My friend and hero Harry Greenberg died on 20 October 2008, aged 89 years. I was about to write that 23rd March – eight days ago – would have been his 90th birthday. But indeed it was his 90th birthday. The previous day – 22nd March – Sweetheart Vivienne and I visited Harry’s daughter Jo and her husband Jim. To celebrate Harry’s 90th, Jo baked us Harry’s favourite cake – a chocolate sponge with coffee icing. It was so delicious, I don’t have a photo of it to show you. Just after I scoffed down my first piece of the cake, Jo – Harry’s executor – gave me three mementos from among Harry’s possessions: a superb hand-made rug (on one side the knitting by Marge, the patchwork on the other side done by Jo); and two books, perfectly chosen for me. Farm Ballads, Festivals & Legends, by Will Carleton; I can’t find the publication date, but it has a hand-written ‘Xmas 1912’ inscription on the flyleaf. And The Note Book of Elbert Hubbard, published in 1927. I think both are first editions, and that Carleton’s book’s still in print. I’m honoured that despite Harry and Marge’s very large family, Jo saw fit to give me the rug and books – three special items that I’ll treasure like I’ll treasure my memories of Harry and Marge: that is, lovingly and always.
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