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<title>Forest of Dean FHT  Forum - Thomas SMITH, 1832 - 1910 Mine Owner of Ruspidge</title>
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<title>Thomas SMITH, 1832 - 1910 Mine Owner of Ruspidge (reply)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>1901 Ruspidge<br />
Thomas Smith  abt 1836 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire  Colliery Manager ...</p>
</blockquote><p>and<br />
 </p>
<blockquote><p>Year: 1874  <br />
Parents_Surname: SMITH  <br />
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas ...<br />
Residence: The Villa Ruspidge <br />
Occupation: Manager of Works</p>
</blockquote><p>etc<br />
 <br />
Found while browsing the Welsh Newspapers site;</p>
<p>From the Cardiff Times, 16 April 1910<span style="color:#300;"></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#300;">&quot;DEAN FOREST MINING ENGINEER. <br />
Mr Thomas Smith, of Ruspidge, Cinderford, retired mining engineer, who has been in bad health for some time, died at his residence on Monday. He was over 70 years of age, and leaves a widow and several sons. Mr Smith had been associated with many mining enterprises in the Forest of Dean, including Edge Mills, Wigpool, Buckshaft, Perseverance and Shakemantle iron mines, and with Foxes Bridge and Lightmoor Collieries.&quot;<br />
</span></p>
<p><a href="http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3415886/ART221/dean%20pioneers">http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3415886/ART221/dean%20pioneers</a></p>
<p><br />
From this site's PRs, I think this is correct:</p>
<p>Record_ID: 406630 <br />
Entry_Number:  <br />
Year: 1832 <br />
Month: May <br />
Day: 16 <br />
Parents_Surname: SMITH <br />
Child_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Fathers_Forenames: John <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Margaret <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: of this parish <br />
Occupation: labourer <br />
Officiating_Minister:  <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference:  <br />
Page_Number:  <br />
Parish_Chapel: Monmouth <br />
Soundex: S530 </p>
<p>Record_ID: 6783 <br />
Entry_Number: 1348 <br />
Year: 1910 <br />
Month: Apr <br />
Day: 13 <br />
Surname: SMITH <br />
Forenames: Thomas <br />
Residence: Ruspidge <br />
Age_at_death: 81 years <br />
Officiating_Minister: F. W. Baldwin Vicar <br />
Event: Burial <br />
Cause_of_death:  <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/14 <br />
Page_No: 170 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John <br />
Soundex: S530</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<link>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=42723</link>
<guid>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=42723</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 09 Nov 2013 01:50:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category>General</category><dc:creator>Jefff</dc:creator>
</item>
<item>
<title>Beatrice Edith SMITH, nee GRIFFITHS 1899 -1975 (reply)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p><br />
Marriage Details<br />
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building   Year Register Entry   <br />
SMITH Frederick Thomas GRIFFITHS Beatrice Edith Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office   1920 18 105 </p>
</blockquote><p><br />
1901<br />
James Griffiths  abt 1875 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Edith A Griffiths abt 1879 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Beatrice E Griffiths abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Florence E Griffiths  abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p>1911 Bilson Green<br />
James Griffiths 35 <br />
Edith Griffiths 32 <br />
Beatrice Griffiths 11 <br />
Nellie Griffiths 10 <br />
Birtie Griffiths 7 <br />
William C Griffiths 5 <br />
Doris May Griffiths 1 <br />
Cornelious Baldwin 70 Ruardean Boarder<br />
Maria Baldwin 72 Coleford</p>
<p><br />
Name: Beatrice Edith Smith <br />
Birth Date: 15 Dec 1899 <br />
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1975 <br />
Age at Death: 75 <br />
Registration district: Forest of Dean <br />
Inferred County: Gloucestershire <br />
Volume: 22 <br />
Page: 1535</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<link>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=40079</link>
<guid>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=40079</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:44:46 +0000</pubDate>
<category>General</category><dc:creator>slowhands</dc:creator>
