News & Information (Monthly Update)

Apologies for the shortness of this newsletter. Pat, our president and newsletter editor is temporarily indisposed and is unable to produce this month's edition. Hopefully she will be back with a bumper tome in June.

May Day Holiday

In 1978, the government made the first Monday in May a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our neighbours across the border in Scotland had already been enjoying this bank holiday since 1871

It seems that this year we will be getting the weather that we traditionally associate with the May Day holiday - if you have a couple of hours to spare and want some family history things to do here are some ideas.

1. If visiting a relative, take the chance to find out something new about their or their ancestors lives.
2. Take a backup of your computer files. Ideally copy your files to somewhere other than your computer and keep them somewhere else other than with your computer.
3. Have a look through your old photographs and record who is on them whilst you still remember who you are
4. See if you can work out where your parents / grandparents were and what they were doing on VE Day.
5. Catch up with the stories on the WSMFHS Facebook group
6. Take a look at our new website - more of that later!

A Day for Peace – and Wedding Bells!

from Sue Maguire, Editor - WSMFHS Journal (‘Buckets & Spades’)

The date 8 May 1945 was one which the whole world had been awaiting: the day peace in Europe could be declared after years of conflict, death and misery. The second war to end all wars had affected everyone: family members and friends lost, deprivation and fighting just to survive, but that day meant fresh hope - a new beginning and a chance to celebrate.

In Banwell, where five people were killed and many buildings were destroyed by German bombs, that May was a very special time for the Hicks family.

VE Day 8 May was my father Frank Sarkowicz's 26th birthday and Grandpa and Grannie Hicks's 38th wedding anniversary! Then, a couple of weeks later (24 May), my mother Elizabeth (Betty) Hicks, married my father, an American serviceman. Dad looked very smart in his US uniform and Mum wore a lovely two-piece pink suit, made by Grannie. The wedding ceremony was at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Weston-super-Mare.

Afterwards, everyone went to the family home at Cannaways Farm, Banwell, for the reception and this group photo shows Mum and Dad before they travelled to Salisbury for their honeymoon.

Being in the American army, Dad was called back across the Atlantic almost immediately, but Mum had to wait 10 months before she could sail to America and join him in Chicago. Mum arrived in good time for Easter Sunday, 21 April 1946, settled in … and then I was born in February 1947!

‘The Peace’ Rose (Rosa Peace)

Sue Maguire

‘The Peace’ rose was developed (1935 to 1939) by Francis Meilland, a French horticulturist. With Germany’s invasion of France imminent, Meilland decided to protect his new cultivar by sending cuttings to Italy, Turkey, Germany and the USA, and it was propagated in the USA by Conard Pyle Co during the war.

‘The Peace’ is a beautiful Hybrid Tea rose. Its fragrant flowers are light yellow to cream colour with crimson petal edges. Qualities include hardiness, vigour and resistance to disease which makes it a very popular choice with gardeners and florists.

During its lifetime, this rose has been known by several names, including 'Madame A Meilland' (France), ‘Gioia’ (Italy), ‘Gloria Dei’ (Germany) and ‘The Peace’ (USA, Sweden and Norway).

Interestingly, on 29 April 1945, the adoption of the name ‘The Peace’ was publicly announced in the USA by Conard Pyle Co. On this day, Berlin fell and this was a turning point. Later that year, ‘The Peace’ roses were given to each of the delegates at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations (San Francisco), accompanied by notes which read: ‘We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace’.

Over the years, ‘The Peace’ has received many distinguished awards and, in 1976, it was selected as the ‘World's Favourite Rose’ and it was added to the ‘Rose Hall of Fame’.

Perhaps you already enjoy ‘The Peace’ in your garden? … and it would certainly be a lovely gift, or an addition, to anyone’s garden to mark the VE Day 80th Anniversary celebrations.

Who do you think you are?

I don't know if you have been watching the current series - the last two episodes with Andrew Garfield and Mishal Husain have been two of the most interesting ones I can remember seeing so if you have been giving it a miss recently it might be time for another look.

Tuesday 6th May at 9pm (and repeated later in the week) sees the turn of Ross Kemp of Eastenders fame - who according to the advertising  "believes sifting fact from fiction will be the biggest challenge when it comes to his family history". Sounds like there could be a few old stories to sort out.

