My Great Grandmother Joyce Gould (ז"ל) was born on November 14th 1927
in Brooklyn , NY. She moved around alot beacause of her father's job. My Great Grandmother
and her parents Joseph and Rebecca Cross lived in many places such as Birmingham, Manchester,
Blackpool, and Leeds. Her Uncle who was an opticiant that lived in Leeds so they moved in with him.
My Great Grandmother worked as a secretary and personal assistant in J's Furniture Store and
Worked as a personal assitant for a university professor. During the Second World War she was a young girl, and since she lived in a city, she was evacuated to live with a family in the countryside.
My Great Grandfather Julian Gould (Grandpa Julian) was born on October 6th 1924, in
Leeds (Ethel Terris), England. He grew up in goverment housing in the Seacroft district of Leeds.
He was an only child to his parents Maurice Gould and Amelia (Millie) Tailor.
He attended Lovell Road School, where he was a well renowned cricketer (a little less well renowned in his academic pursuits). When he graduated high school, at the age of 14, and started working in the garment industry, as an apprentice tailor. Over the years he climbed higher and higher and became the Production Manager of a highly reputable clothing factory, Ben Simons. He was well known (in Leeds) for his magnificent suits. He also qualified as a Chiropodist (foot doctor) but didn't care for it
and went back to being a tailor.
During World War II Grandpa Julian was conscripted to serve in the British Army. He was an infantryman, and was deployed to fight against the Nazis in Europe. During the war years, Grandpa Julian fought in Holland, France, Germany, and Poland, and was part of the force that liberated the Dutch capital, the Hague. While serving in the army, he was shot in his left leg. One of the chilling memories he recalls from these times, was visiting the concentration camp Bergen Belsen, shortly after that camp was liberated. This was an unusual experience for anybody, especially a Jewish soldier. When I asked him about serving in the British army, he told me that that he felt an obligation and an obvious responsibilty to fight for the Jews.
While on leave from the army, he met his sweetheart, and wife (of 62 years), (Rose) Joyce Gould (ז"ל) (Grandma Joyce), at a dance in the Mecca Ballroom in Leeds. Grandpa Julian was immediately struck by this beautiful girl, and approached her -- at which point Grandma Joyce remarked "there are a lot of drips in here tonight aren't there"--(I'm told that Grandpa looked pretty scruffy that night, in his dirty uniform, and missing a front tooth). Anyway--despite being brushed off the first time--Grandpa Julian did not give in easily--and they began dating (or courting as he would say), and eventually married in 1947 just after the war. They had 2 children, Dianne (my father's mother) and Lawrence (Larry). Grandpa Julian and Grandma Joyce were known as a very handsome couple, and in pictures from those times, people say they looked like film stars.
Apart from his family, Grandpa Julian's first love, was and is, Leeds Rugby League Football Club. Until fairly recently Grandpa Julian never missed a home game, and would take my father and his cousin Josh, to a match every Sunday. My father says that this is why I was called "Eli"noa afer the Leeds Rugby player "El"lery Hanley (my mother does not agree). On their way to matches, Grandpa Julian would always play tracks from the 50's and 60's singer Dean Martin--these were the bed time lullabies for me and my siblings--I think we are the only Israeli kids that know these songs.
Today Grandpa Julian, still lives in his beloved Leeds. He is extremly active and fit for a man of his age--playing bridge, swimming, and participating in a weekly debating society. He has 5 grandchildren, and, so far, 5 great-grandchildren. שיזכה לחיים ארוכים
Grandpa Julian
Grandpa Julian and I
Grandpa Julian and Grandma Joyce with Grandpa Julian's parents