</item>
<item>
<title>Thomas Frederick SMITH, 1858 - 1934 Drybrook (reply)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Year: 1934 <br />
Month: Dec <br />
Day: 1 <br />
Surname: SMITH <br />
Forenames: Thomas Frederick <br />
Residence: 16 [?]bush Road Coleford <br />
Age_at_death: 76 <br />
Officiating_Minister: Leslie R J Moon <br />
Event: Burial <br />
Cause_of_death:  <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15 <br />
Page_No: 181 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John </p>
<p><br />
1911 St Whites House, St Whites Rd, Cinderford, Glos<br />
Thomas F Smith 50 <br />
Emily L Smith 49 <br />
Lilian R Smith 17 <br />
Vernon S Smith 9 </p>
<p>1901<br />
Thomas Smith abt 1858 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Head Littledean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Emily Smith  abt 1859 Herefordshire, England Wife Littledean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Harold Smith abt 1883 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Warrington Smith abt 1885 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire <br />
Leslie Smith abt 1887 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Gilbert Smith abt 1889 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Lillian Smith  abt 1894 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Littledean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p><br />
1901 Ruspidge<br />
Thomas Smith  abt 1836 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire  Colliery Manager<br />
 Elizabeth Smith  abt 1837 Adoett, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Emma Smith  abt 1861 Clearwell, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Hubert Smith  abt 1877 Cinderford Son East Dean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p>1891<br />
Thomas F Smith  abt 1858 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Head Little Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Emily L Smith  abt 1859 Hereford, Herefordshire, England Wife Little Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Harrold E Smith  abt 1883 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Warrington E Smith  abt 1885 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Leslie Smith  abt 1887 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Gilbert J Smith abt 1889 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p><br />
  <br />
1881<br />
Thomas Smith  abt 1832 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England Head Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Elizabeth Smith  abt 1835 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Emma M. Smith  abt 1855 Clearwell, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Elizabeth A. Smith  abt 1857 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Thomas F. Smith abt 1859 Drybrook, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Albert E. Smith abt 1861 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Alfred H. Smith  abt 1863 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 George Smith T abt 1871 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Hubert Smith abt 1873 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son Westbury on Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p>Year: 1874 <br />
Month: Mar <br />
Day: 2 <br />
Parents_Surname: SMITH <br />
Child_Forenames: Hubert <br />
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: The Villa Ruspidge <br />
Occupation: Manager of Works <br />
Officiating_Minister: G A Allan Vicar <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda: Privately <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/2 <br />
Page_Number: 127 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John </p>
<p><br />
1861 Stenders<br />
Thomas Smith  abt 1829 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Harriet Smith  abt 1831 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Emma M Smith abt 1854 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Elizabeth A Smith abt 1856 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Thomas F Smith abt 1858 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Albert G Smith abt 1860 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire </p>
<p>Year: 1858 <br />
Month: Apr <br />
Day: 4 <br />
Parents_Surname: SMITH <br />
Child_Forenames: Thomas Frederick <br />
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Harriet <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: Drybrook <br />
Occupation: Mining Agent <br />
Officiating_Minister: W A Whitestone <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/2 <br />
