Yesterday I wrote about gallant Pat Jameson. Another Jameson cousin, who did double-duty as my Godfather, served in the Irish Guards in the war.
Shane Jameson was wounded in Holland and later re-joined his regiment in Norway. On the only golf course in Oslo, according to one of his daughters, he met Thora-Merete (Didi) Wiborg, they married and returned to Co. Waterford to live at Tourin. I remember them both with great affection. When they came to stay they brought duvets; I was intrigued by their sleeping under eiderdowns with no sheets or blankets. Her Norwegian accent was also a source of fascination. She brought Norwegian cast-iron wood-burning stoves to Tourin, another novelty in 1950s Ireland. Realising how chilly it was (and still is) at home she gave my grandparents a cast-iron Norwegian stove to commemorate the end of the war, engraved above its door, “Pax Britannica 1945”, and made by Jøtul. It is still in use.
Two of their daughters, Kristin and Andrea, now live at Tourin and a third, Tara, not far away. Andrea is an artist and here is an example of her work.
We are descendants of J & J Jameson, founders of the whiskey company. Until 1966 it was independent with strong family links. Shane was a long-serving director and also grew barley at Tourin which was sold to the distillery. It was known colloquially in my childhood as JJ, perhaps it still is. The other big brand name was Powers. JJ was a Protestant whiskey and Powers a Catholic one. In 1966 they merged, choosing the name United Distillers of Ireland (UDI). As this coincided with Ian Smith making a United Declaration of Independence in Rhodesia, the name was changed to Irish Distillers. It was subsequently bought by Seagram’s and then passed into the hands of Pernod Ricard, its owner today.
The Jameson business was fortunate to survive the transition of Ireland to independence. One can only speculate how the company might have fared if it had not merged in 1966.
There has been time to reflect today as the Richard With slips between small islands. The sea is grey, the cloud-base again low with higher peaks invisible. It is peaceful and calm. We went ashore once. Not much was open on a Saturday afternoon but the organist played beautifully in the church. There is a memorial in the church yard to the dead from the war.
We have crossed the Arctic Circle again, marked by a trig point surmounted by a globe. Tomorrow morning we will be back in Trondheim.
Christopher,
It was only a week ago I was asking Angela how you are and then up pops your message! Just great to hear from you.
How exciting that you are in Norway. It’s a great place isn’t it. I have not been to the far north but love it around Sogn and then Kragero were my mum’s family go every summer. Hope you didn’t sail pass there without us knowing.
I am just about to sail across from France to England with another cousin, John de Trafford. Will organise a get together next time when in London.
Hope the rest of the trip goes well. Funny to see my painting up there!! Thanks for being in touch. Lots of love from, Andrea
I could not find a painting done in Norway on your website, which would be more apt. Spoiler alert; the places you mention are too far south for this trip so I will not have to ask the skipper to drop anchor while I visit your relations.
I’m finding the country and the people both much to my liking. Love, Christopher