 | | Tarnia |
In her younger days to earn a living Tarnia's grandmother Janie sold needles and cotton, trading brass from junk shops to antique shops and hop picking. Her real ambition was to sing and she would do this at any opportunity and was known to be somewhat of a party animal. Due to family commitments and running a house while her husband worked she never got to realise all her musical ambitions but I do remember how proud she was of her voice. I remember one day her playing me a vinyl record with her voice on. I was only about eight or nine so I can’t remember much but I know there’s a family rumour going round that she sang with Pat Phoenix. Unfortunately we have never been able to trace the record... we are still looking! | "Nan you’re shrinking, I said. No I'm not, you are growing, she replied. " | | Tarnia |
Mostly she loved things like Shakin Stevens so I grew up listening to "This Ol House", "Green Door" and "Oh Julie". Actually I can’t remember her playing much else on the radiogram. I started singing at a very young age, not long after I could walk. Throughout my infant and primary schools I sang in choirs. By the time I was in my last year of primary school my grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer and was in the later stages. There’s one day I will never forget for the rest of my life. She was such a strong woman - small but feisty with a wild temper (apparently the temper is something I have inherited).
 | | Janie and husband Bill |
I was in the kitchen about to go home after staying the weekend. I didn’t know at the time but the cancer had begun eating away at her and she was shrinking before my very eyes. I was maybe 10 years old and I was already towering over her. “Nan you’re shrinking,” I said. “No I'm not, you are growing,” she replied. That was the last conversation I can remember having with her. My dad never let me see her in hospital. He thought the sight would be too much and I think she wanted me to remember her for the amazing women she was with an amazing voice and a personality much huger than her 4ft 11 frame. The pain and the knock backs of the Music Industry continue, however this is nothing compared to the determination I have to see this through, to carry on my grandmother's legacy and in fact she even has her own song I have written “Birthday Without You” and I have recently set up a company called Romany Records. I hope with the continued support from the BBC , the general public and the amazing team of people I worked with this legacy will live on and one day be told to the world.
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