Hi Andy
My grandfather Charlie Gibbons lived in Marston St Lawrence and used to take Reynoldstown to the races with Major Furlong. Gramp used to have a picture of Reynoldstown being ridden by Frank Furlong, it hung in the hallway of his bungalow. However, it was always the understanding that when Gramp died the picture should be returned to Frank’s daughter Griselda and this is what happened in 1986 when my grandfather passed away. Unfortunately, I was not researching my family tree back then and therefore do not have a photograph of it. I also have a note that his son Frank died in World War II, he was in a plane and his ejector seat failed to work.
My grandfather was a farmer and used to do a bit of work for the Major, he has recorded this throughout his diaries doing the odd bit of ploughing or milking. Also, in his diaries he recorded that the Major died suddenly aged 80 on 20 March 1963 and that he was buried on 25 March 1963.
My cousins still live in Marston St Lawrence and they are putting together an archive of historical events and photographs of the village or families that used to live in the village. They are hoping to show all this information in early October 2012 in the Village Hall. I read that you have a scrapbook, if you should have any photographs that you feel would be relevant to this collection and would be willing to share them, please get in touch and I will let you have my email address.
Kind regards
Sue
