Grenville (as he was known because his father was Richard) grew up in South Wales, a bit of a terror during his youth who threw pebbles at the milk horses - to the great dismay of the milkman who had to chase the cart down the street! Rabble-rousing matured to more amorous pursuits when he fell in love with 16 year old Marion, who was 5 years his junior. The lovebirds were not allowed to marry until she was 21. Grenville and Marion decided to go on a motorbike holiday for several weeks traveling all over Europe, Alps included, on a 150cc engine for 2 people.
In 1956 the ever-practical Grenville moved the newlyweds in with his grandmother in Pengam, Blackwood, South Wales. During these early years of marriage Grenville worked in the coal mines checking for methane gas and the structural integrity of the mine shafts. Grenville and Marion welcomed three daughters in the next decade - Jackie in 1957, Peggy in 1960 and Tracy in 1964. They moved to a new home in Aberdare on a sleepy cul-de-sac.
Wanting a bit more for his growing family, Grenville enrolled in further education. In 1966, he landed a new job in Lewisham (London England) as a surveyor. After a move to Beckenham Kent, Mum and Dad would take turns and split weekend day trips by bus into London with taking care of their 3 girls.
Grenville went on to become a civil engineer, “making dirty water clean,” engineering sewage treatment plants. International postings for new sewage treatment plants in far off locations put a gleam in his eye. After a near miss move to Zambia, he landed a job in Boston, Massachusetts in 1968. The family left England and flew on Pan American Airlines to America on Grenville’s birthday, the first airplane flight for his 3 daughters. Metcalf and Eddy (M&E) lured him in, where he remained for over 40 years. Grenville settled the family in Winchester that same year and never moved elsewhere. Always enthusiastic for a travel adventure, he went many places around the globe for M&E, a few weeks to several months at a time.
Grenville was an avid scuba diver who enjoyed catching lobsters off the New England coast even though he didn’t like the taste (no worries, the rest of us did). Camping was the main family holiday getaway, mostly to New England but there were a few memorable 3-week long camping adventures to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In winter it was downhill skiing in New England, out west in the US, and some lovely places in the Alps where he would regale us with memories of that long ago trip on the motorbike. After they both retired there were more travel adventures for the 2 of them. Family came to visit from Wales and Marion and Grenville enjoyed traveling with them too.
Marion took the primary role in bringing up three daughters but Grenville always pushed us to further education, we would not be who we are today without them. Lovely Marion predeceased Grenville in August 2015 and Grenville joined her on January 15th 2022. They are survived by their three daughters, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, who love and miss them very much. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Salvation Army who helped Grenville and his family during WWII in the UK.