UNCLE HARRY

by Catherine Smith (Oxford)

In the Sheldonian, Margaret and John from Halifax remember Uncle Harry; a history student at Queen’s, 1936-39, he’d have received his degree here (1st Class) - imagine how he’d have felt, a working-class lad; all this hush and gold - painted cherubs on the ceiling - M

No bathrooms in the colleges in those days; terms were only 8 weeks, they were told; no need to wash. He never complained; he was cheerful. When he left, he took a photo; 20 smiling friends. After the war, only 4 remained. All that youth and promise, blown to smithereens.

He was in Normandy for the duration and then became Her Majesty’s Printer, all through the sixties. Then he led bus tours of Oxford for John and Margaret‘s travel firm, telling folk all about the colleges, galleries, churches. The history, before his time and during.

They feel an affinity with this place; they feel him here. This is where part of his story started; he couldn‘t have known, then, what the future held; the suffering and loss, the jobs, the family; the love. Such an ordinary person, says Margaret, wiping her eyes.

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What Catherine Smith says about UNCLE HARRY:

Inspired by a conversation with John and Margaret from Halifax in The Sheldonian