"When I was growing up, being the eldest of seven children born to my Irish, Catholic parents meant having additional responsibility within the family setting. The family functioned largely by each member of it being responsible for the next youngest in line to them while my mother cooked, cleaned, washed, ironed and darned her day away. With my father labouring 12 hours a day in the foundry or the mine to economically support us, and with my mother being regularly in the hospital giving birth to another trooper of the 'Forde Regiment', I assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief during my parents' absence from the home.
People born into smaller and financially sound families never experience the second-hand and hand-me-down practices and responsibilities that were a part of our survival kit. Not only were clothes and shoes passed down to the next brother or sister in the pecking age order, but so was the prime responsibility of looking after the next younger sibling! I'll never forget the first tricycle that my brother Patrick received as a birthday present. It was second- hand, of course, but by the time he passed it down to his younger brother, Peter a few years later, he'd run it around the garden so much that he'd buckled the front wheel.
My overall responsibility was to oversee 'all' of them 'overseeing each other'. Although now 74 years of age, I still have that feeling of responsibility towards my six younger brothers and sisters who have grown stronger since both of our parents died many years ago. I strongly suspect that it is a feeling of responsibility that will pass to my sister Mary when I eventually go to my grave. Until then, Mary and the rest of my siblings, are you each sure that you are still keeping your eye out for your younger sibling? I'll know if you're not, and so will mum and dad!" William Forde: April 19th, 2017.