Love in Wales
At 15, Bob went from Liverpool to Wales and fell in love. When he returned home he found another love waiting for him on the doorstep.
"I fell in love with Wales and Kit in the same week. It was the end of September 1935. Tony and I were mates, age 15, and we were going on our pushbikes from Liverpool to Snowdon for a week's holiday. All the neighbours came outside to wave, and with much shouting and ringing of bells we set off.
The views and the countryside were terrific; we had not seen anything like it before. Then, the weather turned to sleet and snow, and we arrived back at Anthony's home, tired and soaking wet.
A sparkling-eyed school girl was sitting on the step, she introduced herself as Kit. We became sweethearts and were madly in love.
Then I went into the army. As soon as Kit was old enough we married.
By the time I came out of the army we had two children - a boy and a girl... And all four of us - and the dog - came every weekend on a motorbike and sidecar to different parts of Wales. We all loved it... And Kit never tired of Wales or me.
She was my inspiration, and always pushed me into bettering myself. We moved to live in Wales in 1970 and Kit and I were together for 63 years. We had 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. But sadly, she never saw her great-grandchildren.
When she died I made a vow that I would speak to someone about her everyday, and I have.
When I die, our ashes will be mixed together and scattered in the parts of Wales that we both loved. I will be together with my two great passions."
Bob Ashcroft
