Both my uncle Rick and my uncle John (pictured here) inherited their father’s copper red hair. John is Grandma’s youngest son, about 13 in this portrait with three of his pets (Patches the cat, Mr McGinty the cockatiel, and the hamster’s name we’ve forgotten). And of course, John is sporting a shirt in Grandma’s favourite colour.

Lee Franclemont, ‘John’ (detail), 1960s, oil on board. Photo credit John FN Franclemont.