Isabella Rankin Nee Dodds
Mother: Isabella Rankin Nee Dodds was born in Newcastle in 1899. She raised six children herself after her husband Gibson Rankin died in 1942. Isabella was a wonderful mother, always looking after the family.
She would do anything for anybody, all with a smile on her face.
Her son, Sidney Rankin is the voice that can be heard in the following poems, ‘Bouncy Bread’ (written and performed by Donald Jenkins) and ‘Always be Happy’ (written and performed by Sidney Rankin).
Isabella Rankin Nee Dodds
Mother: Isabella Rankin Nee Dodds was born in Newcastle in 1899.
She raised six children herself after her husband Gibson Rankin died in 1942.
She was a wonderful mother, always looking after the family.
She would do anything for anybody, all with a smile on her face.
Bouncy Bread
by Donald Jenkins
I want to bake a stottie to make my mam proud
but it won’t taste as good…
There was nothing plain about her frisbee bread,
chewy crumb savoured best – when still oven warm.
Her yeast rose and smile never sank,
a lone parent saw to, six bellies fed.
Sunday roast – me, the youngest, treated to bones,
slurped out marrow through a protein straw.
Happiest in her kitchen, door open wide,
back turned to sink, chatting with neighbours,
sharing their tips for baking day rituals;
hard graft aromas spread through the terraces.
If I’d listened to hints, scribbled down recipes,
my stottie would taste as good…
Learnt to knead dough like Nana told her,
this stottie would consist of love.
Always Be Happy
by Sidney Rankin
My mother was always happy,
she would do anything for anybody.
She always had a smile
and I think that is the one thing she had,
that she passed onto me –
Always be happy!
The smile on her face
was always there,
she never seemed to be sad.
She would always be there
to give me a hand
and help you with all your problems.
Always be happy!