Eulogy – Judith Clayton
– Read by Conor – Judith’s grandson
Kathy and Joanne’s memories of their mum
Judy was born in 1939 to Joseph and Elizabeth Parrott, Joe and Betty, and had an elder sister, Jean. They lived on Scales Street, off Langworthy Road in Salford. During World War 2, Judy and Jean were evacuated to Hayfield in Derbyshire for four years. Later in life, the sisters returned to visit their cousins and their famous Uncle Charlie and his china ‘potty’ collection.
Judy spent most of her adolescent years in Salford, often playing in Buile Hill and Chimney Pot Park. She spoke nostalgically about her youth on Scales Street and the nearby spots, especially Mrs Vase’s Corner Shop, Kid’s Fish and Chips, the market, and the docks. She looked back on these places with a gritty sense of romanticism that perfectly reflected the area.
She excelled in English, and after finishing school, she attended Loreburn Secretarial College, where she learned typing and shorthand. Her first job was at the Co-op Insurance where she met her friend Rosemary. She then joined Manchester Council as a secretary and P.A. and for a time worked for the Town Clerk. Later, she moved into Personnel, where she met her long-term friend Mavis.
Judy loved dancing and met Denis at a local dance hall. They were a sociable and fashionable couple, always impeccably dressed, with lots of friends. They loved rock 'n' roll music and were members of several Trad Jazz clubs in Manchester. They often spent time with Jean and her future husband, Tom, sharing great times together and enjoying holidays in Eastbourne.
In 1955, Denis was called up for National Service and was stationed in Devizes and Kidderminster, frequently hitchhiking home on leave to visit Judy. They married on July 18th, 1959, and five years later moved to Prestwich, where they had two daughters, Joanne and Kathy. Jean also had two girls, Jill and Claire, they share lots of great memories growing up together.
Saturday afternoons were family get-togethers at Joe and Betty’s, always starting with a visit to Salford Market. Joe would take all the grandchildren to the park whilst Betty and the girls prepared tea, which sometimes included tongue sandwiches! Then everybody would sit round watching The Generation Game, playing spot the ball, and listening to Mary Hopkins and Herb Alpert records.
As kids we used to dress up in mum’s wedding dress pretending, we were in ‘Come Dancing’ and wore her white ice skates using the carpet as ice! She just let us get on with it.
In the early 70s, we all headed to Eastbourne for our annual trip to Kings Holiday Park. We’ve no idea how Dad managed to fit us all into his Ford Anglia, Kathy sat on Mum's knee for 9 hours plus grandparents, a wheelchair, and suitcases on the roof rack.
Mum loved socialising and had so many lovely friends including Dorothy, Maureen, Tony and Helen. Lots of nights out in Manchester, dancing at The Ritz, Foo Foos and The Press Club with Mavis and Lesley. It wasn’t uncommon for Jo, Kathy, and their friends to be out on the same nights. Music was a huge part of Judy’s life; Band on the Wall, The Welcome Inn with Kathy and Glastonbury Abbey to see Bryan Ferry. Some of her favourite concerts were; Chris Rea, Tony Bennett, Robert Cray, Eric Bibb and Paul Carrick. She also loved the Mother’s Day soul weekend at Butlins watching George McCrae.
Mum always welcomed our friends to 3 Vernon Drive and she was a great cook. Nina often stayed over and bacon butties served up the next morning. Mum and dad have always had great neighbours including Hiliary and Phil. In the early days Joan, Kevin, Tracy and Mark lived next door and a great friendship began.
During school holidays, Mum would take us and our cousins on day trips to Blackpool, Southport, and Belle Vue. We all loved the fairground rides, and Mum joined in the fun especially on the caterpillar ride.
Mum and Dad were keen bowlers and members of the Church Institute. Mum played on the darts team, while Dad’s band, ‘Moonshine,’ entertained us with regular family nights. Mum later joined Prestwich Con Club, forming another group of friends and creating many fond memories. She loved the Northern Soul sessions and enjoyed watching Luke doing his dance moves—maybe he’ll recreate some of them later today.
Mum went to art classes and Conor came along, she was so talented which can be seen in her watercolour painting of Holcombe Hill.
She loved her holidays, Scotland and Spain with the Con Club girls organised by Jean Chadwick, Paris and London with Joan, Corsica, Yugoslavia and Greece with Jean and Mavis, always coming back with funny stories. Kath and mum enjoyed their trips to the Channel Islands, Northumberland, the Lakes and to Polperro in Cornwall where they met up with Ann and Bob. Barbados was another memorable trip with Jean & Irene as well as walking holidays in Whitby. She loved Sorrento and Cala D’or with Dad, as well as family vacations to America, including New York and the West Coast, with Ray being their personal tour guide. Her love of music also led her to the Deep South, where she visited Memphis and Nashville, including Sun Studios and Elvis’s home.
Mum loved the night sky especially the moon and she enjoyed sitting out on a warm summer evening in her lovely garden with a glass of wine. On the night mum passed away the north star was shining brightly reminding us of her.
[Conor] And now I would like to say some words on behalf of myself and Luke.
For me and Luke, our early memories of Nana began every day at 3:30pm, shortly after the final school bell rang and grandad whisked us off home in the Fiesta.
It wouldn’t be long before the four of us were off to Salford Precinct, round Woolworths to lend a hand with the shopping. Nana knew how to treat us, and at the end of every trip we were given free range of the Hot Wheels and Plastic Soldiers shelves in the Pound Shop, where I’d add a few hundred more to my collection that would later grace the thousands on the mantel piece.
A quick stop off at McDonalds was sometimes followed by a spot of cricket in Worsley Park. Nana would field and inevitably make me feel like I was destined for The Ashes as I would crack the stumps behind Luke who was barely old enough to swing the bat. Nevertheless, she made both of us feel like we could do anything.
We would return back to the house and she would have bowls of our favourite sweets served up as we watched Scooby Doo.
Jam sandwiches were an occasional treat on the days we stayed inside. By the time Mum came to collect us after dark we would be glued to the sofa like we were kings on our thrones.
As we grew up, we would join Nana, Kathy, Claire, Jean and Mum downstairs in our house for a fun, late night treat of laughs, music and salmon sandwiches. Nana could always crack a wicked joke and we would be encapsulated by her stories about her and Jean’s mischiefs as children. Whether it was her blonde fringe, tanned skin, generosity or just the fact she cranked up the heating like it was a tropical paradise, there was always something amazingly warm about being in her company. She always lifted the mood and her love for life was infectious to be around.
Holidays included The Empire Hotel in Llandudno and many a day spent on the slot machines on Eastbourne Pier. Nana always had extra to give us and a cheeky wink followed up with “oh don’t be ridiculous” as she insisted on slipping us some coins whilst Mum wasn’t looking.
Later in life the party was brought to her house, and we were finally able to share a few bottles of wine into the night as she rolled off her favourite records for Alexa to play. Marley became her third Grandchild and even he couldn’t hide his excitement at the treats to come as his tail waggled and dragged us onto Vernon Drive.
We’ll remember my Nana for her warmth, her witty humour, love of cool, relaxing music and her never-ending generosity. Her personality never aged and her Rock n Roll spirit would still show up most of the modern generation. She and our Granny were our biggest champions and she took every interest in our achievements big or small. She had a gentle nature, artistic delicacy and a love for us that will never be surpassed.
She lived life to the full, and I know she would like to thank every one of you for being here to celebrate her life, especially those of you who have travelled a long way.
Joanne & Kathy
16th August 2024
