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I have emailed a family member with regard to permission. and one of us will get back to you.  In the meantime, I have amended Hubert's death date and added a little bit more information about HMS Grafton.

Caroline Smith - 13th February 2021 - 16:10

As one of Tony Royle’s grandchildren, (still living locally!) I was delighted to read your very interesting article about his life. I would love to see some of his paintings/ink drawings. Particularly the one which I was very pleased to see hanging in the blacksmith’s workshop, on visiting to have our horse’s shoe put back on in the 90’s! Sadly, I expect this disappeared when the property was sold/vacated. I do have a couple of ink drawings of Badsey that I could dig out for your records, if you would like. I remember visiting Tony’s home in Badsey as a very small child, and know he and Una were very happy there. Thank you again for your very interesting article. Best wishes.
Caroline Smith.

Lovely to hear from a member of Tony Royle’s family.  When writing the article, I did leave a message on the Lambiek Comiclopedia website, hoping to hear from a family member, but that did not produce any results.  The only paintings/drawings we know of are those shown in the article.  If you have others, we would be very happy to include these – the best thing would be to scan them and send to history@badsey.net.

Good evening Maureen,
This is all quite exciting to discover all these things about my grandfather.
I am David George Bindon Royle, eldest son of Peter Bindon Royle. Heather is my eldest sister and Caroline is the youngest. We also have a brother named Vincent.
Tony Royle died when I was eight years old. I miss him even after all these years. When we lived at Wiliersey near Broadway, mother would drop us off at grandpa’s to baby sit while she did the shopping in nearby Evesham. Grandpa would keep us entertained by taking us for walks around to see the blacksmith in Badsey which we found fascinating.
Back at the Little Cottage, he would introduce us to his canary who would sing its little heart out in his conservatory. Then it would be a trip out into his garden to watch the goldfish in the pond. Such precious memories.
I have a number of his paintings. My favourite being the one he painted of the Cupid throwing a snow ball at a very pretty young lady. We believe the lady depicted in the painting is his first wife Lola.

Thank you Maureen for bringing my grandpa to the forefront of my memories. God bless you.

David Royle.

Hello David. I'm researching a distant relation of yours - the half-brother of your grandmother Kathleen Viola Frances Onslow - and would like to check whether I've got my facts right. You and your brother and sisters seem to be his last living relations. His side of your family tree is very complicated, and I would prefer to be certain I understand it before publishing anything about him. If you are able to help, please get in touch by e-mail. Thanks, Michael

Michael Downes - 12th February 2021 - 12:05

I decided to write profiles for the war dead whose names are on the war memorial in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, where I live. Frustrating to see that nobody here had any information about H.Tanner, and the Devon Heritage website even lists him as Not yet confirmed. Eventually, an online mention of Budleigh Salterton in connection with his WW1 veteran father drew me to Hubert, where I found your excellent profile. What a brilliant site. Thank you. Discovering it was a real breakthrough. But what a sad story.

Thank you for your kind comments about the website and glad to hear that you found the information useful.  In the past, I have corresponded with a member of Hubert’s family (the son of his sister, Ethelwyn) about the Tanner and Mourilyan families.  I have alerted him to your message, in case he can be of further assistance.

BOB BAKKERS - 20th January 2021 - 10:51

In regards to Harry Drax Bloxham, He arrived in Melbourne aboard the 'Troubadour' on the 10th of August 1851, His brothers James and Arthur, had already established themselves as squatters in NSW and Victoria. Harry, becomes a sub branch manager of the London Chartered Bank Melbourne. He becomes the Manager of the London Chartered Bank Sydney in March of 1860, arriving there by the 'Wonga Wonga' 1Mar1860, and will still hold this position in 1864. In August of 1863, He will be involved in the forgery case of a Mr Chubb, manager clerk for the firm J W Byrnes and Co. who have business with squatters in Queensland and who have their accounts with his bank. In 1864 he will have acquired pastoral runs in the Leichhardt and Kennedy districts of Queensland. He will die in Melbourne on the11th of June 1875 and is buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery.

Adrian James Harte - 12th February 2021 - 5:40

In reply to by BOB BAKKERS

Many thanks for the details on Harry Drax Bloxham and his life in Australia. I am currently trying to establish whether Harry Drax was my great great grandfather. Or perhaps it was his brother, Edward J Bloxham?

Can you give me references for the data about Harry Drax Bloxham (my 3xgreat uncle) . I have not been able to locate any information about his arrival in Australia, death or whereabouts after about 1864. I have search many resources but there appears to be a blank.

I have not found any records of the death or burial of Harry Drax Bloxham in the registries ofBDM in Queensland, NSW or Victoria. I would really like to have references for the dates mentioned in this comment.

