saving all my love for you"

In December 1995, 

three days after Oliver!'s 10th birthday, 

I took him to Florida, America, 

for a seven day holiday. 

We went to Sea World, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, and Disneyland, 

we came home on Christmas Eve.

Oliver! went to Kingswood School 

and Lodge Park school. 

He did further education at 

Moulton College near Northampton.

He lived, and worked at 

Boughton House near Kettering.

He was my Dad's "Junior Gamekeeper" and 'Best Friend'.

Oliver! now lives in our 'family home' 

in Laxton Close, 

with his partner Hannah Price, 

and his three children, 

Henry, Layla, and Lily.

My Grandma (Dad's Mum) 

Agnes (Rogers) Licquorish

was born on October 13th 1896

My Grandma had two children

May (April 14th 1922)

Desmond (October 1st 1940)

My Grandma lived in Cottingham 

(1 Church Lane and 10 Berryfield Road) 

for most of her life, and then moved to 

17 Maitland Avenue, Manchester, 

when she married George Findlay in 1963.

My Nan

Barbara Joan (Tucker) Downing

was born in Watford 

on February 22nd 1906

My Nan had three children

Peter (November 11th 1933)

Jacqueline (December 6th 1941)

Michael (July 17th 1945)

My Nan moved from Watford to Corby 

in 1938 with her husband George 

(My Grandad) they lived at 

11 Woodnewton Way 

and 16 Wensleydale Road, 

after Grandad died in 1968, 

Nan would later move to 55 Arran Way.

Nan passed away on January 26th 1980.

My Grandad

George William Downing

was born in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, on December 22nd 1905

Grandad moved from Watford to Corby, their first home was 32 Sarrington Road.

During World War II, he was a gunner based in Deal in Kent. His army base was bombed during the war, he was the only survivor, and had to have a 'steel plate' inserted into his skull.

My Grandad was a lovely man, unfortunately I only knew him for a few short years. 

He passed away on March 12th 1968 aged 62 (I was 6 years old)