Edna - the first 100 years

A lady called Edna was born a hundred years ago and she matters a great deal to me because she is my Grandmother. We should have been having a big party for her this summer, but of course, because of covid this didn’t happen. Instead, my husband (hereafter to be known as ‘Big C’) and I put together a video of her life with photos and music. I couldn’t resist sharing my musical choices with you; first of all because of course I love my own taste (big emoji wink here) but also I wanted to convey the profundity of how just one single life can make a difference to the to so many people. Granny nearly didn’t make it you see; after her mother endured a difficult birth, Edna arrived weighing just 4lbs. Her father claimed she looked like a skinned rabbit and Edna’s future did not look hopeful; her mother was unable to feed the baby and the doctor (almost unbelievably looking back) recommended that she was fed on condensed milk and barley water. Unsurprisingly the tiny Edna couldn’t hold any of this down and her first six weeks were spent regurgitating what she had been fed.

Six weeks later Edna still only weighed 4lbs, but luck and strength were on her side and a mother and baby clinic was opened locally. Edna gradually gained weight by being fed on formula milk and soon turned into a bonny, bouncing baby. Her Essex childhood was happy but Edna had fire in her belly and - bored by the prospect of remaining at home she independently got herself a job on the other side of London in Hampstead Library. In typical Granny fashion, she described with mirth how her mother cried when she left - bewildered and upset by this spirited daughter of hers.

By 1939, although Britain was at war Edna was by now settled in her job at the library. She lived in lodgings close by, but unwittingly had been noticed by a couple of young men who lived locally. Ernest Bernard Simmons (Fala - my Grandfather) was seven years older than Edna and was persistent in his pursuit of her. Although Fala didn’t pass away until I was twenty, he remains a fascinating and mysterious figure - I may research his life one day. Anyway, his efforts paid off; by 1940 they were married and settled into domestic life. Mary (my Mum) was born on 8 June 1941, my uncle followed in 1944 and - in typical feisty Edna fashion - they decided to stay put in Golders Green - close to many of the German bomb targets.

Following the end of the war, Britain was bankrupt, rations were still in place, and London was in large part a bomb site. Edna, Fala and the children had escaped with their lives but the late forties in London were bleak; when Fala was offered the chance to work in Gibraltar Edna jumped at it. They sailed out in the winter of 1947 just as the worst weather on record was coming in.

Edna described much of the next few years of life abroad (Gibraltar, The Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanganyika) as her doing ‘damned all.’ Two more children (my aunts) were born in 1951 and 1952 respectively and Edna adapted well to warm climates, different cuisine and new acquaintances.

They returned to the UK permanently in 1960 and, later on in that decade Edna decided to train to be a Primary School teacher. As she was keen for financial independence, teaching at that time - and the accompanying salary - was considered suitable work for a woman and Edna adapted to the lifestyle quickly. She carried on teaching for the rest of her working life, all the while watching her family grow larger and larger.

Edna’s family continues to grow and spread all over the world and is now, frankly enormous. I keep losing count of all my cousins, nieces, nephews (and now - joyously - a great niece and nephew with another on the way). At a rough guess Edna’s direct offspring amount to 54 (and counting) and they live in Australia, the US, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and many parts of the UK. My own kids adore all their cousins and it gives me such delight to see them hanging out together. I honestly feel our family have saved each other this summer. Thankyou Granny - what a legacy you have left.

My musical choices for Edna’s life:

Edna as a baby - Vaughan Williams, Symphony No 3 ‘Pastoral’ - first movement. Although this was completed two years later than Edna’s birth (1922 as opposed to 1920), the first sketches of it were made in Northern France in 1916 while VW was on active service. Much of this music is described as ‘peaceful’ or - more obviously - ‘rural’ but I think this presents a limited palette of what it is about. The opening few bars for example have a restlessness about them which is deep and expectant. Of course the music is more pastoral - the whole world was more so then. I do love VW’s use of folk melodies and harmonies though - very much ‘of these islands.’ See what you think.

Edna growing up - The Ink Spots, ‘Java Jive.’ Although this particular track wasn’t released until 1941, the group were formed in the ‘30s and this song perfectly sums up Granny’s happy and contented childhood. It is like a warm blanket being wrapped around you on a rainy day.

Ernest Bernard Simmons (Fala) - Debussy ‘Images 1’ - Reflects dan l’eau. Written in 1905, this piece for piano perfectly sums up the sound world Fala was born into. There is something in the mystery and ambiguity in the harmony that seems to capture the essence of him. I find it hard to listen to this without welling up….

Edna soon after she married - Nat ‘King’ Cole - ‘Let’s Fall in Love.’ Although Granny protested she wasn’t musical, she had a good ear and was far more discerning in her tastes than she pretended. One of the only times I ever saw her openly expressing joy at a piece of music was when this was on in the background. I had bought her this album and she was absolutely captivated by this track. Nat of course was a great pianist as well as being blessed with this velvety voice. I heard Harry Connick Junior saying that Nat had been ‘touched by God.’ You’re damn right Harry.

Edna during the war - Duke Ellington - ‘Take the ‘A’ Train.’ So why didn’t I pick Glen Miller? Well to be honest I think this band and music are better. Duke and Count Basie and their band members wrote and performed sophisticated music that swings like the clappers. Also, pleasingly, this track was written in 1939 and has just the right amount of dirtiness and drive. I have never got bored of it.

Edna on her travels…. Here I picked tracks by Paco Pena (Spanish guitarist) and Abdullah Ibrahim (great jazz pianist of African descent). I would say check out their albums and see what you love. I defy you not to be energised by this music.

Edna back in Blighty - George Butterworth ‘The Banks of Green Willow.’ Of course! There is more to Butterworth’s life than this piece but he really did captivate the rural idyll that is in our imaginations.

The Second Part of Edna’s life; grandchildren, work and so on…. I picked tracks from the quirky Brazilian album by Marco Valle ‘Samba ’68’ (impossible not to smile when listening to this), Jaqui Dankworth and Alan Barnes and Martin Taylor. I’m going to say more about these great British Jazz musicians on later posts, but in the meantime I order you to check them out.

Photo montage at the end - Michel Camilo ‘Just Kiddin.’ If you do not respond to this piece of music with pure joy, optimism and a sense of the human spirit then my friends you have a heart of stone. If God exists, he is in this piece of music. The band are utterly brilliant - monstrous in fact. Look at this list; Michel Camilo - piano, Lew Soloff - trumpet, Chris Hunter - alto and tenor saxes, Anthony Jackson - bass, Dave Weckl - drums, Sammy Figueroa - percussion, Guarionex Aquino - percussion. Yeeessss! Seriously, everything that is good about the USA is in this band and I hope it will be true artists like these that saves that country.

And finally……. I own all of these albums. In our present time of instant gratification, spending only seconds jumping from one piece to another online it really is worth your time and effort really listening. In these trying times, if you can find the headspace to do this I can assure you the rewards will come. Warmest musical vibes to all of you.