My Father, Thomas Edward Tasker was born in 1925 in Leeds and my mother, Shirley Tasker was born 6 years after that in Dewsbury West Yorkshire. Both my parents are no longer living.
Both my parents were devoted to me and my sister, Julia and I so our upbringing was full of love. They never had much money but we were always well provided for. Mum was a great cook and I always adored the food she put on our table.
Dad was a printer by trade but he got into sales working mainly in France where he had a little apartment just outside Paris in St. Germain En Laye.
Although he was born in Hunslet to a very working class family my father always had a vision of something better and higher. I am proud to say he was a life-long learner who moved beyond his northern working class roots to embrace the French language and a life-long love, and knowledge of France. He was passionate about the Great War and read huge amounts on that subject.
My mother was quite different and everyone who knew her spoke extremely highly of her. She had no vision beyond wanting to be a first class wife and mother. I'm delighted to say she fulfilled both those roles perfectly. My parents are buried together in a double plot in Horsforth Cemetery.
My paternal grandparents William and Annie Tasker
The photo above showns my parents Thomas and Shirley Tasker standing together in the kitchen doorway.
My paternal grandparents William Crichton Tasker and Annie Tasker can be seen in the photo on the left. My grandfather was from Scotland whilst my grandmother hailed from the Midlands. They had four offspring but two died leaving my father Thomas, my auntie Dorothy and my disabled uncle Donald. My grandmother was an incredibly hard working woman who never knew how to rest. She could turn her hand to anything be it cooking or sewing.
My maternal grandparents were Stanley and Annie Thornton.
Stanley and Annie Thornton were my maternal grandparents. Stanley was born in Manchester and my grandmother came from Dewsbury. They had just two children, my mother Shirley and my late uncle Garry Thornton. My grandfather Stanley had been in the army and served extensively in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy during the war. His was heavily involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino in the Italian campaign where he lead mule trains up the hillside whilst under constant bombardment. He was awarded a bravery medal by the Polish authorities who he worked with in that campaign.