FAMILY TREES

TED

Average height and upright, large brown eyes, very straight white teeth and a reddish complexion. He was very good looking with a lovely smile, sported a moustache and spoke in a soft voice with a hint of both Tyneside and Yorkshire accents. A very gentle person he often appeared to be in another world in a dreamy sort of way.

A very accomplished piano player. At the house gathering after his sister Nan's funeral, he played with great gusto as many of the family were there. This was the last time I saw him as he came North to visit his folk.

He worked most of his life as a draughtsman. Like most of the Nicod family, he had a good ear for music and high ability at hand drawing and writing skills. Initially in Reyrolles but eventually struck out with his brother Alec and found employment with a firm in Yorkshire. He lived at Burley, a small town near his work.

Although not one to contribute conversation in company he enjoyed a good sense of humour and other people's unusual activities. I recall how he laughed and laughed at the piece of rope hung on the inside of the door of the backyard lavatory. This was for users in a sitting position to hang onto in case the door was opened inadvertently !

During the early 1950's, he decided to emigrate with his family to America and planned initially to work with his sister Charlotte and her husband and family in helping to run their hotel. The work involved maintaining the hotel and grounds. In the evening he entertained guests by his skills at playing the piano. Dora helped at waitressing.

However, the venture proved unsuccessful for him and his family as he was homesick for England. One memorable letter of his from America ended with the familiar lines from Scott's 'Lay of the Last Minstrel'. 'Breathes there the man with soul so dead / Who never to himself hath said / This is my own my native land'. "I intend to return-Ted." Mother laughed at the overdone sentiment but that expresses the sort of character he was.

Apparently, he left the homestead life and travelled around with his family (and grand piano ?) hoping to make a living with his music. However, it was not successful and after some time, he returned to England and Yorkshire, back to his work as a draughtsman.

Every year they went camping in the Lake District and once a memorable postcard arrived at home, simply saying ' Beautiful golden days Vi'. Again this gave much merriment from Mother who was much more down to earth.

He idolised his daughter Joan, their one and only child. As well as being a good pianist, his art work was of a high standard as is evident from his works scattered around the family.

Ted was a great fisherman and was often out in the early hours doing a spot of trout fishing in the River Wharfe - sometimes illegally on private stretches. He was a very friendly person and rarely had a bad word to say about anyone.

When he returned home from America the family lived in a large house with the mother of one of the owners of the Jowett car makers. Ted kept the large attached garden and grew lovely vegetables and flowers. When the mother died, Ted was unable to buy the house and they had to move out and find alternative accomodation.

Ted's brother Bill occasionally went on holiday to Yorkshire with his family and enjoyed a stay with Ted and Dora.

For most people in work, wages were not high and thrift was a way of life with little money to spare. In this respect the Nicod family was no exception, especially being brought up through WW1, WW2, the after effects and the thirties depression. Ted however, always seemed quite kind and friendly. His father's gold watch was left to him but apparently he straight away sold it which Mother was quite upset about.

I liked him very much indeed and remember him with fondness as he always seemed so peaceable. ( Rosemary/snippets Helen).