At the request of my Aunty Dot, in 2014 my Cousin Sue sent me the above picture of Frank Magerison and Lily. They are in front of the Pier at Cleethorpes (*) around 1925. Lily was my Grandma or Nana as she preferred to be called. Lily Agnes Wood was born in 1899 in Leeds, Yorkshire. She was quite the character. For example, when she was 93 she went to the Doctor’s and said “Doctor, I have been having a nip of brandy every day for the last 30 years, should I stop?”. The Doctor diplomatically said “Err, no!”. Lily lived until she was 97.

Lily had six children with three different partners. The first chap who Lily married, and whose name I don’t know, died in World War 1; he had Irene with Lily when she was 19 years old.  A certain Joe Cook had Freddie and Dot with Lily in ‘marriage’. Frank Magerison had Margaret, Dad and Neville with Lily out of marriage. This was a taboo subject back then. We were all asked to take the name Cook. Later when she met ‘Uncle Harry’ as we called him, she took the name Burns. 

Cousin Sue mentioned at the time of the email, eight years ago, that it was odd to see family features on a total stranger. I replied yes this is the first time I had ever seen a picture of Frank. Indeed, in our immediate family, we had never heard anything at all about him until about 2005. Dad never talked about it. Even after 2005, I got to know very little about Frank Magerison. Also, there were stories of Frank's three children having to be sent to an Aunt's when Cook came home from his ‘travels’. Cook claimed that he went around the country tuning pianos and organs! Tall story? So, although I do not wish to stir things up for my last remaining Uncle, I need to mention all this given that he was my Grandad, given this project and taking into account the fact I have a picture of Frank and Lily at the seaside. My kids used to laugh at me for being confused about my family relations. Is it any wonder?

Also, I need to mentioned all this because, when my son Billy heard of all this a few years ago, in an act of rebellion (long story) he took Magerison as his stage name. Billy still uses Magerison (I have put a link to a video showing Billy’s amazing work below, shot on the coast at Weston Super Mare! "Swimming in the sea ... no place I'd rather be"). In fact I have two very creative children. My fabulous Illustrator daughter Meghan Kinnison-Cook created the 'UK and Ireland silhouette' graphic used on this site for me. So, a lot to get off my chest in this post. 

Next month. On 16-17 September I visit Cromer, and Skegness. I have other photos and stories to follow up. In fact I have a Summer of 1961 picture of Lily and yours truly on the beach at Skegness. Watch this space!