Pictured from left to right: my grandfather James Deness, James’ mother Suzannah and my grandmother Frances. In 1935, they won the local carnival in Strood, Kent dressed as traffic signals!

James and Frances’ daughter, my grandmother Joyce Peters, wearing her husband Ross’ Second World War army uniform. They were married for over seventy years but sadly passed away two months apart in 2017.

Joyce and Ross with their children, my mother Kay and uncle Brian.

Although my grandad Ross is shown here in his army uniform, he’s actually only taking part in a game at a fairground.

This was the Denness family’s entry in the carnival a few years after they won First Prize. Joyce is bisected by the fold, but you can clearly see her siblings and her parents.

Ross is shown here tending to his racing pigeons. In 1965 he won a national championship, something that made him very proud.

James Denness with Joyce. James worked in the brick fields in Frindsbury, Strood.

My nan Joyce is about two here. I don’t know the bear’s age!

Frances and James married in Gillingham on 31 March 1923.

Kay and Brian as children.