However he encouraged me in my interests especially as a boy. I still recall him bringing this home for me from John Menzies in Edinburgh ( not to mention Military Modelling in his briefcase frequently) when I was eleven or twelve-
Monday, 26 September 2016
An old friend
My father has been gone from this Earth for more years than I care to remember. He would have liked to build kits etc ( the sad thing was I found some of his collection in the attic when we were moving just after his death- loads of Airfix kits and figures organised into units methodically) but such a hobby was frowned upon by my mother as being unsuitable for a solicitor.
However he encouraged me in my interests especially as a boy. I still recall him bringing this home for me from John Menzies in Edinburgh ( not to mention Military Modelling in his briefcase frequently) when I was eleven or twelve-
I still have it on the shelf to this day and it inspires me to this day.
However he encouraged me in my interests especially as a boy. I still recall him bringing this home for me from John Menzies in Edinburgh ( not to mention Military Modelling in his briefcase frequently) when I was eleven or twelve-
Tradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteThe Almark books were an excellent source of information regarding uniform details and I have quite a few on my bookshelves.
What a great momento of your father to have.
All the best,
Bob
I have a number of Almark books which still prove useful after all these years too.
DeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteYou were most fortunate to have a Father interested in a Hobby and indeed your Hobby interests as well...my Father was completely the opposite- a long story, though my Father was a good provider and we did not go without the essentials. Regards. KEV.
Oh dear not so good Kev.
DeleteGood memories!
ReplyDeleteIndeed :)
DeleteI had Grant's Napoleonic rule book bought for me by my father when I was a real youngster and just discovering wargames. Money was tight and for him to have got it must have been a real effort. The book has long gone - a major regret that I would only come to appreciate in later years. Your ACW book looks to be a wonderful thing to own.
ReplyDeleteDid it inspire you to start with Airfix Napoleonics perchance?
Delete'Unsuitable for a solicitor'.. crikes that me done for then! I remember both of my parents being v long suffering and supportive with my hobby especially with some of my more ridiculous ideas ie digging up the vegetable patch to create a WWI trench system etc. Both encouraged it as they thought it was educational and creative and less dangerous than my brother's hobby of mopeds and motorbikes.
ReplyDeleteGuy
Myriad figures probably are still in the soil in my back garden in Edinburgh in the house I left when I was 13.Happy days.
DeleteI have never seen that book and I have seen a lot of ACW books. Curious. A wonderful memento of your dad.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many men of that generation wanted to play with soldiers but kept that desire under check. A good friend of mine, a retired vicar, once produced his collection of Airfix Waterloo minis, some painted quite well. He had collected them quietly, over the years, just for himself, so no one else found out about it. Rather sad, really.
A sad story re your clerical friend.
DeleteGreat memories!
ReplyDeleteIndeed :)
Delete