Email: carlkamp@netactive.co.za
My father's name was William Alfred Nicol. He was born in Newcastle,
Gateshead-on-Tyne. My story is a sad one for I neither knew my g/mother
or g/father. I did however write to my granny Susannah Nicol nee
Banes. This story, true or false bears relating to anyone who finds story
telling fascinating. As the story goes, my gran married my grandfather (my
dad was named after his father) but apparently he was disinherited due the
marriage. I have a photograph of my gran dressed in a "gypsy
costume" as I was lead to believe all those years ago. My father,
ever the quiet man he was, seldom spoke of his family in Newcastle, except
to say that he missed them and especially his mother (his father had
passed away shortly after I was born in 1953). There were 5 sisters and 2
brothers including my dad. My father passed away when I was 4 months
pregnant with my son, also named after my dad in 1980. I have always
had such an intense desire to travel to my dad's place of birth, as I have
never traveled out of South Africa.
PS In October 2000 I and my family (husband, son and daughter) actually
visited and stayed in Isle of Skye/Inverness. My heart soared to the skies
upon learning that we have bought back, albeit a small piece of our land,
with the help of so many other Nicols, Nicholsons in other countries.. It is
the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, it was as if I had stepped back
in time/history and felt the love our people must have had of this lush
land. Standing on the grave site where supposedly 28 chiefs are buried was
sould lifting. I am so proud of what the clan have done to preserve the
history of this significant part of history. My only sorrow is that I cannot
find out which part of Scotland my grandparents come from....... I have
searched and searched, and eventually visited Isle of Skye.... so... I will
keep on searching, maybe this time I will actually meet one of my family....
keep you posted. |