Page_Number: 166 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook</p>
<p><br />
SMITH Thomas Frederick <br />
SMITH  TAYLOR <br />
1858 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 18 233 </p>
<p>Year: 1852 <br />
Month: Nov <br />
Day: 15 <br />
Grooms_Surname: SMITH <br />
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Grooms_Age: Full Age <br />
Groom_Condition: Bachelor <br />
Grooms_Occupation: Labourer <br />
Grooms_Residence: Cinderford <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Smith <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: John <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier <br />
Brides_Surname: TAYLOR <br />
Brides_Forenames: Harriet <br />
Brides_Age: Full Age <br />
Brides_Condition: Spinster <br />
Brides_Occupation: [not stated] <br />
Brides_Residence: Clearwell <br />
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Taylor <br />
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Edward <br />
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer <br />
Licence_or_Banns: Banns <br />
Date_of_Banns:  <br />
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign <br />
Witness_1: James Loveridge <br />
Witness_2: Eliza Richards <br />
Other_Witnesses:  <br />
Officiating_Minister: Ralph C. Morton Curate <br />
Event: Marriage <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/13 <br />
Page_Number: 25 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Newland</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<link>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=40078</link>
<guid>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=40078</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:51:07 +0000</pubDate>
<category>General</category><dc:creator>slowhands</dc:creator>
</item>
<item>
<title>Elizabeth Susan SMITH, 1865 - 1966 Lydney -&gt; Cinderford (reply)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>Record_ID: 146581 <br />
Entry_Number: 97 <br />
Year: 1868 <br />
Month: Jan <br />
Day: 25 <br />
Parents_Surname: JAMES <br />
Child_Forenames: Elizabeth Susanna <br />
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: Parkend <br />
Occupation: Carpenter <br />
Officiating_Minister: Jno. Josh Elsworth Incumbent <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda: Born 27 Dec 1865 <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P245 IN 1/12 <br />
Page_Number: 13 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Parkend <br />
Soundex: J520 </p>
</blockquote><p>1911 Silver St, Little Dean<br />
Elizabeth Susan Smith 44 Lydney Widow<br />
Fredrick Thomas Laura [JAMES] Smith 11</p>
<p>1901<br />
Frederick Smith abt 1864 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Lizzie Smith  abt 1866 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire  <br />
 Freddie Smith  abt 1900 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire</p>
<p><br />
1871 Yorkley<br />
Thomas James 32 <br />
Mary Ann James 31 <br />
Margaret Sarah James 9 <br />
James Benjamin James 7 <br />
Elizabeth S James 5 Lydney<br />
Sarah James 2 <br />
Tom James 1 Month</p>
]]></content:encoded>
<link>https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=40072</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:05:17 +0000</pubDate>
<category>General</category><dc:creator>slowhands</dc:creator>
</item>
<item>
<title>Cinderford Centenarian Elizabeth SMITH, 1865-1966 (reply)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sadly it appears that Mrs Elizabeth Susan Smith, who celebrated her 100th Birthday in late 1965, didn't live to see 101. I think this may be her, from FreeBMD: </p>
<p>Surname   Given Name   Age   District   Volume   Page   Transcriber   <br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Deaths Jun 1966 <br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
SMITH ELIZABETH S. 100 GLOUCESTER R 7B 47_ jonno </p>
<p>I cannot any more details of her Burial within this site's PRs, or GlosBMD.</p>
<p>The Scrapbook states Elizabeth's husband was son of Thomas Smith (Engineer at Lightmoor Colliery), and that they had a son Fred who was also alive and married in 1965.</p>
<p>The family are rather elusive wrt this site's PRs, but searching GlosBMD I think this is possibly her Marriage:</p>
<p>Marriage Details<br />
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building   Year Register Entry <br />
SMITH Frederick Thomas JAMES Elizabeth Susannah Forest of Dean Monmouth Register Office   1897 20 12 </p>
<p>And this is their son Fred:</p>
<p>Birth Details<br />
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry <br />
