Interview with Granny Irwin

My granny on my mother's side certainly is a character. She spends most of her time in her Cornish bungalow's garden, pottering about and tending to her plants. Her house is small and quiet, much like her, and although she doesn't show it, I suspect she's very sentimental. On the handful of visits I've made to her house, I've seen photographs pinned up on every surface, mostly of my cousins, me, my sister, and her late second husband, who I count as my grandfather despite a lack of blood relation. I remember going to her house as a child and playing with the only child-friendly game in the house, which was a vintage version of 'Barrel of Monkeys'. The only other entertainment was a piano or sneaking into her secret room, which had all sorts of memorabilia from her first husband. This room had shelves and shelves of war medals, pieces of art he had made, little trinkets and bric-a-brac, and books. This room, contrary to the rest of the open plan house, always had it door shut, and wasn't talked about. I think I only got to go in there once, and I've always wondered why it was kept that way. The only other evidence of Brian existing in that house was a painting above the worn piano, which I've also only heard once. It was on my last visit with my family in 2018, and as we all sat around the living room my granny went and started playing a broken version of Moonlight Sonata. It was although she had been a great piano player in her youth, but it was easy to tell that her motor skills have deteriorated over time. It sounded similar to returning to a language learned in high school after not thinking about it for years. It was fluent in some places, hesitant in others, but you could tell from her body language that she loves music, and knows a lot about it. Whenever my aunt would ring her on Christmas days, my granny would talk about the nature documentaries she's watched and the classical music she's listened to from her tiny kitchen radio. She can be a woman of few words, but if you give her a topic she likes she'll go on for 30 minutes uninterrupted. Unfortunately for me, this email interview was one of the times that she decided to keep quiet, mostly likely because she can't type all that well.

What role has photography played in your life? How has this changed as you have gotten older?

My father gave me Kodak secondhand camera when I was 10 and showed me how to adjust the focus and the light, and I took photos of house plants, apple trees and family and film was developed via the village Chemist. I took photos of children as they grew, and friends and cousins.

Do you see photography as an art, or as a way of quickly documenting events?

Photos remind me of happy places and events.

Has this opinion changed as you’ve gotten older? Why?

Opinion unchanged but I have less need now to record events and people.

What cameras do you remember using in your youth? And when your children were born/growing up?

I used the same old Kodak until I was 50 when I bought a Tesco disposable camera. I took photos of children at all stages.

Describe your favourite photograph of yourself/your family. Why is it your favourite?

I have a photo of my mother, aunt Betty and aunt Bridget, each with her first baby. I was one, the eldest baby.

Can you think of any artists or photographers that have inspired you throughout your life?

The creator of the photo of 'Three queens at the funeral of George VI'.

How would you describe yourself to a stranger?

Now wobbly and slow, but I was once energetic, busy and eager to work.

What were your hobbies and interests at my age?

Walking, cycling, exploring, knitting, squash.

How do these compare to your current hobbies and interests?

Gardening, reading, mending things.

What places have you lived in, and which was your favourite? Why?

Warmley, near Bristol, Stonelea, Kiddlington, Oxford, Devoran near Truro, Carnon Downs near Truro. My favourite was Devoran.

What is the one item you would want to save from a house fire? Why?

Comfortable strong shoes.

What’s the best job you’ve ever had? Why?

In the Neurology Outpatient department.

How did you meet Arthur? What was your first impression of him? What drew you in?

I met Arthur in the Ramblers Club on a cliff walk. He was calm and helpful and organised and needed company. He invited me to tea, baked beans, and showed me Porthtowan. Note that my first husband was Brian, who died in 1985. Arthur and I married in 1987, and he died in 2014. Both of them were wonderful and I wish I could have done more for them.

What’s your favourite memory of you and Arthur?

A walk in Constantine when it poured all the way, and we completed it.

Do you have any secrets or regrets?

Several regrets: mainly that I didn't realise how much my parents helped me, even traveled to London when I was unhappy. Then they let me borrow Dad's car to drive to Cornwall.