Our new website

Hopefully you all know by now that our new website is coming ...  We are aiming to switch over on 6th June - if it was good enough for Montgomery and Eisenhower then it is good enough for us (and yes, before you all write in I know that D-Day was supposed to be the 5th!).

You can have a look at what is there now - as can anyone - by going to www.wsmfhs.org (same as the current one - but without the ".uk" at the end).

However if you want to access the restricted areas of the new site you do need to logon - this is a different login to the one from the old site - you normally logon with your e-mail address. Once you login the system will remember you so you don't have to continually need to login.

We will be sending out invites to the new site in the week leading up to the 6th. If you would like access earlier (and you are very welcome to do so) please let us know.

You can find all of the information from the old website on the new one with extra "stuff " including

• Contact with other members via Private Messaging
• Buckets & Spades (current and old issues) readable from the site
• Exchange Journals readable from the site
• Research Forum sortable in different ways
• Parish pages that include direct links to records held on Ancestry and Findmypast
• Milton Road Cemetery Charts
• Extensive War Memorial coverage with 800+ individual profiles of those who died during the Boer War and the First World War
• Close Up Pictures of the Grove Park War Memorial in Weston
• Special Projects including Brick Walls, Parishes at War, Member Pedigrees and of course the Weston Worthies in full technicolor for the first time.

We are still looking for GED files containing members family tree to trial on the Member Pedigree project. We require only

1. A GED file (can be exported from any software program)
2. The name of Person in the tree who the pedigree is centred on
3. A picture to add to the post (does not have to be a portrait).
4. No other graphics/media are needed

The resulting pages are based on on all ancestors of the main individual plus two generations of descendants for each ancestor of the main individual.

Events coming up in May

14 May, 2:30 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall "Unexpected Sources", a talk by Samantha Taylor – those odd sources she encountered whilst researching her family tree
16 May - 18 May at St Martin's Church, Worle Flower Festival: A celebration of Marriage Fri, 16th May 7:00pm  Opening of Flower Festival Sat 17th May 10.00am – 4.00pm Church open for viewing displays and marriage registers Sun 18th May 2.00pm – 4.00pm Church open for viewing displays and marriage registers Sun 18th May 4.30pm  Special Service to conclude Flower Festival
19 May, 10:30 at Weston Library Library Help Session
28th May at 19:30, via Zoom Henry Smith: A Most Notorious, Naughty, False, Lying Fellow: A Global Black Sheep or Maligned Character? Sue Paul gives a light-hearted case study demonstrating how to reconstruct a seventeenth-century life that cannot be found in traditional genealogical records to enhance your ancestral history

And finally ...

10 years ago - from the May 2015 newsletter

(It was reported that Mark Sayers was moving to the Mediterranean and was standing down as chairman)

"We have never had a vice-chairman, a situation which we will have to resolve.  In the meantime, Brian Airey has reluctantly agreed to carry on as both chair and secretary until November – the revised date of the AGM.  If there is a local member who is interested in taking the chair (or can recommend another member who might be approached) please will they let us know so that they can be co-opted on to the committee before any election takes place."

Some things don't change much - we don't have a vice-chairman or a chairman for that matter - we have two co-chairs! - and Brian is still carrying on as Secretary - and we would still welcome anyone who would like to help on the committee - we are quite a friendly lot!

Enjoy the month of May!

And finally (again) ... one last May

My mum's sister was called June, her daughter is called Avril and Mum's & June's stepmother was named May - can anyone beat that?

I apologise for the lateness of this newsletter – I usually try to get it ready for the start of the month. If you have any additions I would be glad to see them in the comments.

April Fools Day
As this newsletter will be late this month it will be absolutely free of any April Fool Jokes. Family History is difficult enough without the added twists!  However, have you been caught out this year?

Mothering Sunday
The 4^th Sunday in Lent is always Mothering Sunday, so last Sunday people who were able to visit or at least contact their mothers did so. Traditionally this was the only time that people in service had time off to visit perhaps carrying a small gift of flowers or cake. Churches on Mothering Sunday often offer children a small bunch of flowers for them to give to their own mothers or carers.

80 Years Ago
I mentioned my reaction to VE day as a child in a previous newsletter.  In May there will be time to commemorate with services and street parties.  You have time during April to plan your events. To remember those who did not come home and those who did but suffered from the effects of war. Remember also those who served on the Home Front.  Ancestry has a file of Land Army Women.

