Protected: How it all began

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My visit to Canada 2023

photo of a red and white Canadian flag set against a blue sky

While the stories from my recent visit to Canada may initially appear unrelated to family history, they are, in fact, deeply intertwined

My grandmother’s house

The back garden of an old cottage with washing drying on a line and a young child holding a black and white cat

Wyke Regis is a village and ancient parish in southern Dorset which looks out over the Isle of Portland to the south, Portland Harbour to the south and east, and Chesil Beach and the Fleet lagoon to the west. Historically, the area gained a reputation for both smuggling and the looting of wrecks thanks to … Continue reading My grandmother’s house →

One of the lucky ones

Black and white postcard photo by JH Hall of 88 Kingswood Road, Fulham, Swan Athletic Football Team, 1909-1910 showing 11 young men posing as a team in football gear. Ted Mayhew is L/H side back row.

Ted Mayhew (1890-1971): A journey of service from volunteering in 1914 to returning home

Guernsey Cans

Four antique copper Guernsey milk cans that have been polished to a nice shiny rose finish

I do love a Guernsey Can and was recently delighted to find an addition to my small collection in our local Demelza Hospice charity shop for just a very few pounds. These wonderful copper milk jugs have a fabulous history, are unique to the Channel Islands and, as with any traditional artifact, hold a historical … Continue reading Guernsey Cans →

Farming the future

John Mayhew (1716-1769): a Norfolk farmer at the cutting edge of a rural revolution

Exploring creative expression

Black and white image of a young girl c1963 concentrating on an unknown task

My brother and I enjoyed exploring arts and crafts during our childhood. We had easy access to pencils, crayons, and paint, which we eagerly used on rolls of unused ancient wallpaper which smelled slightly of damp and coal due to being stored in our cellar. The paints were little rectangular or round lozenges of dried … Continue reading Exploring creative expression →

Make-believe play

Black and white photo of a young child wearing a nurse's outfit and carrying a toy doctor's bag

Growing up in a rather unorthodox and bohemian environment in the early 1960s, I don’t remember my brother or I having expensive and commercially produced ‘toys’, rather we were encouraged to play with the things around us and explore our world. Perhaps because our father was ‘in films’ we were especially encouraged to take part … Continue reading Make-believe play →

A most trusted and loyal aide

Snowy winter scene with Glamis Castle in the background

Charles Reginald Collingwood (1855-1934): Thirty five years in service and links to a notorious Victorian gothic mystery

Just a soldier

John Eric Bovill (1894-1916) another young life lost through war