WHERE IS GRAY AND CO?

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I just want to say thank you very much for all your kind and sympathetic messages, after our tragic family loss. I have read each and every one and feel so touched and comforted by your words.
We are awaiting the final report from the coroner, but it seems that Kay, (katy ) to all her friends and associates, suffered a heart attack and from natural causes.
Tributes to her in the local newspapers for all that she did in the community made us feel so proud of her.
Most families go through good and bad times, and we still have things to deal with but we just want to say that heartfelt messages from friends like yourselves on the forum are truly appreciated. Thank You !!
Pleased to hear that Henry is alright, and take care Marian.

[Marian]

I'm so sorry to hear your dreadful news Lena and Harry. Thinking of you both at this sad time. Marian and Peter xxx

[karl]

L&H I always find words are inadequate at a time like this but believe me I know how you are feeling as I've been there more than once
It's good to have nice memories and comforting to know she did a lot of good for the community.
Keep her memory alive, talk about her and keep a picture close by.

[maxine]

Still thinking of you Lena and Harry ....life so is fragile and as Karl said Words seems inadequate for,the pain you must all be feeling ....I am sure everybody will join me in sending you a cyber hug ...if I could I would give you a real one .....

[maxine]

Im so sorry to read everyone,s sad and awful news ,

Harry and Lena so sad the news about your Niece sending you my thoughts and best wishes and hope your Sons issues get sorted out soon PADDY

Mariana so sorry your counselling going to take a month but if you can,t wait a month and don,t smoke ill pop over to Amsterdam and get you a couple of there famous chocolate brownies there just as good no joking aside sending my thoughts and best wishes PADDY

and Maxine i read your news on another thred and felt like crying could not find any reply sending you my thoughts and best wishes PADDY

Bless you Paddy thank you so very much x

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts Marian and Peter, and Karl I certainly appreciate what you have said and thank you again Maxine.
Katy was quite an amazing character, bit of an oddball, slightly eccentric, but extremely intelligent. We never knew a time when she wasn't involved in something that was going on in the community where she lived. She readily led campaigns for so many causes, apart from the environment in which she fought tooth and nail to save the Lea Hackney Marshes, there was a local cinema and a pub that was under threat of closure and she was like a dog with a bone she would never give up and they were saved. She was a regular bell ringer and played the church organ when needed and organised the local bike rides. She often visited care homes and entertained the residents carrying with her a bag of different outfits to do her Old Time Musical acts
She had a comical and brilliant sense of humour and would keep us in fits of laughter.
We are really going to miss her. The coroner confirmed today that she died of natural causes, a heart attack.

[Marian]

I read about her on Facebook Lena, she sounded a wonderful person who lived her life to the full, and thought about all around her too. She will be missed by her family and many others who her life touched along the way. May she rest in peace.

[maxine]

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts Marian and Peter, and Karl I certainly appreciate what you have said and thank you again Maxine.
Katy was quite an amazing character, bit of an oddball, slightly eccentric, but extremely intelligent. We never knew a time when she wasn't involved in something that was going on in the community where she lived. She readily led campaigns for so many causes, apart from the environment in which she fought tooth and nail to save the Lea Hackney Marshes, there was a local cinema and a pub that was under threat of closure and she was like a dog with a bone she would never give up and they were saved. She was a regular bell ringer and played the church organ when needed and organised the local bike rides. She often visited care homes and entertained the residents carrying with her a bag of different outfits to do her Old Time Musical acts
She had a comical and brilliant sense of humour and would keep us in fits of laughter.

We are really going to miss her. The coroner confirmed today that she died of natural causes, a heart attack.

Awwww such wonderful Memories ... ;0))

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thank you Marian, yes this was added by our younger family Facebook members and Katy certainly lived her life to the full.
We do have some wonderful memories Maxine.

[Angela51]

So sorry L & H. to read your devastating news, but please keep well yourselves.
I still have lovely memories of you both, when we first met. xxx

[Angela51]

Another good wish for you Mariana, keep strong, you will survive. x

[Lena & Harry Smith]

After my niece Kay's, (Katy ) death her Father Frank Andrews who had recently been admitted to a nursing home passed away just Two days after her funeral, which meant that my Sister had lost her daughter and husband in less than Three weeks. The funeral is on Monday. Neither was aware of the other's death.
Frank was a discographer and researcher associated with the London Phonograph & Gramophone Society. His knowledge of music and record labels was incredible and sought all over the world. He gave talks on the subject and wrote numerous books that were published. His home was filled with recordings from Phonograph Cylinders, 78rpms, vinyl and all much to the exasperation of my Sister, but we had so many happy family parties over the years with music that filled the home.
We have Nine pages of his obituary written by one of his Society friends.
We shall miss him so much, and of course the Society members will too. !! My thoughts are of course with my Sister and her Two remaining daughters. !!

[karl]

How sad L&H but you obviously have many wonderful music filled memories, what an interesting job Frank had.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Thanks Karl. Frank actually worked as a diamond cutter, which was working with tools until he retired at the age of 65. and Yes, Frank's knowledge of music ranged from the early cylinders, first recordings of artists and singers like Dame Nellie Melba, Caruso. He knew the history of all the artists and the earlier years were spent on his typewriter, that then graduated to a computer, or writing to people all over the world who were requesting information on a certain singer etc.
Frank received many awards from the Association of Recorded Sound Collections apart from being a patron of the CLPGS, and was the first recipient of a Silver shield named the Frank Andrews Trophy For Research in Recorded Sound. This was presented to him very shortly before he was admitted to the nursing home, and is now proudly on display at my Sister's home.
At least he had a good long life. He would have been 95 this coming September.

[karl]

95 ? That's fantastic, as you say a good long life and a very interesting one at that. A late American friend of mine collected antiques and he had a cylinder player and a gramophone - he also had a jukebox in his basement. Some of the cylinders were coloured, years ahead of coloured vinyl records.
Loving music and records must run in your family, what a wonderful interest it is as we all appreciate it too. !