RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: radstockjeff on Thursday 13 December 18 22:38 GMT (UK)
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One of my little exercises has been to write up a brief history of my wife's grandfather, Edward Smith (1869-1955), one time Mayor of South Shields (1921-1923) and a Centenary Freeman of the Borough (1950).
One of my other interests is in Brass Banding; I played for some years for the Bath Spa Band and one of the cornet players was Tom, who joined about the time I left the Band and I did not really get to know him.
Many years on I rejoined another local Brass group and who should be sitting on the Cornet bench, yes Tom. It was clear that he had some North Country connections and I eventually discovered that he had lived for his early years in South Shields.
This week I was sorting through my files and came across a copy of the piece which I had written about Edward Smith and thought "I wonder if Tom would find this of any passing interest." So I sent it off via Postman Pat ( it was rather too large a file to send by e-mail).
Tom rang today. Thank you, yes he found my piece very interesting and brought back memories of his time living in South Shields.
"On page 22 you mention that Alderman Edward Smith was made Freeman of the Borough.
Well on that occasion Alderman Charles Smith was also made Freeman of the Borough. He was also mayor of the Borough (1936).
He was my gandfather!"
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What an absolutely charming and inspiring story.
Thanks for posting on Rootschat .... :)
WhiskyMac
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The warmth you feel when something like that happens... is wonderful
xin
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A wonderful story of unexpected connections.
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Great story Jeff.
Was Charles Smith related to Edward Smith?
If so, it seems they would be related to your wife! :)
Or is it just a coincidence of surname?
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Great story Jeff.
Was Charles Smith related to Edward Smith?
If so, it seems they would be related to your wife! :)
Or is it just a coincidence of surname?
My thoughts exactly. :)
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Co-incidence of surname.
Glad you liked the story.
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Our son Andrew and his girl friend were married at a civil ceremony in a clearing in the middle of a eucalyptus forest in Victoria Aus. back in 2005. They chose a poem by Roy Croft-I Love you- as part of the ceremony.
Back home here in England some years later a friend had been clearing her dad's house and brought around a number of items, books, music etc to see if we would like any of them.
We took them and in the fulness of time sorted through. One of the books was a collection of poems which we looked at , flicking quickly through before putting it back on the able....where to our astonishment it fell open at a Poem
"I love you" by...................Roy Croft.
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Serendipity is one of the great joys of genealogy research.
Well done, Jeff.
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Love it Jeff....thanks for sharing :)
Carol
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What a great story, love making connections like this! : :)
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Not a genealogical moment but......
I have been working with a client for the past four or five months on a problem. He sent me an e-mail just before tea time with the latest update, to which I replied briefly and saying will do more work on it tomorrow as we are getting ready to go out for a meal. It's our49th wedding anniversary.
Back came the reply .............it's our 49th as well today!