75 Years Ago
On a very different note – I have been reminded that of April 1^st 1950 my husband received his first car, a Morris 8 tourer, which developed through the years and even entered the Speed trials on the Sea Front in 1960.  By then it was no longer a standard Morris 8.  It became our only car and in the days before regulations about child safety in cars there was room in the back for a carrycot!!  This shows how times have changed and how difficult it can be to imagine how life was in the past.

Free Help Sessions in Weston Library
I received this information from Samatha Taylor and although it is already on the web site, I am including it here for anyone who has missed it.  I know, from experience, how valuable these sessions can be both to the volunteers and to those who attend for help.

Library Help Sessions
Our help sessions at Weston-Super-Mare Library on the first Saturday of the month have been so popular that we have collaborated with the library to offer additional sessions on the third Monday of each month starting 19^th May 2025.  We hope that this will provide a greater opportunity for members and the public to access help with their family history.

If you are a member who enjoys helping others with the challenges of tracing their family history, we would welcome you to join our band of volunteers.  We find it very rewarding and always learn something of interest.  You don’t have to commit to attending every session, or even a whole session, just what you can manage.  If you are interested and would like to give it a go, please contact Samantha Taylor in person at meetings or via the contact tab on the website, wsmfhs.org.uk.

Sessions are held at:

Weston-super-Mare Library

Town Hall

Walliscote Grove Road

Weston-super-Mare

BS23 1UJ

Monthly on:

First      Saturday            2pm to 3.30pm

Third    Monday              10.30am to 1pm (starting 19^th May 2025)

Bitton Churchyard
As some of you may know by now, my paternal side were living in Bitton during the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, and I have often visited the area to discover more about them.  Recently  a survey of the Churchyard has been put online. https://www.bittonhistory.org.uk/churchyard/ You can search by surname or by Grave Number. Image from the excellent survey by the Bitton Parish History Group and others. The page also contains extracts from the Bitton Burial Register.

 I already knew the position of the grave of my 3 x great grandfather, Samuel LONG, 1777-1833, Grave C49 but with this I also found the grave of his eldest son, known to the family as Uncle Saml. 1805-1877 Grave C48.  It can be seen to the right of the standing Headstone with a cross lying  on it. There is a separate entry for it.
 That grave is listed as that of Uncle Saml’s widow, Sarah LONG,1813-1889  and the memorial presumably to him was no longer visible. I am grateful for this newly available resource - it set me off reviewing the history of Uncle Saml, who was the only one of the LONGs to remain in Bitton.  He was quite a character but had no known children. Sometimes researching someone else in the family gives you an insight to the life of your direct ancestors as well.
Uncle Saml’s death was announced in the Bristol Papers giving his home address.

His will and that of his widow, Sarah, were also invaluable in explaining why my father could remember visiting Bitton with his father to collect rents. Wills from 1858 are available from https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate for only £1.50. With everything going up who knows how long they will remain at that level? 

Somerset Archives and Local Studies
The following notice has just been published by the Somerset Archives.

From their Facebook Entry:
It's the end of an era! Our online catalogue no longer lists the archive collections held at Bath Record Office as they have their own, brand new online catalogue that lists their archives & local studies holdings.
It can be consulted here:  collections.batharchives.co.uk/home

This is important for those of you who are researching people who may have lived in Bath.  I have always found the Bath Record Office to be very helpful.

Don’t forget that the National Archives through its Discovery Search Facility also includes some documents held in Local Archives. For example, when researching Edwin LONG RA who was born in Bath, I found a letter he had written about one of his paintings in the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Record Office

Potters from Weston

I should think that Bargain Hunt is not often credited as a resource for Family History Research, but a few weeks ago an item from a Torquay Pottery (Watcombe)  was featured and it reminded me of a connection.  Back in 1998 I was invited to give a talk to the Torquay Branch of the Devon FHS because one of its members had discovered a connection with Weston-super-Mare. The Weston Pottery was a large concern with many employees. The connection turned out to be related to by husband.  Henry BREWER had married Ann Alice HASE at Emmanuel Church in 1856 and on the 1861 census is described as a Moulder in Clay. They moved to Devon and by 1901 their son, William BREWER born in 1871 in Weston was described as a terra cotta worker on his own account. He remained in the Pottery business and in 1921 was working for the Watcombe Pottery.  Of course, in 1998 the 1901, 1911, 1921 censuses were not available and research had been done by that family by passing down stories about their life in Devon. They knew he had been working on his own account and did not know that later he was an employee.

