Hello Christine -
Stephen Chesters Thompson (1870 - ca.1940) was my great-grandfather. I obviously didn't know him, and unfortunately my father can't quite remember him; however, several people I know / have known do, and I have a nice photograph of him on my study wall.
As you probably know, he had an older sister called Charlotte, and I believe their mother, Harriet, died having a third child (which didn't survive). On his mother's death, I was told me he was packed off to stay with relatives on their farm in Cheshire, though I've never been able to establish with certainty who they were.
However, he returned to Manchester not too long afterwards and in the 1890s set-up a firm of surveyors & auctioneers there, which my grandfather (Stewart: 1911 - 87) and father (also Stephen, b.1937) followed him into. I understand he was a great extrovert but also a staunch methodist. A much loved and relatively recently deceased family friend recalled being chased round the garden by him as he puffed on a large cigar, calling choo-choo - she then became known as choo-choo everafter.
When my grandfather was young they lived at a house called The Larches in Heaton Mersey, near Manchester. My grandfather was their youngest child, having two rather curious sounding big sisters called Edna and Doris, one whom I recall being told ran a pet shop and kept a crocoile in the bath.
When in his 60s he sustaind some sort of knee injury when getting up from the table, and it was from complications of this that I understand he eventually died - all would have been easily cured these days. My grandfather was about to be called-up and managed to get a short dealy while he arranged for an aunt or female cousin to run the family firm in his absence. I'm told she did this spectacularly well until my grandfather's safe return.
Stephen CT is, I believe, buried in Southern Cememtery, Manchester, with lots of his family - I must one day go to find them all.
Do please tell me about my Great-great-great uncle John.
Best wishes,
Simon Chesters Thompson