Joseph William Henry Coles. [My dad’s mother’s father] [Paternal grandmother’s father] Born in 1852, at Westbourne, Sussex. Occupation: Carpenter/Engineer.

Emma Anne Gillard. [My dad’s mother’s mother] [Paternal grandmother’s mother] Born in 1858, at Crediton, Devonshire. She married Joseph Coles and they had two daughters Dora and Ethel Coles.

Dora Janet Eliza Coles. [Gran]. [My dad’s mother] Born 25 Feb 1888 at Broadclyst, Exeter in Devonshire to Joseph William Henry Coles and Emma Anne Coles [born Gillard]. Dora had a younger sister: Ethel G. Coles. Dora of Bath Rd, Bedford Park, Middlesex married Thomas William Draper of 15 Kew Bridge Rd, Brentford, Middlesex on 4 Sept 1911, aged 23 at Brentford Registry Office. They had one son: David Gordon Trevor Draper, born on 16 January 1916. Dora remarried later in life taking the surname Hearn [the only grandfather I knew] and lived at 50 Lillington Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Westminster, SW1 and then later on the Peabody Estate in Pimlico with her second husband, Patsy Hearn, outliving him by several years. She passed away on 23 Jan 1969, aged 80 at 46 Bensham Grove Thornton Heath Surrey, the home of her son David and his family.

Thomas William Draper [My Dad’s father] Born on 11 Dec 1887 at Brentford, Middlesex to Mary Anne Draper, father unknown. Occupation: Clerical Assistant. He married Dora Coles at Brentford Registry Office in Sept 1911 aged 24. They had one son: David Gordon Trevor Draper, born on 16 January 1916.

David Gordon Trevor Draper [Dad] Born in Waterford Rd, Fulham, London SW6 on 16 Jan 1916 and later moved to Pimlico during his teens and early twenties. He lived till 27 Aug 1998, aged 82. Profession: Engineer/Toolmaker. Other abilities: creative artist, carpenter, interior decorator, draughtsman and architectural scale model-maker. During National Service he became a non-commissioned officer and artificer and a fully-qualified military-vehicle driver. He was an active member of the Home Guard in World War Two. David married Elsie Vera Cook on 5 October 1940 at St Mary the Virgin, Pimlico.

Ellen Francis Cook [Nan] my Mum’s mother [Ellen’s father was an engraver. Her mother’s maiden name was Moon]. Born on 7 May 1883. Otherwise known affectionately as Nellie. In some of the existing letters received by her during her lifetime, she is addressed as Helen; although she told me that her first name was both pronounced and spelled, Ellen. She was brought up in Grove Road, St Johns Wood. According to one of her letters, it seems she may have had two brothers, John and Charlie, although the only one she ever mentioned to me was Charlie, whom sadly she lost contact with later in life. She lived at Rose Cottage in Sidcup in 1905 and later lived at Rostrevor Road in Fulham and then at Graham Street in Sloane Square from 1928 till 1932. Ellen had one daughter, Elsie Vera Cook with Alfred Burdon in 1917. In 1940 Ellen moved in with her daughter and son-in-law David and their family of four sons [born between 1941 & 1947] at Thornton Heath, where she spent the rest of her life. She lived there till 20 April 1972, aged 89.

Elsie Vera Cook [Mum] Born on 18 Jan 1917 at St Marylebone All Souls, Middlesex and brought up in Fulham and Sloane Square. She Moved to Pimlico in her teens and then to Thornton Heath when she married in Oct 1940 at the age of 23. She lasted till 9 Feb 2009, aged 92. Profession: Dressmaker at Norman Hartnell’s of Mayfair. Other abilities: melodic singer, dancer and stage actress. Her cousin was a professional stage artiste. [I have a publicity photo in dancing pose named Cousin Ethel in my family photo collection. Whether this was Mum’s, cousin or my Gran’s or Nan’s cousin or just exactly who, has yet to be ascertained]. Despite being named Elsie Vera, my mother had always disliked the name Elsie and became effectively known and addressed by the name Vera.