Future Society Events                                                                                                            Next Members’ Meeting Wednesday April 9^th
There has been a change of speaker for the meeting on Wednesday April 9^th at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall, 2.30 pm.  Peter deDulin will present “From Emperor to Workhouse” a story of Emperors, Linens, Lions and Poverty.  This is a fascinating tale of family history research.  

Zoom Workshop
There will NOT be a Workshop on Wed April 23^rd as previously advertised.  This has been postponed until September 24^th when the Latest Updates to Family Tree Maker will be discussed.

The last Workshop held in March on Breaking Down Brickwalls is now available for members under Videos on our Web Site.

Finally
I do hope that you are having a great time researching your ancestors.  Please call out for help of you are stuck.  Use the Free Help Sessions in the Library, especially the additional one during the week when that starts. Or use the Research Forum – on that point if you see a request for help, why not answer it?  You can always join the Facebook Group. A full membership of our Society (which can be a little as £9.00) can give you access to our transcriptions and other informative details including the videos of past talks and Workshops.

from Pat Hase

Well, the shortest month is now over and with March we can look forward to the Spring, warmer weather and perhaps visiting the haunts of our ancestors or at least concentrate on some more research.

Free Help Session Weston Library

On Saturday, March 1st we have our usual monthly Free Help Session in Weston Library between 2.00p.m. and 3.30p.m. Our volunteers will be there to greet you and guide you to the most helpful resources. Although Ancestry and Findmypast are available don’t overlook the resources available in the library. The files of information about People and Places in the area, Street Directories, Electoral Rolls and the film of local newspapers are some records which cannot be found anywhere else.

Society meeting March 12th

Somerset Follies will be the topic for the March Meeting of the Society on Wednesday 12th March at 2.30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall. The Speaker will be Jonathan Holt who has written books about Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire Follies, their history and meaning.

(Right) Sham Castle, Bath

Zoom Workshop Breaking down Brick walls March 26th

Are you stuck with your family history research? Please submit any problems to Peter de Dulin so that they can be investigated during this Workshop on Wednesday March 26th at 7.30p.m. Members will receive information about how to log on to this meeting just before the date.

My main Brickwall is in Bitton. Robert LONG, my 4 x great grandfather, married Hester PRIGG on the 17th May 1767 but I have no real indication of his birth, parentage or death. There are 92 trees on Ancestry some have him living until he was 108 but none that I can see have proof of his birth. My family history research started with Robert LONG but has not progressed further!

My Grandfather maintained that there was a connection with the Victorian artist Edwin LONG, R.A. but here again I need more proof.

See https://bit.ly/3DaQGWJ

February Zoom Talk – She Died in Whitechapel

Following the Zoom talk last Wednesday I received a very welcome and thought-provoking email from member Keith Graham. Thank you, Keith. He posed the interesting supposition that the fact that I did not know the history of Frances COLES until I researched it demonstrated that in many cases oral family history can be censored, if deemed to be unsavoury, or possibly exaggerated to paint a more favourable picture as it is passed down. This is so true.

My grandfather, who might have known about Frances, told me many fascinating tales about his paternal family but hardly any of them have proved to be true!

It is possible that Thomas might have ridden into Bristol to watch the Riots in Queens Square not proved – but that did not stop me writing an essay about it while at school! Samuel LONG owned a Sand Pit not a coal mine. According to Grandfather the LONG family were important in the history of Bristol and his grandfather entertained Garibaldi when he visited Bristol. Research has shown the Garibaldi spent 10 minutes on Temple Meads Station as he returned to Italy in 1864 and didn’t get off the train! My grandfather was not born until1874 and was presumably recounting what he had been told.

Grandfather did not mention his maternal line – the COLES family, except to acknowledge that his mother was Rebekah Saunders COLES

Frances COLES mortuary photo – who was murdered in Whitechapel in 1891 was a first cousin to my great grandmother but none of our living family knew anything about her or spoke about her. Perhaps because she was a prostitute she was erased from their memories.

What family stories have been handed down in your family? Have you researched them? Do they match with written documentation?

Research Forum

Keith Graham posted a request for help on our Research Forum in January but unless people have contacted him directly, I can see so comments with information about residents of Hill Road. The history of a single road and its inhabitants can highlight the changing values and conditions of society and can be a valuable asset to family history research.

