My memories of my father are a little disjointed as the earliest memories are very sketchy. I remember little prior to my mothers sudden death from cancer in 1959. I suspect that this event and the subsequent upheaval has put those memories on the back-burner somewhere.  I do though remember the days when i would visit his friends the McKimms on Georges Street and my mothers side of the family the Jamisons of Greenwell Street, i must say that i used to really enjoy visiting my Grandfather and Grandmother Jamison and the Uncles and Aunts as there was always something interesting going on whether it was hunting,fishing,motorcycles or whatever there was seldom a dull moment. But as is easily understood my mothers sudden death at such an early age (32) came as a dreadful shock to all involved and the fact that soon after my father went off to work overseas and left me in the care of my Grandfather and Grandmother Beattie whilst my Sister Caroline was adopted by other inlaws so the family exploded in all directions. It was difficult to reconcile at the time and left me with a terribly fatalistic outlook on life as i came to believe that it was unsafe to put too much trust in anything or anyone because that trust may be taken away at any moment without warning. I found that i had no longer any fear of danger or the dark or creepy crawlies or anything else for that matter. But father had also found it difficult and his overseas work was a welcome distraction, he worked in Switzerland, Zambia, Zaire (The Congo) and spent time in the Republic of Ireland as well. He had started his working life in Webbs on the Crawfordburn Road as an apprentice tenter (mechanic on a weaving loom) and later joined the Crepe Weavers where he became quite friendly with the Czech owners the M'ladiks. When the textile industry in Ulster was allowed to decline he found it necessary to travel further afield than Newtownards so he ventured off to work for Courtaulds in Whiteabbey which was later to stand him in good stead. It was after my mothers death that an offer of work in Carlisle UK was received by him as he had previously joined an agency attached to Courtaulds. This later led to more offers of adventure and better money so there started his international career. He had from a young age taken a great interest in the machinery he worked on and put forward ideas to improve both the production and the safety of the looms which earned him a stay with Sutzer in Switzerland. To give you a quick idea of the working environment click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgG7Mro8bTw

Early in his life he also gained a great interest in the latest technologies whether mechanical or electronic. He and his brother Jim built an early wind generator at Grandfather Beatties house at 21 William Street and it worked perfectly, it powered a shortwave radio setup with a Ferguson amp and 12" speaker as well as lighting and various low power consumption items. I also remember him spraying motorcycles in the bottom half of the large workshop which had once been a cow byre, the top half "Nasa Control" had previously been my Grandfathers photographic studio.

	Early days
Returning from a sunday morning walk up the Mountain Road , through Clandeboye and return via the lead mines and North Road.
	My Father Blakley on a visit to 21 William Street from his home in Carlisle
L-R   Wilbur with cap, Vera with white hat, Cousins Carol with black hat, My Sister Caroline with headscarf, Cousin Pauline with wool hat, Myself with bike jacket, above is Grandma and to her right my Father Blakely.
	On Grandfathers Honda S65
With Sister Caroline.
	Model of Motorcycle not known...
Father, Mother Jeanie, myself and Sister Caroline Barrs Bay near Newtownards 1950s
Apparently a Crepe Weavers outing..? Father back centre with the big smile