Research Forum

I admire your research to put names to the faces in this photograph, especially the matching with photos found elsewhere online.  At a quick glance I would agree with your conclusions.

I agree that 4. could be Gilbert Frost (1865-1928). The man to his left looks very much like his son, Gilbert Edward Hurley Frost (1893-1973).

Thank you for that - I looked Gilbert E H FROST up on Ancestry and that photo of him at the wedding looks very similar - is the chap in my photo too old though? Think my theory of the committee being the front 9 might be under threat though - there are too many old 'uns to match the names I found so far

I was originally drawn to this his fellow - my g/grandad Harry was also a cricketer - and this chap seems to have the look of a sportsman - but he seems differently dressed to the others - did you notice the shoes? Not he shoes of a GWR man - farmer? That's why I originally thought that he might be the school teacher - unless the school teacher is the stern looking man over on the left!

Every time I look at these photos though - they seem to be the same man. 

Kate, do you know when that wedding photo on Ancestry was taken?

Agree with you re: theory under threat. There are two men with walking sticks and two old men sitting on the bench - I think that age / disability dictated the positions in the photo rather than committee status.

It seems that Gilbert E H Frost was a very dapper chap despite being a farmer. I think the photo below is from about 1930 (aged 37ish). I don't know the date of the wedding photo on Ancestry but the fashions look late 50s / early 60s - so he is probably in his late 60s.

Percy George Edwards the Vice Chairman is as you look at photo the man with trilby hat  in his hand.

The tall man next to Percy G.Edwards I believe is Mr.Osmond of Pear Tree Farm,Rolstone.

Clifford Cook  6th along with Cigarette in his mouth & hand on man’s shoulder in row below him.

Mr.W.H.Redding of The Grange Hewish is the man sat next to the Vicar.

The tall man on the end of row to the left of photo could be Daniel Gill Clark of Villa Farm,Hewish.

Thanks to Uphill we now know that my original hypothesis was flawed - however we are making good progress with the names.

I have numbered a copy of the photo to help keep track:

Names so far

3) Gilbert Edward Hurley FROST
4) Gilbert FROST
5) Walter Hudson REDDING 
6) Rev Edward James Reece LUTLEY (vicar of Hewish)
7) Rev Walter Charles HAINES (vicar of Puxton)
12) Ernest Harry JONES
14) Harry FrancesJONES ??
16) Sidney J THAYER (1889-1948 ) South Farm, Puxton 
17) Herbert THAYER (1887-1957)
19) James BAILEY
20) Percy George EDWARDS
21) Cecil Stanley EDWARDS
22) Bertram Albert OSMOND (1887-1971) (see below)
23) John James EDWARDS
25) Clifford James COOK
29) Arthur Charles FROST (1896- 1968) see post below from Kate Osmond
30) Ernest James FROST (1894-1973)
31) Daniel Gill CLARK

Other names have been moved to post below:

That’s really helpful with numbers to identify the names.I have found an old photo of Cricket match possibly at Hewish as Rev.Lutley is seated with the players.one name of great interest is Harry Nichols!Listed as Number 7 .it is a photo copy of a copy & appears very dark.The other men in photo are some that appear in the Hewish Harvest Home photo,namely:

Percy Edwards ,Clifford  Cook & Rev Lutley with Harry Nichols.Harry Nichols is the man with the long white coat .

Amazing. I have looked long and hard for any information on the cricket club but to no avail. If you have anything else I would love to see it. Shame that Harry is difficult to make out - he really is a man of mystery.

This clock sits on my Dad's mantelpiece in Baytree Road. The inscription reads

"Presented to the Hon Sec of the Hewish CC Mr H Nichols by fellow members 1923"

Hi Uphill - Do you know the name of the man sitting to Rev Lutley's left in the cricket photo? I think he could be no.19 in the newspaper photo. I'd be interested to know who he is. Is there an index for the cricket photo you can give us. Thanks, Kate

Hello- no index for photo . Did not know name of no 19 in photo- but agree it does look like Bailey.

No 12 - Ernest Harry JONES

So could No 14 be his father - Harry Frances JONES - not sure he looks old enough!

Here is the whole article. As well as the committee mentioned earlier Clifford Cook also gets a mention.

Re: Mr Osmond. I think this might be Bertram Albert Osmond (1887-1971) who farmed at Plum Tree Farm, West Wick. His sister, Millicent, was married to Percy G Edwards. There is a picture of him on Ancestry but as a much older man. Harder to compare the photos this time but I think it probably is him.

