I'm continuing to work on songs about the life of my grandfather, Lawrence Mcloughlin and his wife Mary.

'Lookaway' is about families coming from Ireland to escape the potatoe famine. Lawrence's parents came to York in the mid 19 th century. Lawrence was born in May 1865 in Hope street, York. I suspect life was difficult for the Irish immigrants to York as it seems to be for all immigrants wherever their origin or the time. It struck me that this song could apply equally to any generation of immigrants from any country.

The family moved to Bradford where Lawrence worked in a mill. I have assumed that life is still difficult for the Irish immigrants and that Lawrence would have actively sought a way to improve his lot. He moved to London to join the Metropolitan Police. 'Going south' is about that.

'New boy' is about being a policeman in the Met. Lawrence was in C division at Vine Street station. Whilst serving with the police we believe that Lawrence was attacked by some criminals and suffered a head injury. This led to him having to resign from the force.

After Lawrence's head injury he suffered some sort of breakdown, probably due to traumatic brain injury, and was admitted to Hoxton Asylum. We can only imagine what that was like. My song about it is dark.

Lawrence was released from Hoxton and returned to Bradford. Going home is about that.

Back in Bradford Lawrence meets Mary who would become his wife. We believe they made ' a handsome couple" who enjoyed dancing. Waltzing in Bradeord.

Mary becomes pregnant. Although she bears a healthy child she develops puerperal fever, becomes very ill and sadly dies a few days after the birth of her child. The baby ( my dad) is cared for by Mary's sister and her husband. They bring him up as their own.

Lawrence has a nervous breakdown, sometimes found weeping, laid on Mary's grave. He disappears. Despair.

He fails to come to terms with the loss of his wife. I close.

Lawrence is found in London and returned to Yorkshire where he is admitted to the West Yorkshire Lunatic asylum in Menston.

Austin (my dad) is brought up by his aunt and uncle. Around the age of 16 he is told about his parents. He visited his dad with his uncle as a child and continued to visit him at Menston until his death. 'Son' is a song about what I think Lawrence may have wanted to say to his son, but never did.

Lawrece died in Menston. Requiem.