I started this blog after finding 100s of photos,medals,postcards,autographs and more in my mother in law's wardrobe following her death in 2020. I recently discovered some writing on the back of one of the photos that told the story of the photo... and decided to have a look to see if there were any other stories or messages that have come to us across the years. Memories of times gone forever, but still with us! I was delighted to find that there were. I also discovered a lovely sense of humour, much affection and a real sense of the personalities of the subjects and the writers in just a few words! The family, whose stories can be read on my other blog posts, came from Bootle and Walton.
"Nona in the background, looking to America"
I don't know who "nona" is but Joe emigrated to the US as did his two brothers (much earlier than Joe - I have traced one who enlisted in the US army in WW1). Also, one of Sarah's sisters Doris ("Non") was married to a man whose two brothers also emigrated! Has a member of one of the families surmised she is thinking of her boys and written that? I can't think why such a specific, wistful comment would have been written on the back unless thinking of this.
"Doris & Elsie on the sands at St Anne's. I am offering you a sweet"
My main blog is about Joe and Sarah and their family. This is Sarah's sister and her daughter. This short comment tells such a lot - who is in the photo, where it is and what is happening! I think Doris wrote the words addressing them to whoever took the photo. Incidentally, plus ca change - whoever did take the photo managed to cut the top part of Doris's head off - haven't we all seen truncated family snaps! Makes them seem very much like us, even though I think this was taken way back 100 years, in the early 1920s.
"Betty took this snap. Duggie's foot just shows in my lap.
The two girls were staying with us.
Nanna, Non, Jay, Ken & "self"
I am not sure who some of these people are, but "Nanna" is the lady who featured previously. She features a LOT in my mother in law's photos, often "photo bombing"! "Non" is Sarah's sister Doris but it's a bit confusing as she says that she has Duggie's foot in her lap and Betty took the photo - but also mentions "Non" which is her family nickname......hoping I might solve the mystery of these people who keep popping up one day!
"Elsie reading "Wife and Home" in the back garden"
Nice to know who it is, (Doris and Sam's daughter) where she is AND what she is reading! A very blurred photo - again, it resonates down the ages!
"Bert, Jay and Ken; the house in the background is where we stay
12/8/30
Minster
This road leads to the beach"
Such a lot of information! Date, who is in it and pointing out a specific location "the road to the beach" and that the house in the background was where they stayed. But what was "Minster"? A mystery that I solved. I knew the family stayed in Rhyl a LOT. So I put the words "Minster guest house" and "Rhyl" into a search engine. Hey Presto! A map came up not only with the guest house on it - but it was indeed on a road that leads to the beach! So much information from the back of one photo!
"Between Rhyl and Conwy"
This is much earlier - possibly around 1914. I can date it because the little girl was born in 1906. Grace ("Gracie") Lived to be 112! I have blogged about her previously. This photo shows the 4 "Rich" sisters and possibly their brother, Tom, driving.
A few more beach photos to finish!
They really did love their beach holidays! What a wonderful family. Such a privilege to have all their photos and other precious family items. A true treasure.
And finally This also had "Rhyl" written on the back!
Part II follows soon - illustrating the family's real sense of humour!
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