When Uphill mentioned Mr Osmond - I thought that you might have some input!

There is definitely a resemblance there. I have edited the earlier comment (with the committee all numbered) to include his name in.

Thanks 

Rob

Hi Rob – Got another suggestion for you. I think 30 and 29 could be Gilbert Frost’s other two sons. On the left is Ernest James Frost (1894-1973) – matches teenage photo well. I think his brother, Arthur Charles Frost (1896- 1968) of Willow Farm, Puxton, is standing next to him although harder to say for sure from the photo comparison.

I do see it Kate - my only concern is that  I think is that Gilbert EH looks a lot older than these two than the 2 and 4 years older than he should be! But it does look so much like him - it must be him surely!

On another tack a JJ Edwards that was treasurer in 1923 could be John James Edwards who was a farmer in Kewstoke. He was married to Ethel May OSMOND - is she one of yours? 

This is the only other photo I have which we presume is Harry NICHOLS. He was only 5 ft 4 according to his army records we think that it is him. You can see my problem though!

Ethel May Osmond (1883-1968) was Bertram Albert Osmond’s older sister. She married John James Edwards who was the older brother of Percy George Edwards. Percy then married her younger sister, Millicent Emily Osmond.

Here is a whole load of names of those mentioned to have been involved in the Hewish & Puxton Harvest Home in the 5-6 years around 1927. I have tried to work out who they are - but how many of them are in the 1927 photo I would not like to hazard a guess.

• EJR Lutley Edward James Reece LUTLEY 1882-1969 Vicar of Hewish   President 1927 (& other years)
• Rev W Haines Walter Charles HAINES 1862-1947 Vicar of Puxton Vice President 1927 + others
• G Frost Gilbert FROST 1865-1928 Farmer, Puxton Vice President 1927, Chairman 1923
• J Tripp John TRIPP 1872-1942 Farmer, Hewish Vice President 1927, Chairman 1925
• WH Redding Walter Hudson REDDING 1886-1961 Dairy Farmer Chairman 1927
• PG Edwards Percy George EDWARDS 1887-1974 Laurel Farm, Worle Vice-Chairman 1926-1927, 1932-33
• WA Bell William Alfred BELL 1882-1957   School Teacher Treasurer 1927
• H Nichols Harry NICHOLS 1879-1931   Platelayer, GWR Joint Hon Sec 1927-1930
• A E Wreford Albert Edward WREFORD 1902-1975 Baker Joint Hon Sec 1927-1930
• CJ Cook Clifford John COOK 1895-1973 Villa Farm, Hewish Vice President 1929, Committee 1927, 1932-33 
• Albert Champion Albert Joseph CHAMPION 1855-1931 Chestnut Farm, Hewish Committee pre-1926
• JJ Edwards John James EDWARDS 1877-1956 Farmer, Wick St Lawrence Treasurer 1923
• J Bailey James BAILEY 1874-1949 Signalman, GWR Hon Sec 1921-24, Comm 1922, 1933
• EH Jones Ernest Harry JONES  1889-1975 Palmers Elm Farm Vice Chair 1924, Treasurer 1932
• BN Emerson Bertram Neil EMERSON 1883-1951 Maysgreen Farm, Hewish Joint Hon Sec 1929-33
• S J Gadd Stanley James GADD 1910-1996 Puxton (WH Redding's br-in-law) Joint Hon Sec 1931-33
• H Jones Harry Frances JONES 1860-1945 Farmer, Puxton President 1932, Vice Pres 1933
• E Britton Ernest AHW BRITTON 1885-1970 Briarwood, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• DG Clark Daniel Gill CLARK 1856-1935 Villa Farm, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• G Clark George CLARK 1854-1939 Farmer, Rolstone Committee Member 1932-33
• AJ Cox Arthur John COX 1888-1962 Labourer, Hewish Committee Member 1932
• R Champion Richard CHAMPION 1887-1950 The Farm, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• M Fear Metford Lee FEAR 1872-1955 Farmer, Rolstone Committee Member 1932-33
• G Fear Gilbert Lee FEAR 1870-1941 Farmer, Nye, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• EJ Frost Ernest James FROST 1895-1973 Farmer, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• H Frost Herbert FROST 1863-1947 Barton Farm, Winscombe Committee 1932 (son Herbert Harden FROST mentioned in 1936)
• JH Davies Joseph Henry DAVIES 1864-1934 JP, Dyvenor House Committee Member 1932-33
• EJ Hancock Ernest John HANCOCK? Committee Member 1932-33
• J Hicks John HICKS 1874 Rhyne Foreman Committee Member 1932
• FJ Hewlett Francis James HEWLETT 1875-1935 Laurel Farm, Rolstone Committee Member 1932
• HT Jones Harold Theopolis JONES 1898-1941 Elms Farm Committee Member 1932-33
• Jack Wreford John Scoble WREFORD 1899-1963 Rolstone Committee Member 1932-33
• FG King Frank Godfrey KING 1890-1953 Dairy Farmer, Rolstone Committee Member 1932-33
• C Palmer Edward Colston PALMER 1871 Farmer, Puxton Committee Member 1932-33
• VR Porter Victor Reginald PORTER 1897-1966 Farmer, Hewish Committee Member 1932
• H Stephens Herbert William STEPHENS 1897-1983 Rolstone Farm, Hewish Committee Member 1932-33
• Ernest George NEATH 1900-1956 Committee 1931

