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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: Craig Semplis on Monday 03 February 14 00:57 GMT (UK)
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David Colbron was my Grandad on my mother's side (*) from Edinburgh. He was a quiet man some would say too quiet. He started going courting my granny Edith Colbron and she was smitten with him then for TEN YEARS he disappered no word no nothing until one night he just turned up on her door and they started going out as tho nothing had changed and as thou it had been merely a few days since last they saw each other. The family have no idea what happened to him or WHY? When he was younger he loved his music and we have a photo of him with The Evening Follies I've tried over the years but have reached a dead end about them he is on the left playing the guitar Hawaiian style even tho there must be other people with this photo and his other love was the sea and boats. He was in the Royal Navy during WW2 training at The Butlins camp at Skegness called HMS (ROYAL) Arthur (a Stone Frigate shore based) navel camp then was at Chatham but never was at sea due to his age. He had a stroke in later years and got into trouble with the courts I think for putting suger into cars. If anyone could help or solve this nagging mystery I would be most grateful as my mother now has the start of a sort of dementia so its important to me please help Scotland thankyou.
*Living? , info. removed
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Hi Craig and welcome to Rootschat,
Firstly can I say what two fantastic photographs you have of your Granddad. I particularly love the photo of "The Evening Follies". You are very lucky to have such a great pic of David.
Secondly, can I advise you that it would be best to amend your post and remove your Mum's name as Rootschat's term's and conditions do not allow any info (names/d.o.b/marriage details etc) on living people.
Now back to David...have you an idea of his date of birth? Was he living in Edinburgh when he met your Granny? Have you considered that David could have been overseas for the missing ten years. Was the "Evening Follies" photograph taken when your Granny was courting him/ married to him or do you believe it was taken during his missing years?
This is not going to be an easy mystery to solve :)
Good luck with your search,
Looby :)
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Looking at your photograph again David. (amended- Sorry- Craig :-[ )
Could the "Follies" be entertainers on cruise ships/transatlantic liners?
Maybe you've already considered that and tried to research it. ;)
Looby :)
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Hi all ,
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ has several references to "Reg. Maddox's 1936/1937 Evening Follies". No idea if that's connected.
Did David and Edith marry in their late 30's ?
It might be that David was in the Navy when he was younger and was called up again when WW2 started ?
It may be worth posting on our Armed Forces board to find out how you would obtain his Naval records.
ev
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Hi Craig,
There was a man called Reg Maddox who was the lessee/management of The Theatre Royal in Bath in 1938 according to http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/544-theatre-royal-ii-bath
Reg was probably involved with this theatre for many years and actually died at the theatre in 1948 - http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3041/The+Butterfly .
His son Frank was also involved with the theatre.
Looby :)
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First things first WOW thankyou for your promp responce to my post and opps sorry for my slip up got carried away with excitement at the thought of maybe solving huge parts missing in my grandad's life. I should maybe also have said he had at least one sister in Edinburgh but something happened way back in time because every sunday he would take my mum out all over midlothian until she was 14ish and they had a great time, but this one time in mid summer they were out and it was very hot as they were near to his sisters house they went and knocked on the door, my grandad asked if they could have a glass of water, his sister agreed but as they went to step in side she told them to wait at the door. She went to get the water watched them drink it and closed the door in their faces my grandad was sooo afronted he vowed never to speak to them again - and he never did. Some BIG family bust up I guess but I will never know, though its strange to think I have other close family in Edinburgh who've I've never met and did they never wonder what happened to David as he died in 1979 i think. Another point to make is granny and granded married quite late in life 30+ I think in 1940 and he was in the navy after they met the second time. I have of course thought the other reason he left was due to at their majesty's pleasure. To All who viewed and especially all who took the time to reply BIG Thanks from Craig
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Craig , from what you have and looking at http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ ......
David Colbron / Edith Todd marriage 1944 Midlothian(not available online).
David Colbron death 1980 Midlothian , born c1907(not available online).
David Colbron birth 1906 Midlothian.
Edith Colbron(other surname Todd) death 1984 Midlothian , born c1907(not available online).
http://www.deceasedonline.com/ Edith Colbron death 12th July 1984 , cremated 14th July 1984 Warriston Crematorium (Edinburgh).
Not sure about this one , maybe the spelling of the surname is incorrect :-\
David COLBAIN , death 1st July 1980 cremated 4th July 1980 Warriston Crematorium (Edinburgh)
ev
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To Both Looby AND ev not sure how to thank you enough for ur replys. But BIG Thankyou to u both, thanks for ur interest I'm way south in Kent and only get home once a year if I'm lucky to stay with whats left of my family in Edinburgh. By chance do any of you know how I could find out about Grandads sibling (s) regards Craig
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I had a few spare credits for Scotlands People - David Forrester Colbron b.8/10/1906 at 40 Tenement Street, Leith, Midlothian - son of James Thompson Colbron, Warehouseman, and Ellen Cumming Sinclair married 28/4/1892 Leith.
