Author Archives

Like a Dickens Novel: The Goode Life 1809-1901.

Like a Dickens novel: The Goode Family Timeline 1809-1901      Escape from agrarian poverty…Master of workhouses in London’s East End and Liverpool…a child’s death…pubs, hotels and a rise to wealth and prominence…then tragedy…and a return to impoverishment. It is a true Victorian tale. Like all research on this website, this is a work in progress.   Richard White 1809 –  Great-great-grandfather of Eileen, Peggy,

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Empire of the Minchins

Dominion: The Unstoppable Minchins “This interesting and rare surname derives as one of the many names which have originated as a nickname from a name of office. This particular name originated from the Old English pre seventh Century “mynecen”, nun, thus it does not signify a person who was a nun, but more likely was a nickname for someone who bore some charisterestics of

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John Minchin’s Family Tree: 1813-1922. Plough boy who fathered nine children.

  John Minchin 1847-1922 Father of Bill Minchin, grandfather of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma. 1847: Birth, Westfield, Temple Guiting, near Naunton, Gloucestershire. 18 September. Note: There is a West Field Farm, Notgrove – the addresses are local and interchangeable – at GL54 3BX.  1851: Census: Son of James and Eliza Minchin, Upper Turkdean.  Household: James Minchin, Head, 38, Ag-Lab, born Chedworth, Gloucestershire; Eliza Minchin, Wife, 29,

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Orphaned. A Hard Life: Annie Pitts, grandmother of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma. Family Tree 1816-1916.

Ann/Annie Pitts 1857-1916. Mother of Bill Minchin and grandmother of Eileen, Peggy, Nancy and Thelma.     1857: Birth, April, Stow on the Wold. Daughter of Charles and Ann Pitts (nee Neale). 1859: Father Charles Pitts dies, age 33, Stow. Ann age two. 1861: Census: Residence, Stow, age 4. The household consists of Ann Pitts, 44, Head of Household, Widow, Mother; and three daughters – Hannah, 12,

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Apocaduck Now 2013! Qwikey, it’s Hell on the River Windrush. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES.

 Kidnap: The Morning After the Night Before. Excitement reached fever pitch on Sunday morning. Adhering to tradition, some family members held the annual Bourton Duck Race. It was one way to recover from the excesses of the 2013 reunion and dinner at The Mousetrap and restore a sense of calm amongst those who had overdone it (no names, usual suspects). Here you can watch

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Reunion 2013: The Minchin Tapestry.

A Surprise, a Tapestry and a Very Good Time The evening of Saturday 14 September arrived, mild and sunny. Amongst the earliest to step through the doors of The Mousetrap Inn were Alasdair and Kerry Page who were carrying a strange roll of paper. What on earth had they brought? They began to unwrap it to reveal its contents. At first glance, it looked

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My Footballing Cousin

The Early Kick-off. Sporting fragments from John Waite’s childhood recalled by Clive Hutchinson. My cousin, John Waite, was born at Old Oak Cottage, his maternal grandparents’ house in Wellingore, Lincolnshire, in January 1942, in the same bedroom where I – the son of his mother’s youngest sister – was born four months later. Perhaps it was destiny that John was to become a top

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Who’s Who? 1981

Name that face! Welcome inside the home of Eileen and Ken Dale upon the occasion of their 40th Wedding Anniversary. They married in Bourton in 1941 and now it is 1981 in Waltham, Grimsby. The gang’s all here – although some in heavy disguise. There are many faces which are easy to spot. And some which are not. Maybe you can help. This is

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WIN A TRIP TO BOURTON!

WANTED: Top Toddler Pix Have you got a favourite picture of a top toddler? Even if it’s yourself. Come on, let’s see it! MASSIVE PRIZES MAY BE WON including… A trip to Bourton-on-the-Water by Ryanbus A guided tour of Bourton’s hottest nitespots Luxury hotel phone numbers Your own bag of chips….And more, more, more… Here are some of the website’s own favourites. You probably

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This Sporting Life: John Waite

This Sporting Life From his earliest days, John Waite showed he was gifted in sport. Football, cricket, athletics. It didn’t matter which kind, he seemed to come out winner with no need to try too hard. Well, that was the impression he gave, that it was all so natural. He could run, he could bat, he could bowl and he could definitely kick a

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