Poppy Joe & 57 Rickard Road

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CHILDHOOD MEMORIES - 57 Rickard Road

John James Charles WILSON was born on the 13 December, 1892 to Ann Jane Donaldson (1859-1938)  and Charles Albert Wilson (1868-1948).  Such a grand name for a man we knew so well and loved as "Poppy Joe".  

John James Charles Wilson with his mother
Anne Jane Donaldson c1892

I asked several of my cousins for their memories of "Poppy Joe".  Jane remembers that "he always had a story to tell and a smile,  He had tobacco stains down his undershirt and a 'rolley' hanging out the side of his mouth.  He would sing little ditties to us kids." These ditties included "If I was a chicken as big as a hen" as he bounced one of the small (and no so small) grandchildren on his knee.  I think we have all continued this tradition of singing these ditties to our children and grandchildren.

Jane continues, "Unfortunately, he inspired my loathing of cats as he used to let his cat have kittens in the wardrobe.  As a kid I was always afraid of treading on a kitten ..... and I did once."  

Towards the end of his life he would wander around in his long johns and dressing gown, with his pants held up with rope.  Colleen remembers this as well.  

"Poppy Joe"  in the driveway of his daughter,
Margaret's home in Narrabeen c1971

Tony remembers the time he rode down Rickard Road on a girl's bike in his long johns and dressing gown.  He waved to a neighbour and came crashing down, arms and legs akimbo!

Each of the grandchildren remembers his smoking habits.  Karen recollects that he always rolled his own, and always had a "bumper" hanging from his lip - and never inhaled.  Colleen saw him drop a "bumper" into his dressing gown pocket.  Smoke appeared about 5 minutes later and Coll said she remembers her mother whacking the smouldering pocket to put the flames out.  Coll also remembers he was "always happy". 

My most precious memory is of Pop wandering around his garden, followed by his black Labrador dog and my son, Sean, who was around 2 years old.  Sean was Pop's shadow and as we lived next door, a constant companion.

Joe and Kate Wilson

Joe married the love of his life - Kate (Catherine Teresa Baker 1891-1964) in 1916 at Haberfield, Sydney.  Our memories of Nan are only of a lady who was not well, however she always managed to "rule the roost"!  She had Parkinson Disease for many years prior to her death.  Joe nursed her until the end.

Taken at Narrabeen Beach in 1932.  From back left: 
Harold (Hocka) - I think, Margaret, Monica: 
Middle:  ? Kate and Joe: front from left: Mary, Bernard and Pat.

Kate and Joe had 11 children (two of whom died at birth), John Victor (1916), William Russell (1920), Alleyne Margaret (1921), Harold Lawrence (1922), Patricia Joan (1924), Mary Muriel (1925), Monica Catherine (1927), Bernard Charles (1930) and Michael James (1933).  

John James Charles Wilson ("Poppy Joe") died in Concord RGA Hospital, in 1973 aged 80.  Both he and Kate and their offspring managed to turn 57 Rickard Road into a haven for every one of us! It was a home filled with love, old-fashioned discipline (the cane hung behind the kitchen door and Pop would say "smell it, smell it".  However, I never saw it used) and fun - lots of fun. Winter nights the kitchen table was the gathering place for the adults to play cards.  The kids would sit or lie on the floor listening to the competitive banter!   It was an ongoing safe environment for the next generation where there was always soup on the stove, salad on the table for lunch and no-one was ever turned away if they needed respite from the world!

I hope that this blog brings back the memories of my Wilson cousins and that they comment below.  Would love to hear from them or anyone else who remembers the Wilsons of Narrabeen.  The photos are from my mother's album and I would love to see other photos.  If anyone knows the lady in the above photo (the one middle left) let me know?

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