However, they actually married 28/4/1893 - James Colbron, Warehouseman aged 21, son of George Colbron, Clerk (deceased) and Jane McComb - Ellen C. Sinclair 16, dau. of James Sinclair, Iron Moulder and Helen Livingstone.
I am only able to view transcript of Scottish census for 1901 -
Leith, Midlothian
James Colbron 29 born Kelso, Roxburghshire
Ellen Colbron 23 born Dunfermline, Fife
Ellen Colbron 7 born Leith (birth registered as Helen Livingstone 1893)
Jane Colbron 5 ditto (birth registered as Jane Livingston 1895)
James Colbron 1 ditto (birth registered as James Thompson 1900)
You'll need to buy credits on Scotlands People to view 1911 census but looks like they have been incorrectly transcribed as CALDORN.
Believe that they also had a son Joseph Sinclair 1902, David Forrester 1906 and Mark Thompson 1908. There may well have been more after Mark as Ellen (or Helen) only ca.31 when he was born. There were 5 Colbron births registered between 1911 and 1921 at Leith South:
Florence Elfird (?) 1911
Irma Milne 1915
Eliza 1917
William Richard 1919
John Green 1920
Any (or indeed all) could be siblings of David.
You'll find with Scottish records that there are often variants on Christian names as with Ellen (or Helen) above so please be aware of this.
Annette
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To Annette many thanks for using ur valuble credits, the info about Tenement St is correct I know but its a small industrial est now as I tried to find it a few years back where in the street they actually lived as for the rest ie Kelso I'm speechless great thanks from Craig. Just incase anyone can help I'm with Forces war records but when I search for David Colbron in Royal Navy it comes up a blank I don't have his service No but even so thought it may have something about him being as he was at Chatham during the war, as my mum remember something as he said he went to visit a sister?? in Wandsworth during the war.
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Took a look at 1911 census under Caldron as suggested by Annette and the family are listed at 40 Tenement Street
James 39 Coal Porter
Helen 37
Helen 17 Printing worker
Jane 15 Shopkeeper
James 11
Joseph 7
David 4
Mark 2
Census says they have been married for 17yrs and have had 7 children 6 still living.
There is another family called Colborn also listed 1911 George F Colborn aged 52, Rachel 55, Rachel 22 and John 15
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To Torilar and all who have tried to assist in solving this mystery thankyou for your Scots kindness not quite sure how to thankyou, but thanks for your interest I know its Colbron but don't know a thing about my Grandad's family it is a bit of a taboo subject -- aren't families strange!! I knew him only a little as we moved from Edinburgh when I was 2 and tho I saw him afew times he was never close as he had a stroke, so never heard about his family I will print these off and when I see my mum soon I will try to ask more, I know he worked at Leith Docks and think I was told once he was a freemason, I don't know why but I get the feeling something happened to him But to share a better side of his character when Rock Around The Clock came to Edinburgh he took my mum 5 times to see it he liked Rock n Roll despite his age, it is almost like a part of him died. regards Craig
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Hi Craig,
Hope you get to the bottom of your mystery.
Just wonder if with David's obvious love of music if his ten years was spent chasing the dream of making it as a musician. You know he was with The Evening Follies at some point during that missing gap.
Perhaps he was travelling around the country playing theatres and seaside piers. :)
Have you tried the British Newspaper Archives online searching for either David himself or The Follies during the 30s.
Looby :)
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Hi Looby and all,
I think ev had looked at the British Newspaper Archives earlier, and she did get a hit on 1936/37 Evening Follies, but I don't think our man of mystery was mentioned by name. I think I will try with the name variants that we have found.
Tom
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Yet another lead saw a small advert from 1930's of a small theatre advertising The Evening Follies in Birkenhead promoted by someone called Arthur Lloyd, but no photos or list of names and this was the week before the theatre closed down, my search continues.
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I just Googled Arthur Lloyd and there is a site dedicated to him ....He must have been famous...I haven't looked at it yet but it might be useful.
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Yet another lead saw a small advert from 1930's of a small theatre advertising The Evening Follies in Birkenhead promoted by someone called Arthur Lloyd, but no photos or list of names and this was the week before the theatre closed down, my search continues.
Hi Craig,
Arthur LLoyd was a Scottish music hall performer and stage producer who died in 1904.
But I found the ad referred to on a site dedicated to Lloyd's life and career -
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/BirkenheadTheatres.htm
If you examine the ad closely you will see - The Evening Follies devised and arranged by Reg A Maddox. The ad also refers to The Famous 1934 Llandudno Evening Follies. Maybe another venue to research.
