‘THE SURPRISE FIND’

Our February meeting was organised by the men of our Society. Their task was to display their own surprise finds & discuss them with members and guests.
Martin showed that by investigating other than close relatives, especially when using the web, much information might be obtained. In Martin’s case a web site showed the working life on the railways in Birmingham of his Gt Gt Grandmother’s brother, Richard Bore, who from Ag. Lab. background rose to be the Carriage Superintendent responsible for the design, construction & performance of all passenger rolling stock, including Queen Victoria’s Saloon. Documents showed how he gave evidence after a rail accident in 1873 & another document – 15 pages long – that was a copy of the complete Minutes of Evidence to the Royal Commission of Rail Accidents in February 1875. From all this information Martin was able to find out that Richard also worked in America and on the continent. These documents represent a great find & surprise & his advice is ‘ not to ignore your ancestors‘ siblings’.
Ron was at Kew to get a copy of his Grandfather’s naval records. Whilst searching the film he was surprised & delighted to come across his Gt Uncle’s naval records. Previously only knowing that Gt Uncle was interred in Norway during the war the surprise find of his naval record’s showed details of his naval career & his date of repatriation. Further research on Gt. Uncle showed, on leaving the navy he worked as an attendant at one of three swimming baths in Bedford. Grandfather went to the Balloon Sheds in Cardington working on the R101 & had pictures of the balloon on its 2nd day out of the sheds.
After this he worked on the railway. Both sets of Naval Records were on display, together with artefacts and photos.
Mr. Horsepole was able to show copies of several letters from Florence Nightingale to his relative, a medical attendant at Scutari, of whom she thought most highly. Her letters always showed great consideration for the man & his family. A letter showed Florence offering a post at the London Hospital when the man had to leave Scutari.
Paul used a computer generated programme & photos to show his Grandfather who was a Postmaster & Grocer who also bred pigs, ended up buying a bacon factory and manufactured pork pies & sausages.
Hayden had a grand display of carefully labelled family portraits & photos showing several generations.
He also ran a competition –trying to name the place in an old photo, which showed gardens, & a commercial greenhouse in Wisbech, in the mid 1800s.
There were help desks & fiche readers for research and light refreshments were served all evening.
[Barbara Holmes]