SMITH Frederick Thomas James SMITH SMITH JAMES 1899 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, East Dean 7 218 </p>
<p>This is the most likely Marriage Record I can find for son Fred (altho the photo in the Scrapbook suggests his wife maybe younger, so ?): </p>
<p>Marriage Details<br />
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building   Year Register Entry   <br />
SMITH Frederick Thomas GRIFFITHS Beatrice Edith Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office   1920 18 105 </p>
<p><br />
The scrapbook states Elizabeth's actual birthday was December 27th 1865;</p>
<p>GlosBMD <br />
Birth Details<br />
Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry <br />
JAMES Elizabeth Susanna JAMES JAMES LEWIS 1865 Forest of Dean Chepstow, Lydney 11 209 </p>
<p><br />
FoD PRs</p>
<p>Record_ID: 146581 <br />
Entry_Number: 97 <br />
Year: 1868 <br />
Month: Jan <br />
Day: 25 <br />
Parents_Surname: JAMES <br />
Child_Forenames: Elizabeth Susanna <br />
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: Parkend <br />
Occupation: Carpenter <br />
Officiating_Minister: Jno. Josh Elsworth Incumbent <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda: Born 27 Dec 1865 <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P245 IN 1/12 <br />
Page_Number: 13 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Parkend <br />
Soundex: J520 </p>
<p>The Scrapbook states she was one of 8 children, altho from this site's PRs it's possible there were more..?..</p>
<p>1855 JAMES Elizabeth, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Pillowell, Collier, Parkend <br />
1857 JAMES Thomas, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Yorkley, Collier, Parkend <br />
1860 JAMES Henry, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Yorkley Slade, Collier, Parkend <br />
1862 JAMES Margaret Sarah, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Gloucester, Carpenter, Lydney <br />
1867 JAMES Lucy, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann, Yorkley Slade West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian <br />
1868 JAMES Elizabeth Susanna, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Parkend, Carpenter, Parkend <br />
1869 JAMES James Benjamin, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Yorkley, Carpenter, Lydney <br />
1869 JAMES Sarah, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,  Yorkley, Carpenter, Lydney <br />
1869 JAMES Albert, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian <br />
1872 JAMES Sidney Frank, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   West Dean, Collier, FoD Bible Christian <br />
1879 JAMES Agnes Annie, Thomas &amp; Mary Ann,   Yorkly Slade, Collier, FoD Bible Christian </p>
<p>I believe this is the correct Marriage Record, from GlosBMD &amp; FreeBMD:</p>
<p>Marriage Details<br />
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building   Year Register Entry    <br />
JAMES Thomas JAMES Mary Ann Forest of Dean Newland All Saints  1854 2 120 <br />
(December Qtr according to FreeBMD)</p>
<p>Unsure as to why the bride's name differs slightly here:</p>
<p>Record_ID: 12965 <br />
Entry_Number: 120 <br />
Year: 1854 <br />
Month: Nov <br />
Day: 25 <br />
Grooms_Surname: JAMES <br />
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Grooms_Age: 24 <br />
Groom_Condition: Bachelor <br />
Grooms_Occupation: Collier <br />
Grooms_Residence: Yorkley <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William <br />
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer <br />
Brides_Surname: JAMES <br />
Brides_Forenames: Ann <br />
Brides_Age: 20 <br />
Brides_Condition: Spinster <br />
Brides_Occupation: [not stated] <br />
Brides_Residence: Yorkley <br />
Brides_Fathers_Surname: James <br />
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Charcoal Curer[?] <br />
Licence_or_Banns: Banns <br />
Date_of_Banns:  <br />
Signature_or_Mark: He marks; she signs <br />
Witness_1: C. Stockham <br />
Witness_2: Mark of Sarah Morse <br />
Other_Witnesses:  <br />
Officiating_Minister: John Hawksley Curate <br />
Event: Marriage <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/13 <br />
Page_Number: 60 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Newland <br />
Soundex_Groom: J520 <br />
Soundex_Bride: J520 </p>
<p>Possible Fathers (not a rare name!)<br />
??</p>
<p>Record_ID: 37232 <br />
Entry_Number: 866 <br />
Year: 1830 <br />
Month: Feb <br />
Day: 21 <br />
Parents_Surname: JAMES <br />
