A secret memoir written by a Liverpool grandmother, documenting a life of hidden hardship behind a warm and loving exterior, has been published by her grandson nearly two decades after her death. Veronica Witham, who was born in 1913 and lived in Walton, secretly penned her life story on a legal notepad, handing it to her grandson for safekeeping in the early 2000s.
Now, almost 20 years after she passed away at the age of 94, Dr. Robert Ryan has brought his grandmother’s unfiltered account of 20th-century Liverpool to light, offering a rare glimpse into the quiet struggles and resilience of her generation.
Key Takeaways
- A memoir by Liverpool resident Veronica Witham has been published as 'In Her Own Words: A Liverpool Mother’s Life'.
- The handwritten notes were a secret gift to her grandson, Dr. Robert Ryan, in the 2000s.
- The book reveals the hidden emotional struggles of a woman who lived through war, marriage, and raising seven children.
- Dr. Ryan decided to publish the memoir after a recent family reunion, fulfilling his grandmother's wish to share her story after her death.
A Final Gift Kept for Two Decades
For years, an A4 legal notepad filled with the handwritten memories of Veronica Witham sat safely among her grandson's possessions. Dr. Robert Ryan, 56, who moved from Liverpool to Sweden in the 1980s, received the notes during one of his regular visits back home to see his grandmother in Walton.
"She lived on Renwick Road, off Walton Vale, and I had a very good relationship with her," Dr. Ryan explained. "One day she gave me this book... The pages were stuck together and she said take these notes to remember her by."
Veronica passed away at 94, and Dr. Ryan honoured the private nature of her words, keeping them confidential. He described his first reading of the memoir as deeply moving.
"I was honoured and I read it that night... I didn't talk to her further about it because it was so honest and raw the first reading. She just said, you can have this to remember me by and you can share it when you're ready."
The catalyst for sharing his grandmother's story came nearly 20 years later, during a visit from his cousin Lisa, whom he hadn't seen in 45 years. Together, they decided the time was right to bring the memoir to a wider audience.
Behind the Loving Grandmother
To her family, Veronica Witham was the quintessential loving nan. Dr. Ryan remembers her fondly, painting a picture of a warm and caring figure at the heart of their family life.
"She was always kind and friendly and positive," he recalled. "She looked after me, the grandchildren. If we were sick, she would put us in the bed and put a big spoonful of Vicks on our chests... She made excellent Cornish pasties and she would always double fry her chips."
He also described her fascination with new kitchen gadgets, often returning from the shops with a slicer, mixer, or salad spinner. This public persona, however, stood in stark contrast to the inner world she revealed in her writing.
A Life Spanning an Era
Born in 1913, Veronica Witham's life encompassed significant historical events, including two World Wars, the Great Depression, and dramatic social and economic changes in Liverpool. Her memoir provides a personal account of navigating these turbulent times.
An 'Honest and Unfiltered' Account
The memoir, now published under the title In Her Own Words: A Liverpool Mother’s Life, details a life shaped by hardship and quiet determination. It covers her early years, the challenges of war, marriage, raising seven children, and experiencing personal loss.
For Dr. Ryan, the notes were a profound shock. "The notes were a revelation with respect to her emotional state, that she was feeling so bad and depressed inside," he said. The discovery of this hidden emotional turmoil challenged his perception of the grandmother he knew.
Despite the difficulties she documented, her grandson emphasizes that her writing was not bitter. "She didn't have any bitterness - she was always positive and full of love. Everything she did for herself and for her children."
The Importance of Personal Histories
The publication of personal memoirs like Veronica Witham's provides invaluable historical context. While official records document major events, these first-hand accounts capture the everyday realities, emotions, and social fabric of a specific time and place, ensuring the experiences of ordinary people are not lost to history.
Preserving the Spirit of Liverpool
Dr. Ryan believes his grandmother’s motivation for writing was therapeutic, a way to process her life and leave a mark of her existence. By publishing her story, he hopes to honour her memory and preserve a piece of Liverpool's social history.
He feels the book represents more than just one woman's life; it's a testament to the character of a city and its people.
"From my perspective, Liverpudlians have long been energetic and cooperative; traits forged through both opportunity and hardship from the Industrial Revolution onward. Even amid times of exploitation, that Scouse resilience and solidarity gave Liverpool its distinctive character. Remembering these histories keeps that spirit alive."
The book shines a light not on a celebrity, but on an everyday individual whose story reflects the experiences of countless women of her generation. Through her own words, Veronica Witham's perceptive, kind, and loving nature is preserved for future generations to understand the true strength that defined a Liverpool mother's life.