Hugh Coffey Love

As his granddaughter, I remember him as a kindly, ( to my eyes), elderly gentleman who wrote stories for his many grandchildren. We used to visit their home in Belmont Park on Sunday afternoons and he would tell us these stories. My grandmother (Polly) was quite strict and was very accomplished at embroidery. I still own some of her Irish linen embroidered tray cloths. I was 10 when Granddad died suddenly in Belfast of a heart attack. It was shortly after their Golden wedding which had been celebrated by a gathering of all the families. Auntie Ruth had travelled over from Australia by ship which was a huge endeavour for her. She was distraught about the death of her father and having to leave her 3 sisters in Belfast, and her 3 brothers....my father ( the eldest), uncle Harry ( the youngest), and uncle John in Dublin. She was returning to Sydney to be with her family there. Two of the sisters, Auntie Bertha and Auntie Phyllis lived at home with their parents and were always known as The Aunts. Auntie Norah was married to Jim Boyd and lived nearby with their 4 children. Looking back on those days, my grandfather died 3 years after the end of WW2, and we were still recovering from Ration books and shortages. But I remember those High Teas at Belmont Park with the table laden with home baked scones, bread, jams and cakes. No-one had a weight problem probably because we walked or cycled everywhere. I am eighty now, and have outlived Granddad Love, but remember him kindly. Daphne McMullan, Vancouver Island. Dec. 2018.