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
My Grandmother Dianne (Grandma Dianne) was born on the 3rd of October 1949 (which was Yom Kippur) and raised in Leeds, England. Until the age of 11 she attended Harehills Primary School. From the age 11-15 she attended a secondary school that was demolished in 2008.
My Grandma had a younger brother Larry (Uncle Larry). Because her mother was unwell, Grandma Dianne used to look after Uncle Larry a lot. She would walk him to school, and then to cheder every day after school [ask grandma how far this journey was]. Uncle Larry used to get picked on at school, and Grandma used to fight his battles for him (this continued in later life when they would work together).
While at school she became very involved in Bnai Brith wich was very strong in the Provinces. She was also the president of the Bnai Brith girls. Most people involved in Bnai Brith went on to be lawyers and doctors.
After my Grandmother got her GCE (General Certificate), she decided not to go to
college baecause her family needed her to start work as soon as she could. She was able to get a job with the goverment (civil service). She hated her job at the goverment though. Since jobs were easy to come by, she was able to get office jobs .
When my Grandmother took time off to have my father, she started working part time
for an estate agency until her second child (my aunt, Hannah Rothschild[Williamson])
went to nursery school. In 1980 she she joined her brother (my great uncle--Uncle Larry) in his upcoming recruitment agency and translation company, and retired in 2007 at the age of 58. My Grandma was a senior manager in this company, and was known for her bluntness and no nonsense attitude--all delivered in a polite unflustered way.
My Granmother now lives Raanana with her second husband Stuart Miller. They made aliya in 2011. She has five grandchildren; Me,Yoav(my brother), Millie(my sister) and my cousines Eva and Benjamin Rothscild. We love her very much and she is one of the most impotant role models in my life שתזכה לחיים ארוכים