Plus the following were mentioned as Committee members in 1933

HW Williams
S Thayer Sidney J THAYER 1889-1948of South Farm, Puxton
WJ Tripp
T Clark
A Hurley Arthur William HURLEY 1894-1948 Court Farm, Puxton
S Hurley Samuel HURLEY 1890-1960 Court Farm, Puxton
C Harding
F Plaister Francis Robert PLAISTER 1898-1962  Waywick Farm, Hewish
W Say
S Osmond Ernest Samuel OSMOND 1898-1983 Heathgate Fm, Hewish. 
A Palmer
WA Osmond William Arthur OSMOND 1886-1969 Heathgate Fm, Hewish
S Williams
LG Raines
A Frost Arthur Charles FROST
J Cox
G Poulson
EG Hobbs

These are the 1933 committee members that I can identify from my tree - S. Thayer - Most likely to be Sidney J Thayer (1889-1948) of South Farm, Puxton. Possibly no. 17?

A and S Hurley - Arthur William Hurley (1894-1948) and Samuel Hurley (1890-1960) - brothers who farmed at Court Farm, Puxton (their sister, Alice, was married to Ernest Frost).

F Plaister – Francis Robert Plaister (1898-1962) of Waywick Farm, Hewish (his older sister, Sarah, was married to Bertram Osmond)

WA and S Osmond – Brothers - William Arthur Osmond (1886-1969) and Ernest Samuel Osmond (1898-1983)- known as Samuel  - of Heathgate Farm, Hewish.

A Frost – Most likely to be Arthur Charles Frost (brother of Ernest)

Hi Kate

I think that No. 16 looks more like Sidney THAYER - it's the hair - see other photo above.

But I also think that 16 and 17 look like brothers. Could No 17 then be Ernest J THAYER? and then with your other idea of family staying together the chap next to him could be Albert CHAMPION (18) - Ernest's father-in-law.

Albert is also standing next to James BAILEY - both long term members of the committee.

Cheers

Rob

Snap! I thought 16 and 17 looked like brothers too. However, I don’t think it is Ernest Thayer. I think it’s Sidney’s older brother, Herbert Thayer 1887-1957. Reason – after Ernest married Susan Champion in 1923, they moved to Hill Farm, Clutton (near Bath). Their first child, Benjamin, was born there in 1926. Sidney and Herbert remained in Puxton running “Thayer Bros. – farmers”. If 18 is Albert Champion, he is standing next to the brothers of his son-in-law…but is also close to an actual son-in-law – Gilbert EH Frost. Gilbert was married to Susan’s older sister, Eleanor. Oh dear – everyone seems to be related to everyone else! Nevertheless, think 18 is a reasonable call for Albert Champion …all we need now is a comparison photo.

Just as an aside... Assuming you have seen this before,,,

Brilliant. Thanks, Rob. I’ve got a very bad, blurred copy of this photo but never knew the source. Funnily enough, I’ve got the very similar looking book – Weston-super-Mare in Old Photographs by Sharon Poole. The “Around” makes all the difference! Albert Osmond of Appleton Farm, Wick St. Lawrence was my 2x great granduncle. One of his younger brothers, Arthur Osmond of Heathgate Farm, Hewish, was my 2x great grandfather.

