FordeFables
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        • Chapter One - The Irish Custom
        • Chapter Two - Patrick Duffy's Family Background
        • Chapter Three - Patrick Duffy Junior's Vocation to Priesthood
        • Chapter Four - The first years of the priesthood
        • Chapter Five - Father Patrick Duffy in Seattle
        • Chapter Six - Father Patrick Duffy, Portlaw Priest
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        • Chapter Four - Sean Thornton marries Sheila
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        • Chapter Six - Facts and Truth are Not Always the Same
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        • Chapter 1 - 'Return of the Prodigal Son'
        • Chapter 2 - 'The early years of sweet innocence in Portlaw'
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        • Chapter 5 - 'Portlaw to Manchester'
        • Chapter 6 - 'Salford Choices'
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        • Chapter 8 - 'The Aylesbury Pilgrimage'
        • Chapter 9 - Sean's interest in stone masonary'
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        • Chapter 11 - 'Return of the Prodigal Son'
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        • Chapter One
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        • Chapter One: ' Liam Lafferty is born'
        • Chapter Two : 'The Baptism of Liam Lafferty'
        • Chapter Three: 'The early years of Liam Lafferty'
        • Chapter Four : Early Manhood
        • Chapter Five : Ned's Secret Past
        • Chapter Six : Courtship and Marriage
        • Chapter Seven : Liam and Trish marry
        • Chapter Eight : Farley meets Ned
        • Chapter Nine : 'Ned comes clean to Farley'
        • Chapter Ten : Tragedy hits the family
        • Chapter Eleven : The future is brighter
      • The life and times of Joe Walsh >
        • Chapter One : 'The marriage of Margaret Mawd and Thomas Walsh’
        • Chapter Two 'The birth of Joe Walsh'
        • Chapter Three 'Marriage breakup and betrayal'
        • Chapter Four: ' The Walsh family breakup'
        • Chapter Five : ' Liverpool Lodgings'
        • Chapter Six: ' Settled times are established and tested'
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        • Chapter Ten: ' The murder trial of Paddy Groggy'
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        • Chapter One: 'The Christmas Enigma'
        • Chapter Two: ' The Breakup of Beth's Family''
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        • Chapter Eight: ' Leaving the Mill'
        • Chapter Ten: ' Beth buries her Ghosts'
        • Chapter Eleven: Beth and Dermot start off married life in Galway.
        • Chapter Twelve: The Twin Tragedy of Christmas, 1992.'
        • Chapter Thirteen: 'The Christmas star returns'
        • Chapter Fourteen: ' Beth's future in Portlaw'
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        • Chapter One - ‘Nancy Swales becomes the Widow Swales’
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May 17th, 2014.

18/5/2014

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Picture
Thought for today:
This weekend the village of Haworth will again be presenting  their 1940s weekend. If you have never been, it is a pleasure not to be missed. Although my cancer treatment will prevent me mixing with crowds this weekend, I am sending my good wife Sheila out with a few of her friends to join the fun. Say hello to her if you see her out and about.

Many years ago, I had occasion to find out about numerous women who'd lost their sweethearts and husbands during the First and Second World War years. I was particularly sadden to read the accounts of all those women who'd planned to marry their soldier sweethearts when the war was over, but whose death on the battle field made their wedding dress redundant. Many of these women never married and mourned their loss until the day they died. Whereas the grief and loss of war widows was recognised and sympathised with by all, this other group of women remained largely unsupported in their loss. Some who later discovered that they'd become pregnant after their sweetheart had gone off to war, planned to marry on his first weekend of leave. However, his untimely death meant that they'd been left unmarried and alone in motherhood to mourn in public shame. I was very fortunate to know one such woman called Henrietta who died 15 years ago at the age of 94 years. I penned the following poem called 'Arthur and Guinevere' in her memory and the memory of all women who lost their sweethearts during the war years:


'Arthur and Guinevere'


"The pleasure hills of time rolls down, 
Haunting Guinevere with years gone by.
If only, she could remember still;
The walks, the talks, those promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of lovers' skies.


When shall we wed, oh Arthur dear?
When the fighting's done is time enough.
We'll have that cottage, children too;
The walks, and talks and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of calm, blue skies.


How goes the battle, Arthur dear?
How long must I wait before you're home?
I miss you oh so much, my love;
The walks, the talks, those promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of hopeful skies.


I fear I won't be back, my dear.
The heaven is filled with death's dark cloak.
My spirit's crushed, the legs are gone.
No more walks, talks, and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of moving skies.

Take heart, take love, take all I've got,
But please, bring thyself back home, my love.
Don't rob me of my treasured dreams;
The walks, the talks, those promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of married skies.

Your Arthur passed away last week.
In battle fierce he gave up his life.
He fought for freedom, country, home;
And walks, the talks, and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of English skies.

I'll ne'er forget you, oh my love.
I'll save the gown until next we meet.
I'll savour all my dreams so sweet;
Of walks, and talks and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of restful skies.


The flowers have withered on thy grave
And I've lost all image of thy face.
My spirit's crushed, the legs have gone;
No more walks, talks and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of moving skies.

Together once more, side by side,
Arthur and Guinevere share last space,
As final words of love are passed;
Of walks, and talks, and promised kisses
Beneath the dawn of rainbow skies."

Copyright William Forde: May 17th, 2014

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