I haven’t
been keeping this page up to date … woe unto me, for I am remiss!
2025: Not a lot has happened, apart from the two of us getting
older – and the niggly aches and pains setting in. Our nephew David Kimbangi
married Paloma, and another nephew has two adopted boys. Our grandchildren have
grown up – only one is shorter than Katie, but that won’t last another year!
2020: Katie’s sister Marie has hit the “big 6 0”;
the family celebrated by a socially distanced meet in a carpark in Skipton,
where we all indulged (in the drizzle) with fish and chips from Bizzie
Lizzie’s. Family contacts have been severely reduced because of the Coronavirus
pandemic, and we eagerly await a better year in 2021, once most of the UK has
been vaccinated. We celebrated our Golden Wedding in 2019.
2017: Just
done a major update to the online tree … this (amongst many things) now records the sad and
sudden passing of my brother-in-law, Boni Kimbangi, and the safe arrival of
Poppy Ireland (who has made our niece Kirsty a step-Grandma, Katie’s sister
Jackie a step-great-Grandma, and us, we assume, step-great-great Aunt and
Uncle. But who’s counting the greats?
2015: Chris and Helen had their 4th
child, William Arthur, born on May 19th. Ingrid and James Whitfield
had their first baby, Aslan, on November 30th. Skipton Baptist
church bought the next-door property, to expand into after refurbishment. Cragg
Baptist Church in Rawdon would have been 300 years old this year, so Trinity
Church marked the occasion, and we met a good number of our contemporaries there.
2014: Christopher and Catherine Kimbangi had
their second daughter, Nyah Grace, on Dec 4th; Boni Kimbangi
celebrated his 60th birthday at Portslade.
2013: We acquired two more
great-nieces (Talia Kimbangi in April, and Abigail Jones in December), and
celebrated the wedding of Charles and Amy Kimbangi in August. Sadly, there have
been losses too, notably Bernard’s cousins Phil Johnson in Canada and Len LaFlamme
in Australia.
2012 : Rebecca and Ryan were married in a
memorable day. Chris and Helen gave us our 5th grandchild (James
Stanley).
Winter
2011 : Delighted to
learn that our niece Rebecca and James will be marrying next year! In November
our cousin Gordon Barke died suddenly in Canada – deep sympathy to Gloria and
to their children Carissa and Cameron.
Autumn
2011 : We have moved
house from Reading to Embsay in Yorkshire. The move went well, but we were
given only 9 days from signing contracts to moving, so had no spare time to say
our goodbyes.
Summer
2011 : The family
gathering was for our niece Ingrid’s marriage to James Whitfield at Portslade –
a very happy day, and a UK-African “fusion” in memorable style.
Spring
2011 : We have
decided that we will move house early in our retirement and will be putting our
house on the market. Great news of the safe arrival of Toby Lomax, son to our
nephew Kevin and Caryn.
Autumn
2010 : Congratulations
to our niece Joanne Lomax and Jon Hall – Maisy was born in November, another
great-niece (or, a “great” great-niece) for us. Maisy weighed in at 7lb 15oz on
November 9th, a sister for William. Katie’s sister Marie hit 50 in
December, and the Clark family had an enjoyable get-together in
Spring
2010 : Bernard
is finally stopping work!
Summer
2009 : Warmest congratulations
to our niece Ingrid Kimbangi – she and James have just announced their
engagement. Our fourth grandchild arrived on 31 August, weighing in at 9:09am
at 6lb 12oz – Charlotte Kathryn Joy Harris, a daughter for Chris and Helen.
Spring
2009 : Congratulations to Chris and Helen, who
expect our fourth grandchild in September - when Matthew will be 2 and a month
(statistical probability, anyone?). And we’d
said (Jan 2007) it wasn’t competitive!
Our third grandchild, Sinead Kathryn, was born on Sat 16th
May at 10:20pm, weighing in at 7lb 9˝ oz. We’re delighted!
Winter
2008 : Congratulations to Gordon & Gloria Barke
on their Silver Wedding, and to Adrian and Angela who expect our third
grandchild in May (when Cameron will be 2 and a month).
Summer
2008 : Congratulations to Bernard’s sister,
Rosalie and her husband on their Silver Wedding! In June large sections of the family met in
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