Margaret Gray, nee Matthews 1941-2023

Helen, Lucy and I lost our Mum on Tuesday evening. She died at her home in Ruthin peacefully in her sleep. She had been in poor health for quite some time but we did not expect to lose her so soon.

The picture of Mum pushing one of us in a pram, shows her looking young and glamorous. She always said that she was at her happiest when looking after us.

We would like to invite family and friends to her funeral service which will take place at 1pm Thursday 6 April at St Mary’s Church, Lenton Pool, Denbigh LL16 3LG.

The burial will be at 2pm at Denbigh Cemetery, Ystrad Rd, Denbigh LL16 4RH.

The Wake will take place after in Guildhall Tavern, Hall Square, Denbigh LL16 3NU. Please confirm if able to attend for catering purposes john.gray2012@icloud.com

Funeral directors RW Roberts & Son, Gorffwysfa, Ystrad Rd, Denbigh, LL16 4RH.

Flowers welcome or donations to Hope House Children’s Hospice

(hopehouse.org.uk)

John, Helen & Lucy Frisby

Grandchildren Matthew, Rachel, Hannah & David. Great Grandchildren Evan & Rohan

Happy Mothers Day!

Off message but...

Happy Mother's Day Mum! Lovely to speak to you on Facetime tonight and so sorry we cannot meet up at Easter due to virus.

Keep safe and well.

Lots of love
John & Gill xxx

(me with spade, big sister Helen and little sister Lucy in Cornwall late 60s)

Happy Mothers Day! (& End Maternity Discrimination)

Happy Mother's Day to my lovely Mum, Margaret Gray, and shout out to @rokhsanafiaz #Rokhs4Mayor call to end #maternity discrimination on this #MotheringSunday

Mum is pushing the pram containing my little sister Lucy, aged 3 months, in our home town of Buckley, North Wales in 1968.

As a trade unionist I know that mothers are sacked or forced out of work every day of the week by bigoted employers and managers.

Mums & all carers (including men) need more protection from discrimination at work.

If you love your Mum and don't want other Mums to be exploited then sign the petition below!

https://www.change.org/p/end-maternity-discrimination …

Berlin 1939 and Berlin 1945

My late father (another John Gray) carried out his national service in the RAF in Germany 1947-1948 as a Aircraft Technician.

I picked up an envelope of postcards and photos he had collected during this time from my sister Lucy during the New Year holiday.

I had remembered that he had a set of postcards titled "1939 Berlin 1945". In this set were photos of prominent and historic buildings in Berlin before the War and after. As a child looking at these cards I can remember being horrified by the devastation.

My father wrote on the inside of the pack "I spent a weekend in Berlin while based at RAF Gatow. The photo's speak for themselves. Thank God we didn't lose the War".

(click on collage to bring up detail)

Snowdon 2011: Ranger Path up and Rhyd Ddu down

On Mayday this year I walked up Snowdon with my sisters, Helen and Lucy, for the pleasure of walking and to pay our respects to our father whose ashes we spread on the summit in 2002.  This year Lucy's husband Rob and their (very) grumpy Border terrier, Chili, joined us.  We hadn't been up the Snowdon Rangers path before.

The weather was absolutely glorious apart from the wind.  The route was very quiet compared to the paths on the other side of the mountain.  As we went up the views were outstanding.  It was probably one of the easiest Snowdon climbs to make as well.  We said hello to our Dad at the summit, then made our way down by the Rhyd Ddu path.   This picture is of a white baby Mountain goat (a kid) and the Ranger path is behind.  (double click photo to bring up detail) It was simply wonderful.

On the way down we cut across country to try and go direct to our starting point car park by the Llyn Cwellyn.  We had to walk thorough the remains of a old Copper mine and a massive slate quarry.  It is strange now to think that Snowdonian use to be a heavy industry economic powerhouse.  We got a bit lost at the end so probably best to keep to clear way mark routes. 

It was a wonderful day.  The views were magnificent and out of the wind, it was lovely and warm but we know we were lucky with the weather and that we will pay for this the next time.

I'll post more pictures of the day on Facebook.  Some previous posts on Snowdon walks: Watkins Path (first mention of Chili), Grib Coch (the horror! the horror!) and something poignant.

Margaret Gray

Last week I posted a picture of my old Dad, the original John Gray, a Labour Councillor and trade union activist. Since then I have been asked about my Mum and also her contribution to my politics and who I am.

My Mum is a “Matthews”, born in Denbigh, North Wales, and was brought up with 7 brothers and sisters in a Council flat overlooking the town. She still lives in Denbigh and is a committed lifelong supporter of Labour.

The picture is of Mum with my little sister, Lucy, at a Pontin’s holiday camp in the early 1970’s.

I love this picture.

Of course I will never, ever, tease my now grown up little sister about it:)