Terence Davis - 6th January 2021 - 20:38

I'd like to add some comments to the excellent biography of my "Uncle Eric." He wasn't really my uncle but he married my godmother when I was very young (about 1950) and thereafter my parents and Lorraine and Eric had a lot of contact. I first knew him when they lived in a gorgeous Tudor half timbered cottage in Stableford in Shropshire, from where he used to commute to work in Wolverhampton as headmaster of St Peter's School. I believe the retirement date given for him as 1958 might be a little early, since I recollect it being 1960. This would fit, since he would then have been 65. Shortly after his retirement, they sold "Stableford Cottage." My parents, with me in tow, spent quite a few trips looking for a home in the Evesham area and eventually bought Windward House, Murcot Turn and moved there in about 1961. We became frequent visitiors especially since I had a great fondness for their black Labrador dog "Rodney" who I used to take for long walks when I was in my early teens.
At school I was having a bit of a struggle working towards my Latin O levels in 1962 and "Uncle Eric" as a Latin scholar gently tutored me when I spent a couple of weeks with them in spring 1962. I passed!
We kept in frequent touch with them until I learnt with sadness of his passing in 1977. Happily I kept in touch with his widow Lorraine, my godmother, until her death in 2007.

Thank you for your comments, Terence. I have found around 160 men and one woman, with Wickhamford connections, who served in the Great War. It is good to know when people read these pieces, so I'm grateful that you took the trouble to leave your message. I will amend the date of his retirement.

Nick Allen - 1st January 2021 - 14:25

Very interested to read the article of Walter Hall, and his family. He was my grandfather whom I never met. My mother is Ciciely, Doreen's sister , my mother ashes are buried next to her Father.

Admin - 3rd January 2021 - 12:32

In reply to by Nick Allen

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the article.  I don't know if you live locally, but hope that you will have a chance to have a meal at "Walter's at The Wheatsheaf" when restrictions are lifted.

I live in Penzance, but now I have read this article will try and get to a resturant named after my grandfather, and maybe meet family

J Agg - 13th December 2020 - 5:30

Thanks to Maureen Spinks for her lovely detailed post on Wingfield GEE and his connection to George AGG, both as his business partner and as an Auctioneer of his property. I believe this George AGG to be my third Great Grandfather. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Agg-7 Most of George Agg’s children emigrated to Australia in the 1850s, and the ones that remained behind have no living descendants as far as I have been able to ascertain. George’s father John AGG was a Postmaster, Bookseller and Publisher at Evesham. Some notes found online conflate this John AGG with his son also called John, who was the one that did a printing apprenticeship with his father, and then got into trouble for some of the things he published about people in high places. This younger John AGG https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Agg-51 ended up in America, and was a stenographer for Congress. He didn’t have any children as far as I am aware. The Will of the first John AGG mentions his son John in America. John AGG the older had two other sons, James and Thomas. I am still looking for information about their descendants, if any. I would be very interested to know if any of the Badsey AGG family members were related to John AGG of Evesham. In 1980, Gordon and Elena AGG of Coquitlam, Canada (https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/elena-agg-10653… ) visited Australia, and looked up the phone book, and found my parents (my Dad was another George AGG) and arranged a visit. They were unable to find a family link, but probably were distantly related. I gather from this website that Gordon was a descendant of the Badsey AGG family.

Thank you for your email – delighted to hear that you found the article of interest. I have had a quick look at the background of the Agg family of Badsey but at the moment can find no link with the Agg family of Evesham. The Gordon to whom you refer was the son of William Decimus Agg (1892-1990) born at Badsey, who was the son of Decimus Agg (1865-1954) born at Aston Somerville, son of Decimus Agg (1839-1924) born at Stanton, son of James (c1803-?) born at Hinton-on-the-Green, son of Anthony (1752-?) born at Didbrook.

Just to let you know that Gordon Agg and his brother Bernard were my (much older cousins). I met them both when I visited Vancouver in 2001. They were the sons of my mother's oldest sister, Rosa Moisey, who emigrated to Canada when my mother was 4 years old. My mother only ever saw her once after that when she came back to England for a visit in 1955 so never really knew her.

Yes, you’re right. Gordon Agg and his brother Bernard were my cousins, the sons of my mother’s oldest sister Rosa Agg (nee Moisey) who emigrated to Canada about 1921. I only met my aunt once when she visited England around 1955 and I met her sons in Canada about twenty years ago though they’re both now dead. Bernard had four children (I can only remember the names Tim and Stephanie) and Gordon and Elena had one son, George.

Yes, you’re right. Gordon Agg and his brother Bernard were my cousins, the sons of my mother’s oldest sister Rosa Agg (nee Moisey) who emigrated to Canada about 1921. I only met my aunt once when she visited England around 1955 and I met her sons in Canada about twenty years ago though they’re both now dead. Bernard had four children (I can only remember the names Tim and Stephanie) and Gordon and Elena had one son, George.

