Phil, a friend of ours from Sheffield, England, is over here in Perth, Western Australia at the moment visiting family … on Saturday, he visited us in Glen Forrest, as he has done for the past eight years.
On this occasion, he presented me with a copy of Barbara Hillier’s book, ‘CHANDLER’S FORD, A PICTORIAL HISTORY’ (1994 edition – Front Cover shows Fortune Court and a VERY blue sky) … Phil bought it via Amazon U/K from a bookshop in Reading, Berks …
Here’s where the ‘long shot’ comes in …
The blank page inside the cover is inscribed, by hand, ‘With Love & Best Wishes to Jan, from Mum – 1996’
What are the chances of me discovering who Jan and Mum are ??? … slim, I feel, but not impossible, and I am sure they would like to know their ‘off-cast’ now has a welcome new home in Western Australia.
Keep smiling …
I have no idea who Jan and Mum might be. You can tell you friend Phil that there is one person from Sheffield helping to keep Chandlers Ford going. My Grandfather was born in Bramall Lane so that’s a good pedigree. I am ashamed to say that I was born in Jessop’s Hospital for Women. Lived in Handsworth and moved up to Ecclesall. Uncle ran a petrol station in Intake.
I left in 1956 to go to University in Bristol.
Hi Mike … this world gets smaller every day … I have taken the liberty of sending a copy of your comment to our friend Phil, who is currently enjoying a stop-over in Thailand before returning to Blighty … my second wife comes from Sheffield (I met her in WOZ) and her (our) daughter was born in Jessops at the time of the hurricane … her Great Grandies lived in Scarsdale House in Derbyshire Lane, next to Norton Cemetery, both of which you might know … Phil lives in Meersbrook
I cannot say who Jan and Mum were, but the photo, fig.16 in my copy,
shows the tranquil track through the woods, now Queens Road, with my grandmother, Nellie Sarah Adamson, with my sister Jane (not a son) in the state of the art pram, with me, the little squirt standing beside it.
Hi Barry … LONG time no speak … the last time must have been during the days of ‘Relievo’ around the Lake in the early 50’s, or even before …
You have lost me with your comment … you quote ‘the photo, fig. 16 in my copy’ … this does not appear to connect with my post, nor is there a photo … as Mr. Woodhouse used to write in our books at school ‘please explain’ …
Cheers
Doug Clews
Hi Doug, Those were the days, and what fun we had. I have 1st edition of Barbara Hilliers book, which I quoted accurately. I also have a more recent edition, in which the same photo appears on p.49, simply captioned Queens Road, Chandlers Ford, 1935. Dramatis personae the same.
Best wishes, Barry
Hi again Barry …
Now it all makes sense … thanks ! … I too have both books, and fig 16 is definitely the better photo … I had forgotten the caption though … I guess Jane would have been about 1 year old in that 1935 picture, as I seem to remember we were about the same age …
I regret to say I have lost contact with the ‘Lake Gang’, with the exception of Tony Grinyer and his cousin David … I did meet up with Diana Sykes (Ostler) and her brother Christopher, here in Perth back in the late 70’s … At the time, Diana was Chief Dietician at Princess Margaret Hospital For Children in Perth, and Christopher was with the Agriculture Department Of Western Australia from memory.
Keep smiling
Doug from WOZ