 

Just one of its residents – lived at 43 Hill Road image from Weston Library

 

 

Mendip Hospital

The Cemetery of Mendip Hospital in Wells will re-open for visits on Wednesday April 2nd from 11 am to 4 pm and then every Wednesday and Sunday until the end of September. Many of us will have relations who were buried there. The new exhibition in the Chapel will show some of the patients, staff and their histories.

John HASE who was born in Cross (or Winscombe) in 1828 was a patient there in 1851. According to his case notes (Name given as HARSE) he was admitted on June 1st, 1850, suffering from ye congenital imbecility His case notes are in Somerset Archives D/H/men/17/1/2. He spent some time there and in other places including Bridgwater and Axbridge Workhouses before his death at Wells in 1902 by which time he was described as blind and a lunatic. The friends of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery were able to locate his grave in Section E Grave 75 and sent me a photo of the spot where he was buried. Do take advantage of a visit to the Cemetery its well worth it.

The fact that John was blind is interesting. His father, a blacksmith. is described as blind on the 1851 census of Cross. A grandson of the blacksmith also became blind, as did a great grandson. Glaucoma has been diagnosed in several male descendants of the Blacksmith. Untreated Glaucoma would have led to blindness. In this case it looks as if Family History can assist in tracing inherited complaints.

Family Heirlooms

One of my favourite heirlooms is a traditional Welsh Bakestone or Griddle given to me by my Welsh Step-Grandmother. It will come into use tomorrow, March 1st to cook some Welsh cakes to celebrate St Davids Day. Served warm with a sprinkling of caster sugar and plenty of butter a friend used to call my Welsh cakes Them hot things.

The griddle can also be used for pizzas although I doubt that its original owner even knew what a pizza was!!

I find it interesting to consider what our ancestors ate through the years. Depending on local and seasonal produce with long slow cooking on an open fire or range. You can read about one persons memories of their food here. https://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-everyday-meals.htm

New Family History Resources available

What new resources have you found useful recently? Please add any comments which you think would help others in their search for the elusive ancestor.

One thing I proved recently was that it pays to revisit some of the resources as new ones are continually becoming available. Always try to look at the original records because transcriptions can be faulty and look at them in context. Neighbours on censuses reveal similar occupations and the numbers living in each house might indicate the type of neighbourhood.

Good Luck with your Research and don’t forget to let Peter know of your brick walls.

Welcome to the February Newsletter. I hope that you are progressing with your research and gradually breaking down your brickwalls.

Free Help Session Feb 1^st Weston Library
February will start with a Free Help Session at Weston Library on Saturday Feb 1^st from 2.00 p.m. until 3.30p.m. when our volunteers will be present to assist anyone who attends with their research. You do not have to be a member of the Society  to come along with your queries. 

Members’ Meeting – Feb 12^th
On the Wednesday afternoon of February 12^th the Speaker at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall will be member, Simon Begent, who will talk about the rich and interesting History of Aviation in Weston-super-Mare.  The meeting will be from 2.30p.m. until 5.00p.m.

St Valentine's Day - Feb 14th 
Looking through your family history do you have any marriages which took place on Feb 14th or any children born on that day who were called Valentine?

Zoom Workshop – Feb 26^th
I will be hosting the Zoom meeting with a talk entitled – “She died in Whitechapel”.  This is based on my own family history but has links with the continuing interest in the well documented murders of the late 1880s.  Can you believe everything which was in print? This will start at 7.30 p.m. and members will receive notification of the sign in details before the meeting.

Holocaust Memorial day
On January 27^th the 80^th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was recognised by those whose families were involved, on both sides, and by others who see that day as the realisation of man’s inhumanity to man. There is a web site where you can trace the history of the Holocaust https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/about.html and add any information you may have about members of your family who suffered at that time.

Researching Jewish ancestors
If you are researching Jewish ancestors there is a web site to assist you https://www.jewishgen.org/?gad_source=1 I have used this site successfully to identify members who have married into our family having come to this country from Ukraine in around 1900.

