Bures author explores secrets of family past in new book

The discovery of a photograph set Ruth Badley on a quest to find out more about her grandmother, Rose, who died before she was born.

Although she was aware her mother, Sylvia, had been brought up by relatives, secrecy surrounded the adoption.

“I never knew anything about my grandmother,” said Mrs Badley, of Craigs Lane, Bures. “So I set off on a journey to find out more about her – and a little about myself.”

Mrs Badley was taken aback by the resemblance between her and Rose.

“It startled me, because the face in the photograph reminded me of myself,” she said.

With the help of a friend, Mrs Badley established a family tree and found a death certificate with other key documents about her grandmother, who died in 1930, which enabled her to find out the circumstances of her death.

Having been told Rose had died during childbirth, Mrs Badley was surprised to find her death had instead occurred a few days later, after suffering from postpartum eclampsia – a rare condition caused by high blood pressure.

“In the 1930s, they didn’t have the medication to bring down blood pressure,” said Mrs Badley.

Her mother was adopted by her great-great-aunt and uncle, with Mrs Badley’s granddad left a widow at only 24. “It’s heart-breakingly young,” she said.

Her grandfather had been born out of wedlock and was brought up by his grandmother. “I think it was quite common for families in those days,” added Mrs Badley.

In researching her grandmother’s life, Mrs Badley was able to piece together a part of her family history that had been kept hidden.

“A story was emerging that no-one had told before,” she said. “It was very emotional, but it was also very exciting.”

Mrs Badley’s personal story inspired her to pen her first novel, Where are the grown-ups?, which is told through the perspectives of three characters.

“I put all this information into a novel and, in doing so, I was telling the story of three generations – my grandmother, mother and myself,” she said.

The publication is available online at Amazon and at various independent stores.