This site is primarily for sharing family photographs but also to report on family events, especially Family Sundays, and to share family news.
Gosh it is over two years since this site was updated. No doubt the reason for this was the fact that in that time we lost a whole generation, Jack, Terry, Audrey then Peggie. We miss them all. So let's record some of the events of the past years:
28th August 2010 - Rob and Becca's wedding at the Matara Wedding Venue. Another fabulous family wedding and the last of the four girls to marry so they are now all off our hands! Jeremy took photos with his Minolta SLR which you can see by clicking here. He took others with his Canon Camera and Frankie took the shots in the gold picture frame, and a few others. A budding photographer it would seem. Here are those pictures.
7th August 2010 - Trisha and Martyn's ruby wedding anniversary was celebrated in Stowmarket at the home of Fiona and Simon. David was keen to practise photography and was let loose with Jeremy's camera. Here are their combined efforts.
4th July 2009 - Gemma and Russell's wedding at the Egerton House Hotel. After torrential rain the day before the sun shone and we all had a brilliant day. Here is the photogaphic record.
15th March 2008 - Chickens arrive at the Mills household. Today Frankie, Toby and Maddy went to resuce three battery chickens but came home with four: Ginger, Britney (no feathers!), Wilma and Maisie. Poor things look very scruffy and a bit apprehensive. They can't get used to space and being able to walk around. We hope to be able to show you through the web site how they thrive. These were taken on day one.
Jan-Feb 2008 We're in love with the Maldives. Jeremy and Jean spent an idyllic two weeks visiting some of these fabulous islands. We cruised on a small diving ship for the first week then had a week on the tiny island of Komandoo. Paradise. Just a few of the hundreds of pictures taken by Jeremy can be viewed here.
Christmas 2007 - Well who would have thought it. We managed to get the VAPs up North for Christmas. Jean brought Nannan and Grandad home after she had been exhibiting in London. This meant we got a full family attendance on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Nannan was recovering from her knee replacement operation but she made it upstairs on Christmas Day. Hurrah!
Here is a selection of the unusually few photos taken over Christmas. As ever, the Lesters joined us on Christmas morning and during the day the others arrived in batches! Martin and Bryony were on nights but able to spend a good bit of each festive day with us.
Sunday 30th September - Sorry I have been too busy to update the web site recently. There is lots going on and we've been away. We went on a very emotional holiday to Normandy to visit the World War 2 beaches, staying in Bayeux as our Normandy base. We then moved on to World War 1, based this time in Ieper (or Ypres as it was formally known). We were thrilled to visit the church where Grandad Henderson played the organ when stationed in a little Normandy village and look forward to sharing the photos with him soon. We really enjoyed following the footsteps of our respective fathers in Normandy but the Sommes was another matter. The unnecessary killing and huge waste of life had an enormous impact on us.
We have assembled a small collection of photographs but it was difficult to choose.
Meanwhile, Grandad Henderson has been in and out of hospital having chemotherapy for a recurrence of his lymphoma. It has been a struggle for him at times, but he copes amazingly well. He is due back in on Tuesday 2nd October for his 3rd 5-day programme. Nannan isn't too good at the moment either, she is in a lot of discomfort. Nannan and Grandad have been enjoying visits from Uncle Harry and Aunty Jackie over the last few days.
Granny and Grandad Duerden are remarkably well but Granny is getting more frail and is dependent on Grandad for all her needs.
August 2007
We enjoyed having our grandchildren stay for one night and a day each week of the school holidays whist Effie did her OU work. Here are a few pictures from our days out. Frankie had her 9th birthday party in July - a sleep over. You will be amazed what 9 year-old girls get up to. You can get some idea from these pictures!
Saturday 11th August - The Silver Wedding was a lovely family ocassion and apart from the traffic making many people very late, but not Becca who would like it recording that she was there 10 minutes before the start, everything went well. To view pictures from the event click here. Bryony has now sent her pictures that you can see here.
Monday 6th August - Effie's birthday - but busy writing OU assignements. A bit of a write off really. Nearly as bad as Gemma's on Wednesday 8th August. She is travelling back from three days working in Glasgow as Russell leaves for a meeting in Peterborough! Still they can celebrate at the weekend when they stay at a smart hotel in Winchester on the way to and from the Silvery Wedding celebration.
Sunday 5th August - Nanan not feeling much better after surgery. Let's hope she's feeling better in time for the Silver Wedding Celebration.
Tuesday 17th July - Nanan has gone to hospital for an operation on her knee. Let's hope it gives her some relief.
Sunday 15th July
Becca brought Rob to meet us and don't they look happy?
Saturday 14th July
Gemma and Russell attended Faye and Matt's wedding and surprisingly the sun shone and it was a wonderful day. Here's the happy couple with Faye's Mum and Dad, Mike and Moya. Doesn't she look gorgeous.
Monday 9th July
You will all be relieved to know that Nanan and Granddad made it safely back from their music cruise that they enjoyed. They even joined the choir. See their pictures here
Sunday 8th July - Race for Life
We have raised nearly £1500 including gift aid. We ran in the rain and GranJean achieved her target of 35 mins so the training paid off. She's thinking of hanging up her running shoes now as Maddy wasn't far behind and will be bound to beat her, as Frankie did, next year! Super-fit Bryony made it in 30 mins. Click here for some wet pictures.
Meanwhile, Graham cycled with three generations of the Mills Family from Manchester to Blackpool. His Dad, brother and nephew all took part in this annual event. They also cycled to Manchester to start the race! Well done all in that awful weather.
Sunday 7th July - Relay for Life
The boys didn't leave it all up to the girls to contrubute to raising funds for Cancer Research. Rossendale Relay for Life was held over 24 hours Saturday to Sunday and the Duerden Family made their contribution for five hours on Saturday, with Martin and Bryony walking for over 2 hours followed by Graham and Toby. Davina then arrived to speed up the pace and she ran for 1.5 hours whilst Jean practised some laps (every other!) with her in preparation for the next day. Jeremy, having been called out to Bolton Police Station joined in to do his bit over the last 1.5 hours but did not run! Click here for pictures.
7th - 27th May - Visit from our Indian Family
For three weeks in May we were delighted to have Imran and Farin stay with us. They won the hearts of all the family and our friends. They had a wonderful time and especially enjoyed their trips with their "Aunties and Uncles". The big one at Blackpool with Aunty Gemma and Uncle Russell was probably the high spot of their holiday, but we're not sure if it was for Russell and Gemma! Click here for a selection of Imran's pictures. He took more than a 1000!
6th May 2007 - Lower Cribden Avenue Ball
What a night this was and what a way to celebrate Bryony and Martin's first wedding anniversary. Click the picture to see the Duerden family having a ball! Such outrageous behaviour by these girls!