Document  concerning 158 Moorland Road
I came across this document over Christmas along with some papers which had been given me some years ago. It concerns the sale of a house in Moorland Road in Jan 1906

The seller was a James FEAR and the buyer was a Georgina FEAR  and the price was £300.  It was described as:

All that piece of land with the messuage or dwelling house erected thereon situate in Moorland Road Weston-s-Mare and known  as “Stencliffe”

Street directories show that Stencliffe was situated at 158, Moorland Road. This was on the  west side of Moorland Road towards the Devonshire Road end.

Is anyone familiar with the FEAR family? What was the relationship between James FEAR and Georgina FEAR?

In 1911 a Richard FEAR and his wife Nellie were living at 158.

There was a James FEAR who was a Builder who lived at 59 Moorland Road.  There was a Georgina FEAR who was the wife of an Ernest FEAR who was living at 40 Moorland Road.  Were they connected?

Married from Moorland Road in 1931
Unconnected with the FEAR family - This photograph appeared in the Weston Gazette Pictorial Review of 1931 and was captioned.

“Mr Francis John Harris, only son of Mr & Mr W Harris, Moorland Road. Weston-super-Mare. married to Miss Barbara Mary Hughes at Emmanuel Church”

Using FreeBMD and the GRO Index it was possible to find that the birth of Francis John HARRIS was registered in the Sept qrt of  1907 and that his mother’s maiden name was WHITTOCK.

His parents, Willie HARRIS and Minnie Martha WHITTOCK  were married in the June Qrt 1907 when presumably she was already pregnant.  Sadly, she died shortly after giving birth, aged just 21. She was buried in Weston Cemetery in Tu 926. Later, Mary Jane HARRIS, grandmother of Francis was  buried in the same plot.
His father had married again in 1911 to Alice Emily BAKER and they can be found on the 1921 Census living at 160 Moorland Road – (next door to the FEAR family at 158!) – with a daughter, Doris Evelyn HARRIS, aged 7.
Do we have anyone who is researching the HARRIS family?  

Family Events in February
February is often a dismal month, weatherwise.  But this month my husband will celebrate his 92^nd birthday so we will have something to celebrate. As he looks back over his life in Weston-super-Mare his memories come flooding back.  He was born in Whitecross Road, in the same house as his father had been born, so the family has seen many changes to the town and the way of life here.
His family were concerned with transport in Weston.  Initially with Donkeys and Donkey chairs and later with horse transport as a Cab Proprietor.

His grandfather, John HASE, a cab proprietor, had moved into a newly built  house in Whitecross Road in 1885  from the Victoria Hotel Yard. He built stables in Albert Road which backed onto their house.

In December 1907, John's wife had died from breast cancer and this advertisement appeared early in February for a housekeeper to look after the young HASE family.  Arthur, my father-in-law, was the youngest, then aged just 2 1/2 years. 

Note that John was described as an abstainer. Newspapers can often add to your knowledge of the family.  The successful applicant, Susan SANDERS, was to remain with the family until John’s death in 1933. 

1911 Census for Weston-super-Mare
19 Whitecross Road, Weston-super-Mare

Mike's father, my father-in-law, Arthur HASE, later introduced motor cars into the mix, turning their stables in Albert Road into a garage. He also offered overnight off-street parking for visitors.  

If you look at the original entry of the 1911 census you will see that the enumerator has deleted the entry that one child of John HASE had died,  This was Agnes who was born and died in 1900 from Bronchitis and Pneumonia, aged 7/8 months. It is always a good idea to look at the original entry. As the only girl to be born into this family she was known to the family as “Sissy” for the short time which she was with them.

Having been brought up surrounded with cars it is probably not surprising that these became one of Mike’s main interests – along with his singing.  When he retired from teaching, we bought a Rolls Royce and did Wedding Hire for about 12 years. Perhaps some of you may have come across us in those days.  We did about 150 weddings and they were all joyous occasions. That is until the Rolls Royce engine blew up - luckily when returning from a Wedding – and we could not afford to have it repaired so had to sell the car!

Perhaps we feature in your family history record?

Each month I ask for contributions to the Newsletter in the form of comments from members who have information which they are able to share with other members and which might help others to continue  their research. Please consider adding your comments. Thank you.

From BBC

A Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, Cheerful and successful New Year to you all. Thank you to those who sent cards and messages over the Christmas period. It was great to hear from you especially as I wasn’t feeling particularly well.  I wasn’t sure that you would be getting a Newsletter this time but here is a much shorter one than usual which in Blue Peter Style I made earlier.  Please add suggestions for research during 2025.

