In Loving Memory of Ernest Wallbridge
15.5.1922 - 31.5.2025
Ernie. Ern. Dad. Grandad. Gramps.
How do I sum up 103 years of a special man’s life in a few words? I can’t, but I’ll do my best.
To me he was more than just my grandad. He was more like a dad to me. He was the solid, dependable man that raised me.
Although I knew him my whole life, half of his life was was lived before that. Just think about how much the world has changed since 1922. But Ern didn’t change. He was always hardworking, reliable, humble, willing to help anyone, cheeky, loveable and loyal. Ern never pretended to be someone he wasn’t, you knew exactly where you stood with him.
Ern married the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, Gladys, in 1945, and they enjoyed 65 years as husband and wife. He was a loving and loyal husband throughout, and was of course heartbroken when Nan passed away in 2010.
He loved to keep busy. When he was young he worked as a milkman, then a decorator, and then worked for years as a toolroom inspector during the war. After that he joined the Post Office where he stayed until his retirement. He did make some attempt to enjoy his retirement age by taking up golf, but he wasn’t ready to stop work yet and had a few part-time jobs. One of those jobs was as a cleaner for Tesco in the same store that I worked in. As he went around the store keeping it clean and tidy he would often stop to chat with the staff and customers. Everyone fondly called him Grandad.
I have very fond memories of our yearly holidays abroad. He would insist on getting to the airport 4 hours early, and even though it was usually very early in the morning, once we were checked in and through security he would say “that’s it my holiday has started, time for a beer!”
He was a battler. As a young boy he fell off the back of a moving truck that ran over and crushed his leg, but you’d never know it ever happened other than the impressive scar it left. When my mum fell into a river as a child he jumped in to save her even though he couldn’t swim (and never did learn how!). In his 80’s he had bowel cancer surgery and was back on his feet in no time, fully healed. His ability to bounce back from illness became a bit of a family joke. One day he would be feeling awful and we’d be worrying about him, the next day he’d be back to normal and cracking jokes. It is no surprise that when his time with us came to an end, it was because of the natural aging process, not because something had beaten him. In the game of life he had won.
One of his greatest loves was growing vegetables in his allotment and in the garden. Even at 101 he was still out in the garden growing strawberries and onions. His enthusiasm rubbed off on me. Being in the garden and growing fruit and veg is my sanctuary, it’s where I go to gather my thoughts and to ground myself. I like to think it was the same for him and that he has passed that gift on to me. He helped me plant my veggie patch in Sydney when he visited (the first photo here).
Now we are creating a home veggie patch dedicated to him on our new property, his ashes will be placed under a bench overlooking the plants, just as he would have loved to sit there and give me advice about what to do. He will be able to listen to the kookaburras laughing in the background and watch the wallabies in the distance.
I like to think that he would be proud that he taught me well. It will be our shared sanctuary.
In Loving Memory of Ernest Wallbridge
15.5.1922 - 31.5.2025
Ernie. Ern. Dad. Grandad. Gramps.
How do I sum up 103 years of a special man’s life in a few words? I can’t, but I’ll do my best.
To me he was more than just my grandad. He was more like a dad to me. He was the solid, dependable man that raised me.
Although I knew him my whole life, half of his life was was lived before that. Just think about how much the world has changed since 1922. But Ern didn’t change. He was always hardworking, reliable, humble, willing to help anyone, cheeky, loveable and loyal. Ern never pretended to be someone he wasn’t, you knew exactly where you stood with him.
Ern married the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, Gladys, in 1945, and they enjoyed 65 years as husband and wife. He was a loving and loyal husband throughout, and was of course heartbroken when Nan passed away in 2010.
He loved to keep busy. When he was young he worked as a milkman, then a decorator, and then worked for years as a toolroom inspector during the war. After that he joined the Post Office where he stayed until his retirement. He did make some attempt to enjoy his retirement age by taking up golf, but he wasn’t ready to stop work yet and had a few part-time jobs. One of those jobs was as a cleaner for Tesco in the same store that I worked in. As he went around the store keeping it clean and tidy he would often stop to chat with the staff and customers. Everyone fondly called him Grandad.
I have very fond memories of our yearly holidays abroad. He would insist on getting to the airport 4 hours early, and even though it was usually very early in the morning, once we were checked in and through security he would say “that’s it my holiday has started, time for a beer!”
He was a battler. As a young boy he fell off the back of a moving truck that ran over and crushed his leg, but you’d never know it ever happened other than the impressive scar it left. When my mum fell into a river as a child he jumped in to save her even though he couldn’t swim (and never did learn how!). In his 80’s he had bowel cancer surgery and was back on his feet in no time, fully healed. His ability to bounce back from illness became a bit of a family joke. One day he would be feeling awful and we’d be worrying about him, the next day he’d be back to normal and cracking jokes. It is no surprise that when his time with us came to an end, it was because of the natural aging process, not because something had beaten him. In the game of life he had won.
One of his greatest loves was growing vegetables in his allotment and in the garden. Even at 101 he was still out in the garden growing strawberries and onions. His enthusiasm rubbed off on me. Being in the garden and growing fruit and veg is my sanctuary, it’s where I go to gather my thoughts and to ground myself. I like to think it was the same for him and that he has passed that gift on to me. He helped me plant my veggie patch in Sydney when he visited
Now we are creating a home veggie patch dedicated to him on our new property, his ashes will be placed under a bench overlooking the plants, just as he would have loved to sit there and give me advice about what to do. He will be able to listen to the kookaburras laughing in the background and watch the wallabies in the distance.
I like to think that he would be proud that he taught me well. It will be our shared sanctuary.
Below you will find a video that celebrates his life. Ern loved to make people laugh, to put them at ease. So I hope that as you watch the video you remember him in that way.
Miss you Grandad, love you.
Jo xxx
I’ve tried to give you some glimpses into what Ern, my Grandad, meant to me. Please share with us what he meant to you by selecting the “write a new entry” button below.
