Topic for this week: Newest Discovery

I missed the deadline this week – I was trying to finish off a family history book in time for a printer’s deadline.

The book is about my late husband’s family. An interesting mix of Northern Irish, Scottish lowlanders, English colaminers, South Londoners, schoolteachers, newspaper proprietors and an airforce pilot.

I did wonder how one of the grandfathers, Syd Attrill 1890-1968 from Plumstead, Kent from a family of metal turners who worked in the Royal Arsenal in London, met his wife Florence Brown 1887-1963 from Wingate, County Durham, from a family of coal miners going back several generations. It became clear when I checked the family papers my wonderful mother in law had accumulated – both Syd and Flo were newly minted schoolteachers, two of the first to be officially certificated, and in what was probably Syd’s first job, he was sent – you can guess – to Wingate! They were married on 24 July 1915 in Castle Eden, Co. Durham.

Postscript: Syd was a gunner during the First World War, serving most of his time in Egypt and the Middle East. He was wounded but survived. A little daughter was born during his time away but sadly did not survive. But mother in law Joy did survive and had a very happy childhood with adoring parents. I love the photo of them – so young and hopeful.