2025 has so much to offer. 
It is 80 years since VE Day.  I remember lying in bed asleep when my mother, who obviously wanted to share the news with everyone – woke me up to come and see the bonfires which had been lit along the railway embankment which ran alongside the Bristol Rovers Ground at Eastville in Bristol. I am told I simply said “ OK, I’ll see them in the morning” And went back to sleep!  I was 6.
 

From YouTube

This shows the Gasometer which is often mentioned in connection with the Rovers.
The 13 arches were demolished to make way for the M32.

There was a Street party, but I have no pictures.  Every type of dining room chairs with a table covered with white sheets and the favourites if the day.  Rabbit moulded jellies and blancmange, egg sandwiches, cakes and coloured drinks – there was probably more!  Do any of you have records of such parties?  This is the problem of relying on official documentation when so much of our lives are unrecorded,
I also remember being fascinated by the streetlights when they came on again – and the arrival of bananas but I don’t think that happened until Dec 1945.

Family Celebrations in 2025

In May 2025 one of my mother’s cousins will be celebrating her 100th birthday.  As her mother also reached a century it does seem that there are some long lived genes on that side of the family.  Happy Birthday Rita! 

January Society Events

Library Help Session
On January 4^th there should be a session at Weston Library. The last one had to be cancelled due to the weather and the closure of the library.  All are welcome -  just take along your queries from 2.00p.m. and our valiant volunteers will do their best to set you on the right path. The session finishes at 3,30p.m.

Live Talk to Members on Wednesday, Jan 8^th 2.30pm – 5.00
There has been some speculation recently whether an afternoon meeting suits most of our members.  Please make a comment about the suitability of the timing for the future.  This talk will be by Raye Green, the well known Worle historian. Recently she has been researching the 52 Vicars of Worle since 1325  Raye will share her knowledge about Worle history in this saunter through 900 years of St Martin's Church.

Zoom Workshop on Thursday 23^rd January 7. 30pm – 9.30pm
This is a change of day for a Workshop from its more usual Wednesday evening to a THURSDAY.  It is important that as many of you as possible attend as it will be about our new web site.  Your comments are important to its development and Rob Clarke will be taking us through it.  You will receive information about how to join the Workshop by email prior to the meeting.

New Resources

 Ancestry

The 1921 Census of England and Wales launches on the 7th of January and will show details including where your relatives were living, who they lived with, what industry they worked in, who employed them - you could even see their handwriting. What will you discover? – Here are some more resources on offer.

Don’t forget that Ancestry and Findmypast can be used at Weston Library.

Free Research Sites

I wonder how many of these sites you have used. https://shorturl.at/Le1Sq   Were any of them helpful?  Let us know which you recommend.

Membership

Your membership to the Weston-super-Mare & District FHS ended on Dec 31st so your renewall will be welcomed by the society. And of course new members are always welcome.

Finally

Wishing you all a successful, Interesting and healthy 2025 and with many thanks to those who contribute to the Society.  Happy New Year!

PS    Received this message this morning – can anyone help?

Message:
Hello. I am trying to see if Backwell House is still standing. Also to see if anyone know about what happened to owners and their children.

Our AGM was held in November and I was pleased to note that we have some possible new committee members.  May I wish them a warm welcome and hope their involvement brings them much joy and pleasure over the years to come.

It’s December already, somewhere I have an account of a family (not mine) celebrating Christmas back in the 19^th Century.  It describes the people sitting around the fire, recounts what they have to say and paints a picture of domestic peace and concerns.  It is interesting reading giving an insight into conditions at that time. Perhaps we should all write a description of our family this Christmas so that our descendants get an idea about how we celebrated this year. Family History is not only dates and places but also events and how we lived.

My memory goes back to my childhood Christmases when we spent hours making decorations from coloured paper and received handmade gifts from parents, grandparents and other relations.

I still have this set of handknitted clothes for my doll, “Wendy”, including underclothes. I must have been about 5 years old when I was given this doll.  Later, she had to share the doll’s pram with our dog who allowed my sister and I to push her around in it!

What were your favourite gifts at Christmas apart from the apple and orange in the toe of the sock? 

I remember a visit to the Hippodrome to see a Pantomime with an aunt and being persuaded to stand up and conduct the orchestra who followed my frantic waving with commendable ability!

