Welcome to June Davies who tells us of her fascination
with her family’s past and the source of what could be many novel to come.
Is
it the way of time, do you think, that when we are young and the old folk begin
telling their tales of how they used to live and stories about our family’s
roots – we’re not really interested and scarcely pay any heed?
By
the time we are interested, become
curious about the past and keen to discover the stories, memories and history
of our family or home, those old folk who could answer our questions and tell
us what we want to know are gone. And there’s nobody left to ask.
This
brings me to an Edwardian letter passed on to me by a cousin some thirty-odd
years ago, and a beribboned chocolate-box containing an old photograph with an
intriguing note written on the reverse.
“The
last time we’ll ever see each other.”
I
unearthed the chocolate-box from a heap of long-forgotten stuff that had once
belonged to my grandparents’ house. The photograph was a wedding party and
looked to be from the 1920s. Everyone decked out in their finery, and gathered
on the steps of an attractive church I didn’t recognise. I didn’t recognise the
people, either. But I knew I was related to some of them because faces, like
eye-colour and characteristics, can be passed down through the generations.
These men and women smiling out at me from 90-odd years ago, looked like people
I’ve known in my own time. But who they were, where they lived, what their
lives were like -- I’ve no idea! Perhaps one day, I’ll give them all names,
create their characters, and let their stories unfold and be told . . .
Back to the Edwardian letter!
Years
ago, long before the internet changed researching forever and all sorts of new
online resources for tracing your family’s past became available, one of my
cousins retired and set about tracing one branch of our family tree.
As
children, we both had fond memories of an elderly aunt who could neither speak
nor hear, but with her love and kindness and neat handwriting, she managed to
communicate with us just fine, and we with her.
Aunt
had written the Edwardian letter from an institution when she was about nine or
ten years old. It was addressed to Dear
Mam and Dad, the handwriting was beautiful copper-plate without a single
blot or mistake, and the spelling and grammar perfect. She told them she was
well, and about her progress at the institution. It was clear she hadn’t seen
her parents for some years, and sending letters home was something allowed only
rarely.
My
cousin gradually pieced together Aunt’s story. When she was about four years
old she caught Scarlet Fever. She survived, but could no longer speak or hear.
Her family was poor, and she was taken away from them and placed in a Catholic
institution where she was taught reading, writing and skills so she could find
work in service.
From
the age of thirteen, she did indeed find work - but not in domestic service. In
a laundry.
Until
she was nearly seventy years old, my aunt worked in that laundry where most of
the employees were deaf and dumb. At a meeting of local businessmen, the
laundry’s owner was recorded as saying he always employed dummies, because they
couldn’t waste time gossiping and he got more work out of them.
So,
Aunt’s story we know about, but what about the people in the old photograph
from the chocolate-box?
Who
are they? What are their names? And why was
that wedding-day the last time they were ever going to see each other?
Ah, well, time to make up some characters
and write a story . . .
The Apothecary’s Daughter
The
arrival of a mysterious stranger from South Carolina, the disappearance of a
precious family keepsake, and an old tale about a hidden hoard of medieval
silver and jewels . . .
Keziah
Sephton is kept busy caring for three generations of her family, as well as
helping run her father’s apothecary. She has neither thought nor time for
romance.
Hard-working
George Cunliffe has loved Keziah since they were youngsters, and when Benedict
Clay arrives at the apothecary claiming to be blood-kin, George is immediately
suspicious of the soft-spoken Southern gentleman’s motives.
After
her grandmother’s precious Book of Hours disappears, Keziah is tormented by
treacherous doubts.
Confronted
by the dreadful consequences of greed and bitter resentment, Keziah is swiftly
enmeshed in a shocking spiral of deception, betrayal, ruthless ambition – and
cold-blooded murder.
About
June:
June Davies was born in an old house overlooking the Lancashire
coastline, and the seashore finds its way into many of her stories. Sometimes,
as in The Dog Star, the sea is a powerful force driving the inhabitants
of 19th Century Monks Quay, while in other tales like The Family by the
Shore, it has a gentler
presence, yet still influences the characters and their lives.
History has intrigued her since schooldays, and when as a mature student
she read history at University of Liverpool, she says it was like being given a
passport to travel through time!
June Davies writes historical romantic suspense and family sagas, short
stories and serials, and short stories for children – She still lives within
walking distance of the seashore.
Links:
Thank you so much, June for the insight into
your family history. We long to know
more
about the wedding guests in your photograph. Please keep us posted!
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If you would like to write for the blog
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1 comment:
I would love to know about the people in your photographs.
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