The Skuse Family

Grace's parents were William Skuse and Alice, nee Walker.  They lived in a 1930's council house at 56 Brierley Road, Grimethorpe.  At the time the letters were written, William was working at Grimethorpe pit, not underground, but repairing the wooden 'corves', or trucks, that the coal was loaded into underground.  He was a very intelligent man, and self-taught as he had only basic primary education.  He was 'good with his hands' but also interested in electronics and science.  

Alice looked after the home, but before her marriage had been a cook in a large house in Wakefield.

Grace was the youngest of three children.  Vera, the eldest, had been identified as having heart trouble in her early teens.  She 'enjoyed' ill-health and did not work.  

Eric had trained as a blacksmith at the pit and, as mining was a protected occupation, he need not have joined the forces.  However, he volunteered and became a 'fitter' in the Fleet Air Arm.  Eric married Bessie Rodbourne in 1941.  Bessie lived with her father on a farm between Cudworth and Lundwood.

By the time the letters started only one of Grace's grandparents was still living.  Her grandfather, John Walker, lived on the High Street in Grimethorpe.  Grace had aunts, uncles and cousins who lived in Grimethorpe and the surrounding area.

This is Eric and Bessie's wedding photograph.  William and Alice Skuse are to the left, and Grace is standing next to them.  Eric and Bessie are in the centre and Vera is second from the right.

Grace was wearing this bridesmaid's dress when she went to the dance where she met Stan.  The dress is still hanging in my wardrobe.