Do you want to see if I can get a better scan of it? 

May be worth contacting Sharon Poole herself.

Have just spotted in the introduction to the book a photo of some chaps cutting down a tree. One of them is Colston PALMER - one of the names on my list to investigate. He is away in the distance though but I don't think he is in the Committee photo.

No 19 - James BAILEY

If there was ever any doubt about identifying the vicar - here is is again.

26) John James EDWARDS?

(The one on the left)

I can see why you have picked No.26 but I think No.23 is more likely for JJ Edwards. A dark moustache is the only clear feature that can be established from the picture of him with his heifer. I think 23 has a moustache. Also, if him, he is standing near to his brother-in-law, Bertram, and brother, Percy (people tend to stand near friends in group photos). There is a resemblance between 23 and Percy George Edwards which suggests that they could be brothers. I would even argue, from looks alone, that 21 is from the Edwards family too – possibly their younger brother, Cecil Stanley Edwards.

All speculation, Rob - but enjoying the puzzle!  

Think that is a good call Kate. I have found another photo of JJ Edwards.

from 1939 at the Wick St Lawrence Harvest Home.

He does look like No. 26 but could easily be No. 23.

As for Cecil Stanley EDWARDS - cannot find any mention of him connected to the Hewish Harvest Home - however he was heavily involved in the Wick St Lawrence one (the event was often held on his land) and JJ EDWARDS went on to be chairman of the Wick event so it is not too much a stretch to think that Cecil was also involved in the Hewish version in 1927.

Here is another clipping from my Nan's scrapbook. It is about her dad Harry NICHOLS going off to Longmoor Camp to join the Royal Engineers which dates it to Dec 1915.

The first part of the article however refers to the wife of Lt Albert CHAMPION of the Royal Flying Corps who was "somewhere in France". His wife was doing a solo performance at St Annes. She was descibed in the 1911 census as a "Dramatic Student" so could obviously sing a bit. This Albert CHAMPION was the eldest son of Albert Joseph CHAMPION.

Rob,

Just read thro the HH thread again - re a photo of your gt grandfather -  he was a GWR Platelayer - have u looked at GWR staff mags - the main GWR staff museum is Steam at Swindon. But before Covid I spent several happy days at the National Rail Museum of York looking thro their copies of the GWR magazine - they were on open shelves then(but maybe check now). Armed with dates of joining/marriage etc etc I did make some interesting finds for my relation. Also there were a variety of GWR clubs/societies to which Harry might have belonged and where photos might have been taken. (NB no name indexes - so can be a slog - but I went thro all the mags and found it interesting - with always a hope of "hitting pay dirt". I mention York - fairly easy train journey from Liverpool  ? - if and when they run !? 

Hi uphill

I have been to York - a few years ago now - the kids were more into Thomas the Tank than the GWR. Don't think I looked at any magazines. I did check the indexes at Swindon also a few years ago without much luck but if as you say the magazines were not indexed then I wouldn't have. I will endeavour to try to get there again at some point.

By the way - how to you know that Harry Nichols was listed as No 7 and was in the white coat on that photo - my Dad tells me that he was the scorer for the team - I think he played more in his earlier days.

I was wondering if I should put all the information and some background on all the people we have found into an article for the magazine - in which case I could probably do with some more help -any thoughts?

Rob, The id on cricket photo is down to notes I made from the original legend and/or what "someone" told me - but all a very long time ago !

You could do article - but they are all mostly farmers and I find if you check npapers etc all u get is info on them at agriculture shows and/or what price they got for cattle at markets ! 2 things -when I read your 1st post dived for book "Schoolboy Servant GWR Apprentice .Memories of Alfred Plumley 1880-1892" Plumley was GWR apprentice and based on Bristol /WSM line - checked for Nichols name - no mention - but they would have been contempories - u might like book - gives "flavour" of the line.

Next Nichols died young played cricket etc - his funeral would have been large/well attended - have you tried Weston Mercury/local press for funeral report - might mention more of his cricket skills ?

Rob   - Harry really did participate in local life - no wonder there are no details of his cricket skills - he was involved with so much more ! With skittles - I would expect u to find pics of his team in those GWR magazines also in the Weston Mercury - papers always seemed to report skittle matches !

Hope u do manage to find decent photo of him.

Re - old maps- have a look at "Know My Place" - a website of old maps for the West Country . Hope u surviving heat !