I remember gathering around the piano at my grandparents’ house with my mother playing carols and old songs which were then rendered by my uncles and aunt.  I remember the warmth of the open fire, the chicken sandwiches (no turkey in those days) and mince pies. We played hilarious games like charades and paper-based games - I do remember an older member of the family being quite surprised when she wasn’t allowed Addock as a type of fish starting with “A”.  Apart from Anchovy I can’t think of a fish which fits this description!

In the next few days Christmas tree decorations dating back over 60 years will be lovingly placed on our tree and fond memories of the first times they were used remembered.

New Ancestry Records

Here are some of the latest additions to Ancestry

·         The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Records are particularly interesting and contain several people from Weston. That the RNLI will be able to return to Birnbeck Pier once the renovation is completed is great news for Weston.

photographs reproduced by kind permission of Weston-super-Mare RNLI

·         On Ancestry the REME Records also list some Weston residents. One, taken at random, was Percy Arthur COUNSELL, 1902-1979, who lived in Bedford Road.  He served in India.  He survived the war and both he and his wife Daisy were buried in Weston Cemetery.

·         There are several members of the Polish Forces who are buried in Weston Cemetery. They are included in the list on Ancestry of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947. They include Stanislaw WALCZAK, Alojzy MORAWIEC, Felix ZALEWSKI etc.

Findmypast – Military Records

Last month, with the commemoration of Remembrance Day, Findmypast posted a video about how to find Military Records of our ancestors.  You can find it on https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/british-army-promotions-medals
I was interested this year in watching the TV coverage of the various ceremonies to mark the occasion that the events at Monte Cassino were included.  I have a copy of my father’s military records which include mention of his wounding in Italy on the approach to Monte Cassino at that time, so I was pleased to see it included this year.

Free Sites Online

·         A reminder that there are masses of free sites online to aid our family history research.  You can see some of them here: https://www.family-tree.co.uk/how-to-guides/doing-your-family-history-online-50-best-websites-for-family-history/ The first one listed is Familysearch which has been available in various forms for years and should not be forgotten as a source. 

·         How many of these sites have you used?  Can you recommend others?

LostCousins Newsletter

I often suggest that you read the frequent newsletters for Lost Cousins and this is no exception,  Go to the latest one for news and a mention of the DNA master class which is recommended reading. https://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters2/endnov24news.htm

Society Events

North Somerset Archives Service - 5^th December

The next visit of the archivist from the North Somerset Archives Service, Eve Bickerton, is on Thursday 5^th December from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 2:30pm (this is a change from the normal times of 11:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm)

Any requests to bring documents up from Taunton should be made by
Email: somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk

See more details https://www.wsmfhs.org.uk/society_news_view.php?nID=548

Free Help Session at Weston Library – Sat Dec 7^th

These sessions take place on the first Saturday of each month from 2.00 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.  Our Society Volunteers are happy to help anyone who has problems with their research and to point them in the right direction.

Society Members’ Meeting – Wed Dec 11^th

This meeting takes place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall from 2.00 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. As this will be the nearest meeting to Christmas it is a special meeting. There will be a quiz, raffle, short talks by members, and of course cake! Non members are welcome.

Facebook Group and Research Forum

·         We have had some interesting postings on FB about the PUDDY family of Mark and Wedmore.  There was also a post about the PUDDYs on our Research Forum on the Web site.  It is a difficult and large family to unravel.  One suggestion was that we had a facility to compare family trees.  You can post a family tree under the Members’ SURNAME Interests on our Web site.   

·         Please consider posting your queries about your research, not only about PUDDYs, either on the Research Forum or the Facebook Group. 

Edwin and Catherine PUDDY photographed in 1864 in Wedmore. My aunt married Stanley PUDDY, a son of Thomas PUDDY, pictured far right in front row. My husband’s cousin married the daughter of Reginald, another son of Thomas.

AI and Family History

Last month I asked about how many of you have used AI to assist your research but had no response so perhaps you are not using it.  Can anyone recommend an overview of how it can be useful and what pitfalls to avoid?

Finally

Wishing you all a joyeous time over Christmas, however you spend it. Perhaps with family gatherings where you can recount the history of your family, and gather more information.
Looking forward to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2025 when we as a society breakdown all brickwalls, fill in those gaps and find pleasure in those adrenaline shots we get as we find that long lost ancestor. This all helps us to understand the way in which our family lived in the past and to pass it on.