Here, there and everywhere #Bristol #familyhistory

Posted on Jul 22, 2017 by TanGental

I have a long-standing love affair with Bristol. When I think about it, the Wills Memorial Building, which takes pride of place at the top of Park Street, is the recurring motif. When I first  saw it, for my interview, to be granted a place in the Law Faculty – sometime in November 1974 – on a grey and chilly day, I was intimidated by its grandeur.

But a place I obtained and, from that moment, the events of this week had a sort of inexorable feel about them. But first a trip down memory lane to a more sepia-tinged age.

What would you say these four people are thinking?  Pride, certainly, from those on the far left and right. Anxiety of a parental faux pas from the begowned one in the middle and boredom from the other middle-man. The building behind is obviously grand if a bit stained and there’s some sort of aircon unit stuck on the side. The grass look a tad tired too.

Obtaining a degree in law in 1979 was no mean achievement and rightly celebrated. But back then, as we hurtled from the winter of strikes and discontent into the evisceration of most things on the altar or Thatcherism, the stability of getting a degree was a small oasis of calm. Terrorist had bombed the main stations at Victoria and Paddington, inflation was soaring and the idea of buying your own home something of a pipe dream. 21 people applied for every job available. Youthful optimism was tempered but not destroyed. There was a future, albeit uncertain.

The Textiliste, who appears in the above has never been one to get too het up. The sun will probably rise and then let’s see where we are, would have been and still is her motto. Enjoy the day. Carpe whatever is going.

The year before that old picture above, this ridiculous fop

passed through the same portal on his way to a degree in law with a similar anxiety that his parents didn’t let him down and and an unrestrained optimism that it’d be fine. Whatever it was. You can see the graduations then were sparse affairs with none of the fripperies of today.

Maybe if I’d been more dog, back then…? Mum would have understood. Or maybe it was the Bristolian air that does that to you, brings out the puppy. It has always been inspiring and welcoming, at least I think so. I love going back.

Thursday was therefore a day of contrasts. It was a watershed; a day that marked the end and also the beginning.

The end of trips up and down the M4 with packed cars and maudlin Dog forced to sit in the boot for three hours; the end of reprising my three glorious years of growing up and seeing a different future to the parochial corners of the New Forest. The end of academic holidays dictating family events. The end of children in the pre-gainful employment phase of their lives.

But very much a beginning. The beginning of a new professional career. The beginning of another chapter in our family’s endeavours.

And a mere blip on the continuum that is ‘Dad, can I grab a lift…?’ It remains in the top five questions asked of a parent of the post-tween child, along with ‘What’s for dinner?’ ‘What are you wearing?’ ‘Do you have to dance?’ and ‘What do you mean, you’ll be away?’

The Vet graduated on Thursday

The degree was awarded in the same Great hall where I and the Textiliste received our degrees.

Much was made this time of celebration and enjoyment, whooping and hollering being encouraged. Not so much back in the 1970s. It was a poignant reminder of tradition though.

Vets do things to the max so the formalities continued necessitating an unholy dash across the Somerset countryside to the Vet hospital at Langford where the Vets were admitted to their profession.

They all stood and took the oath, which ends with…

‘And above all my constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care.’

No, I wasn’t exactly dry-eyed.

She has lovely friends and we met their parents and swapped stories over strawberries and cream. I did that, in 1978. I sat on the grass as my parents positively glowed and was pleased they were there. I realised they couldn’t embarrass me because their delight was so genuine, so patent.

The Vet hugged everyone; so did I. maybe I overshared but what the heck. The buttons on my shirt were bursting with delight.

We took many photos as you will have seen as you’ve scrolled down this far. This one attempted to reprise the one at the top.

I rather failed to mimic my father in law’s pose. Though the others captured the essence I think. Oh well. He’d have understood; we both could barely keep still so much did we love the moment. One I will remember while I can still remember.

 

 

 

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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43 Responses to Here, there and everywhere #Bristol #familyhistory

  2. insearchofitall says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    Those are wonderful photos and I can only imagine your pride. Loved the 5 questions. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. derrickjknight says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    A beautiful continuation of the family tradition

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Mary Smith says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    What a lovely post. I attended a graduation at Bristol a few years ago. Our friend Jawad’s son did his Masters at Bristol but his parents could get here for his graduation. They would have had to book the air ticket (non-refundable) then fly to India from Afghanistan to apply for a visa for the UK, with no guarantee they’d get one. So we were Mustafa’s surrogate parents for the day taking him for lunch before the ceremony. It was very moving and I think he was glad to have some ‘family’ there to see him graduate.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    What a wonderful world! Wishing your beautiful daughter every success! BTW, Pop’s no fop…

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Ritu says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    What great memories! My brother went to uni in Bristol too!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Erika Kind says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 5:04 pm

    Oh, congratulations. Another wonderful memory added!!

    Like

  8. Darlene says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    How wonderful. A fine example of the joys of being a parent. Congratulations to your daughter (and to her parents as well).

    Liked by 1 person

  9. willowdot21 says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 6:45 pm

    Lovely blog full of joy and love.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Judy E Martin says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    What a wonderful post. It must have been such a special moment for all of you, You and your wife for going back to Bristol and remembering your own graduations, and for your daughter graduating in the same place as her mum and dad! You must be extremely proud, Geoff. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. trifflepudling says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    Aw, delightful! The Circle Game …

    Liked by 1 person

  12. barbtaub says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 10:51 pm

    Nachus is a great Yiddish word which basically means the joy and pride you get from the achievements of another–usually a child or grandchild. Certainly seeing your brilliant and beautiful daughter following in her parents’ footsteps would be a perfect example. It sounds like you owned that word today. Congrats!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 11:29 pm

    Wonderful, wonderful! I so get the bursting with pride and over hugging thing – but heck, you gotta share the joy!! Love the generations reprise – I hope it becomes a family tradition ……..

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Anabel Marsh says:
    Jul 22, 2017 at 11:44 pm

    Congratulations to the Vet! A lovely series of family photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. JT Twissel says:
    Jul 23, 2017 at 2:25 am

    Oh so lovely! I can tell you and your wife have been brilliant parents and what a proud moment. Congrats!

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Jul 25, 2017 at 10:46 pm

      Ah hmmm can I say that I’ll leave the kids to be the judge of our parenting. If we make it with a basic pass mark I think we’ve done ok!! They are lovely but that’s more because of the 50% of the genes from her side…

      Like

  16. Helen Jones says:
    Jul 23, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    That’s wonderful, Geoff – so much pride and love in this post 🙂 Congratulations to the newly minted vet!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Judith Barrow says:
    Jul 24, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    Wonderful, wonderful post… nostalgia abounds. Lump in throat. Proud dad/family… beautiful daughter. Congrats to all

    Liked by 1 person

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