24/01/2023
I’ve been very absent on my account, it seems so long and I’m not going to lie I’ve missed documenting my finds.
So I thought my first post back would be to say hi 👋 and that even though it’s a sad post, this man deserves to be mentioned, my uncle Len.
This is one of my Grandad’s brother, Leonard Watkins. I never met him as he left for a new life in Australia on the 30th September 1957.
When I was young I always remember talking to the man from Oz, remember receiving birthday cards with cute Australian animals on the card but the sad thing is, I can never remember what we spoke about.
Sadly at the age of 88 and still living in Australia, Uncle Len passed away. Being so far away he didn’t have any family with him but he was a much respected and loved man that I’m sure he wasn’t on his own. Only of late, I’ve found out he was in the Royal antedeluvian order of the buffaloes. After his death, his sister received all the certificates and memorabilia from his time in the buffaloes.
Even though I never met him, there is immense sadness at his passing. He was the last living child of my Great Grandparents John James Watkins and Martha Hooley, and the last grand uncle connection to my grandfather Cliff.
I often wonder what it would have been like when they were all together, I can only imagine the laughs, insults, jokes and tears that would have happened. But I’m sure they’re all together somewhere having a drink and reminiscing on the good old days.
Leonard Watkins -
25th May 1933 - 28th April 2022