Clinton Slayton - 4th December 2020 - 17:35

Our surname project facilitated a DNA kit, and not an inexpensive one, to a gentleman named Michael B. Sladden, who has contributed to the Badsey site. This was shipped to the address he provided, 11/5/2019, but was apparently never picked up (?). I do not wish to overstep anyone's privacy, but the DNA results are important to us, and the money this person provided was spent with no benefit to him or to us, so if anyone at the society can still contact him, we would like to arrange to send a replacement kit or otherwise learn the status. We have not gotten a response from his previously responsive e-mail address since the shipment confirmation, and are in limbo. Any attention you can give to this would be appreciated. Clinton Slayton, admin-Slaton Slatton Slayden Family & DNA Project

Peter Stephenson - 8th November 2020 - 15:41

To add to my posting re my father earlier today.
- He was not taken in to the WW1 army due to a heart condition ( not lung )
- He was one of 9 boys and 3 girls. 7 of the boys served in the army in WW1 and of these 3 were killed ; George, Eric Lionel , Urban Arnold. ( one of my cousins was given the names Urban George Eric and always described himself as a " walking war memorial " ! ).

Peter Stephenson - 8th November 2020 - 14:15

I have read your entry re my father Stanley Gordon Stephenson and would like to clarify/enlarge things.
- SGS was not called up to the war as he had a lung condition and was in an essential service - farming.
- He met my mother Elvira Peltzer when she came on leave from La Panne in Belgium where she was serving as a nurse with his sister Lilian.
- They married in Colwyn Bay, North Wales as this was where the Peltzers always took their summer holidays.
- I doubt whether she received the Military Medal as this was only given for extreme valour to non-commissioned members of the army. She may however have been given a medal of some sort to recognise her service which was just behind the lines ( she sometimes told of shells passing overhead ).

Sophie Almond - 20th October 2020 - 15:47

I thought it might be of interest to share that I have come across the cause of death for Captain Christine Mary Edmonds (1918-1945), during my own research. She was a member of the Medical Women's Federation, and it is noted in their records that she died because of a riding accident whilst on service in India, rather than as a direct result of enemy action.

Margaret Hooper - 11th October 2020 - 8:51

Thank you so much I have learnt a lot about Ellen Hooper

Sue Daniels - 6th October 2020 - 10:12

Thank you for the information regarding the above - she was my Uncle Walts Auntie - another piece of the family jigsaw.

Trisha - 10th September 2020 - 5:25

I was so pleased to find new information on my paternal side of the family, the Waltons. I have some of the photos from my own Grandmother, Vera May Walton (granddaughter of Edwin and Margarett Walton) but there are some new ones that I've not seen and so nice to put names - and stories! - to faces. Thank you for this excellent archive.

Admin - 10th September 2020 - 10:27

In reply to by Trisha

So glad to hear that you have found the background information useful.

Elizabeth Noyes - 31st August 2020 - 11:40

Some friends in Evesham showed me a very similar ball, but theirs was found in their garden in Jamaica!

Sue - 19th August 2020 - 13:22

Your site is the best local society one I've seen, and being a former resident of Badsey I have dipped in and out of it over the past few years. The market gardening diaries of James Hall you mention are located in the Almonry Museum. Mr Fryer, then custodian, kindly allowed me access to them and other primary sources for use in my dissertation. This was in 1992/3. One diary consisted of an A4 ledger and an earlier one a much smaller, approx. A5 sized, hard backed note book. They did not appear to be catalogued at the time and Mr Fryer thought they were connected to a family in the Dumbletons. However, once researched further, I thought they were of a Badsey man: Theodore 'James' Hall. This was confirmed later when I also came across the Sidwell articles in the Evesham Journal microfiches at the library. Somewhere, I still have photocopies of some of the diary contents.

Many thanks for letting us know the whereabouts of James Hall's diaries.  I'm so glad to learn that they have not been lost in the intervening years since Ron Sidwell wrote his articles in The Evesham Journal in the 1960s.  I have updated the James Hall article accordingly.  We are contacting the Vale Of Evesham Historical Society (who deposited many items in The Almonry) to see if we can gain access to the diaries. 

Keith Davis - 13th August 2020 - 15:01

Good afternoon, I have just found your very interesting research. I just wondered if you had anymore info or photos of where and what my ancestors did. Alot of history in The Bengeworth/Evesham area. My gt gt William Davis is laid to rest at Waterside. Obviously moved I think I recall All Saints. His wife is also laid to rest with him, 1877. William died in a good place, The Royal Oak Inn, Evesham. Witnessed by his son who was also a blacksmith and Landlord of The Inn. He also is laid to rest at Waterside. We have visited and found both graves. We could not find Williams other son Wilson who is supposed to be laid to rest also there. My gt grandfather Alfred Davis was born 1835 in Church St, that house still stands. He also lived at Port Street and trained as a master barber. Latter moving to Birmingham. William Davis Born 1804 lived and worked as a blacksmith at Castle St, Evesham. So Alot of family history there. A friend who is a distant relative lives in Camden, London. We share the same gt gt grandfather. Wilson is on her side of the family. I'd be extremely grateful if you could help with anymore info maybe photos. I have researched for over 10 yrs now. Only recently could I go back another generatio. Monumental inscriptions etc, or purchase your book. Or anyone with anymore info on my Davis ancestors. Kindest regards, Keith Davis.