Looby :)
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Hi Craig
I have just seen your message and responses regarding David Colbron. My Granny lived at Bangor Road, Leith, and there was a Colbron family living in the same stair. I can just remember Mrs Colbron and I know there were several daughters but a think only one son. I think they were all around my Mum and her siblings ages - born between 1915 and 1925. I can't remember the girls names but the son was David Colbron who was known as Davie. My Mum and her sister died years ago but from what I remember them saying about Davie - he seemed to be a happy-go-lucky type. I also noticed someone mentioned the family living in 'Tenement Street'. I'm sure this should be Tennant Street which runs off Bonnington Road - and Bangor Road runs parallel with Bonnington Road - just two minutes walk between them. These streets still exist but the old properties in Bangor Road and Tennant Street were demolished in the 1960s along with that same part of Bonnington Road. I think at the time my grandparents lived there, they and many of their neighbours had relatives living in the streets close by so the 1911 census might throw up some information for you. Hope all this helps.
Jacmacam
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Dear Craig,
I'm afraid I don't know anything of your Graddad. But the 'Evening Follies' photo is fantastic!
The girl in the 2nd row, 2nd from right, is my Great-Grandmother. At that time her name was Jenny Spowart (she married George Grant in 1939).
I knew her very well, she used to talk about dancing. Her and Betty Walker (2nd row, 3rd from left) were 'Trix & Topse the tip top tappers'. She would have been about 15 or 16 in this photo, she used to do wee tap dancing steps when she was in her 80s. She passed in 2008 at the age of 87.
I wish I could've showed her the photo - she probably would have remembered everyone in it.
Betty Died very young - about ten years after this photo. My Granny (Jenny's daughter) remembers going to see her at her house in the Grassmarket when she was unwell).
As you can see from the photos I have posted, the man playing the piano is top left in your photo.
Hope you find this interesting
All the best,
Joe
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Hi Craig,
this is a longshot but try and phone or write to the Grand Lodge of Edinburgh ( Freemasons ) if he was one they might have his records.
Cheers.
Archie.
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Hi Jacmacam, first sorry for taking soo long to reply I've the email response, the big trouble about my Grandad is although I know he had sisters even my mum knows little about any of Grandad's family names or anything. I know one lived in Wandsworth SW London during the war as he visited when he had free time from Chatham as I have a few tickets he bought at the time but for the rest of his family we know nothing and I guess they would have remarried and some how they became estranged from each other. I do this not just for myself but to fill some gaps for my mum and my sister who also would like to know another side of the family but we're both NOT exactly 100% very good with computer intweb stuff. Your info has been welcome and ur right about the name of the street. My Auntie says there is a small industrial park there now where there used to be the house, such is progress. Again thankyou so much for the trouble you went to in replying regards Craig Semplis.
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WOW JOE you are a God send, to finally find someone who has a tangible link and name's and aphoto to boot. I don't know if you have read some of the other reply's after I posted the picture about them being a travelling troupe but the leads never went any where as far as finding the other members names or how they met, where they went. I always thought there must be 15 other families with the same photo, but thought the War had changed everything. Forgotten people, places and the like. Sometimes I have thought whether The Scotsman or other Edinburgh newspaper's would run the story, but I guess its hardly front page news is it?? The only problem is the photos are a bit oversized for the page and need to be cropped into web size images. I hope in the future to be able to fill all the names in and gather a few stories along the way - (Good or Bad) a bit like 'Who do you think you are) If you ever think of anything else please feel free to add on and maybe we can enrich our familes history all with the missin other members. Regards Craig Semplis.
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Hi Craig.
You are as much a Godsend to me as I am to you. I have searched before for info about the 'Evening Follies' but with no joy. I actually don't have a copy of your photo, so it is amazing to see! I will try and pick my Granny's brains about the evening follies. Somehow I doubt they were a travelling group - but I don't know.
Hopefully it may be newspaper-worthy if we can find out a wee bit more. I'll try and do a bit more research and let you know if I find anything.
Best Regards, Joe
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Hi Joe, the only reason I thought they may have travelled is because of my grandad's strange disappearance BUT also it has too be remembered people left school at about 14/15 and being the 30's money was in short supply for joe bloggs, I've looked at the costume's their appear mostly home made which may have been fine for pubs or local music halls. It never fails to amaze me a troupe of such a number can vanish almost with out trace. Maybe seeing the photo would jog ur grannies memory. ttfn Craig The file size is too big for this page don't know how to send the group pic to u regards Craig.
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Hi Craig,
Sorry for such a late reply. I have spoken to my Granny, she really doesn't think that they were a travelling group, as her mother had never really travelled that far from home (that she knows of).
I have had a thought though, I could e-mail the person who runs the 'edinphoto' website and ask him if he could post your photo and my two - along with the names. Hopefully someone may comment and shed some light on them.
let me know your thoughts - just look up edinphoto and it should come up.
All the best,
Joe
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Hi Craig,
I've just seen the posts re David Colbron. It is possible that he is my wife's great uncle. I am going to see her parents (Colbrons) tomorrow so I will share this with them and see what we find.
Regards,
Chas.
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Hi Chas Lawrence, seems some time since I've heard from you about the family tree or have you reached a dead end?? hope to hear from you soon all the best Craig Semplis.