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|  | | BRAITHWAITES. Three generations of North West England Country Folk
A trilogy of my family history on my father's side.
The Biography of my grandfather's life, some of which I experienced and some narrated by my father, gives some insight into the way of life for that generation of country folk.
My father's life is of course much more first hand. Having said that the author left home to join the Royal Air Force at the age of fifteen and a half, so hefty chunks are culled from family conversations and of course father himself who had a penchant for talking about the "Braithwaites" to anyone who would listen.
The short biography of my great grandfather came from the more elderly members of the family and my family history research in local archives. I just wish that I had asked more questions in my younger years, but at the time these things didn't seem very important, and one could get their ears boxed for being too nosey.
The "Braithwaites" are descended from "Viking Stock" and possibly centered on the "Hawkshead" and "Sawrey" parishes circa 1162. The "thwaite" part of the name coming from the Old Norse "thveit" commonly translated as a "Forest Clearing". Some sources suggest that they arrived here from the Isle of Man.
The males of my own family have a history of being Wood cutters, huntsmen, gamekeepers, gun-dog breeders & trainers. So all very much involved with country life and nature.
I hope you enjoy the read, and maybe if you are a member of the "Clan/Tribe" it might just make a connection that you have been looking for.
The short accounts of "Grizedale Valley" and "Local Farms" are included for interest, but are part of my family involvement with the area
JOHN BRAITHWAITE
GAMEKEEPER AND WOOD CUTTER
1843 - 1928
I was born the eldest child of Robert and Sarah Braithwaite on the 19th March 1843. My father was a Yeoman Farmer of "High Yeat" farm in Witherslack located in the Furness area of Lancashire. (Now known as South Lakes or South Cumbria).
I had three brothers:
Benjamin born 28th November 1846 and died aged 12 months
Robert born 1848
Daniel born 1854 in Preston Patrick and was to emigrate to Canada
Robert and myself moved to the Appleby area to live and work as woodcutters and game watc | |  | | Diaries of a Transfemale
This is a follow on from "From Brigands to "V" Bombers and tells the story in diary format of the transition to "Lynne" (12th May 1989-31st December 2001)
LIFE BEGAN AT 60
LJ Braithwaite BEM LSGCM & Clasp RAF Retd.
Born 1st July 1934
I have, like my father, always kept diaries. It has allowed me to, over the years, to take a rational look backwards and see where my life has taken me.
The reader can take a look into the first 60 years of my life as told in "From Brigands to V Bombers" in which I told of my youth in the Lake District (N W England) followed by the best part of 40 years in the Royal Air Force.
With the momentous change in my lifestyle (that in my inner self I knew to be inevitable), the writing | |  | | Diaries of a Transfemale Book 2
Book 2 came about because my e-publisher deemed the original book (almost 800 pages) to be too big for an e-book. So I agreed to split it into two books.
Lynne Janine Braithwaite BEM LSGCM & Clasp RAF Retd.
1st July 1934
The author was born "Lawrence James Braithwaite on the 1st July 1934 in the village of Near Sawrey about halfway between Hawkshead and the Ferry across Windermere in the Lake District.
What more could one want than to be born into such idyllic surroundings. He attended Hawkshead school and left at the age of 15yrs to join the RAF as a "Boy Entrant" and signed the dotted line on 27th September 1949.
Demob day was the 1st July 1989 followed by divorce on the 4th July 1989.
I then ran my own busines | |  | | From Brigands to V Bombers
Covers the period from birth on the 1st July 1934 to the end of RAF career in 1989.
LJB enlisted as a "Boy Entrant" (Airframe mechanic) in September 1949 and retired as a Flight Sergeant (Aircraft Fitter Airframe) on the 1st July 1989 having served thirty nine and a half years.
From BRIGANDS to "V" BOMBERS
LJ Braithwaite BEM LSGCM & Clasp RAF Retd.
1st July 1934 - 1st July 1989
The author "Lawrence James Braithwaite was born 1st July 1934 in the village of Near Sawrey about halfway between Hawkshead and the Ferry across Windermere in the Lake District.
What more could one want than to be born into such idyllic surroundings. He attended Hawkshead school and left at the age of 15yrs to join the RAF as a "Boy Entrant" and signed the dotted line on 27th September 1949.
Having trained as an Airframe Mechanic over a period of 18 months wa | |  | | Lynne's Diaries
Lynne's Diaries is the paperback that was published prior to the e-Books. It tells the story of a young boys school days followed by almost forty years service in the Royal Air Force. Then finally having to face up to reality and the birth of "Lynne" The book is no longer available as it was "Remaindered" by the publisher (Vanity Press) "Yes I got caught"
Chapter 3.
2nd ALLIED TACTICAL AIR FORCE, GERMANY
the tenth of December 1953 finds me with all my kit at RAF Buckeburg, which is the distribution centre for all manpower posted to Europe. The staff is rather suprised that I already know what my destination is, but accept it and off to RAF Celle I go on the "Blue Train".
The RAF base takes it's name from the local town and is of course an ex Luftwaffe base.It was in fact a bit of a showcase base for them. I made my way to the HQ building after checking in at the guardroom and picked up my arrival form on which I have to collect nume |
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