Child_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Fathers_Forenames: William <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Hannah <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: Allaston - Parish of Lydney <br />
Occupation: Labourer <br />
Officiating_Minister: H.C.H.Hawkins Curate <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda: Son of <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: PFC 209 IN 1/3 <br />
Page_Number: 109 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Lydney <br />
Soundex: J520 </p>
<p>Record_ID: 133867 <br />
Entry_Number: 930 <br />
Year: 1830 <br />
Month: May <br />
Day: 9 <br />
Parents_Surname: JAMES <br />
Child_Forenames: Thomas <br />
Fathers_Forenames: William <br />
Mothers_Forenames: Dinah <br />
Mothers_Surname:  <br />
Residence: Tithing of Etloe <br />
Occupation: Labourer <br />
Officiating_Minister: J[acob] George Wrench <br />
Event: Baptism <br />
Memoranda:  <br />
Notes:  <br />
Register_Reference: P50 IN1/1 <br />
Page_Number: 117 <br />
Parish_Chapel: Blakeney <br />
Soundex: J520 </p>
<p>1841 Census may help clarify .. similarly cannot find definite Baptism for Mary Ann ??</p>
<p>Despite Slowhands' help (thanks!) I cannot find a definite Burial Record locally for Elizabeth's husband Frederick Smith born abt 1864, who sadly died early, between 1901 &amp; 1911, aged abt 37-47.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:27:53 +0000</pubDate>
<category>General</category><dc:creator>Jefff</dc:creator>
</item>
<item>
<title>Bilson W.I. Scrapbook of 1965  (a Cinderford time capsule)</title>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I would like to highlight an item to all Dean residents with an interest in 1960s life in the Forest in general &amp; Cinderford in particular. It is currently held at Cinderford Library, tho' no doubt it could be moved to other County Libraries on request. I found it by chance on their Local History shelf, was intrigued to know what it could be, as the Library copy is just a cd-rom within a plain sleeve. I was so glad I borrowed and subsequently copied it to my pc for my future reference. I refer to a large format scrapbook running to 117 pages which has been high-resolution scanned to pdf files, I hope the original book still exists in safe keeping, perhaps at the Dean Museum.<br />
 <br />
The Library reference is brief, &quot;Digital scrapbook of Cinderford: 1965&quot;,<br />
<a href="https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/gloslibraries/items/916862?query=cinderford+scrapbook&amp;resultsUri=items%3Fquery%3Dcinderford%2Bscrapbook">https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/gloslibraries/items/916862?query=cinderford+scrapbook&amp...</a></p>
<p>From it's coverpage</p>
<p>&quot;A Year in the Life of a Forest town&quot;, by Bilson Women's Institute.</p>
<p>Compiled by Elsie Olivey<br />
Lettering by Sheila Llewellyn  <br />
Illustrations by Ann Phelps</p>
<p>These are such understated credits, given that most pages contain beautifully written, painstakenly-neat calligraphy titles &amp; scripts; plus dozens of superb delicate watercolours of local wildlife &amp; nature subjects.</p>
<p>The scrapbook contains some contributions from local &quot;celebrities&quot; such as Leonard Clark &amp; Harry Beddington. However most important of all are the detailed thoughts, lives &amp; handiwork of many members of the Bilson W.I.(thirtysix are fully credited, including Enid Healey, Beryl Evans, Cicily Morgan and so on).</p>
<p>Born in Bilson in 1962, I attended Bilson Schools and St Stephens Church &amp; Sunday School. Our neighbour &amp; close family friend was &amp; is Beryl Evans, prominent in local education and Girl Guiding, as was Sheila Llewellyn plus Cicily Morgan thro' the Church. I grew to know all these good ladies as a boy, like many of the Scrapbook contributors they were always helping with community events with my mother, in later years they attended my sisters’ weddings at St Stephens. The fact I know them makes this book even more enjoyable to me, plus some of their children of my age are photographed within its various chapters, such as Childcare at the &quot;new&quot; Dockham Health Centre (Beryl's baby son - my Best Man years later). Also of particular interest was the section about the Choral Society, featuring photos &amp; potted histories of two important members of my Bilson School days, choirmaster &amp; headmaster Harold L.Williams,  and Cliff Bonser, teacher of Times Tables &amp; excellent pianist despite our less tunefull &quot;singing&quot;.</p>
<p>The Scrapbook details every conceivable aspect of the town and area; it's history, it's people including the local Gipsies, jobs, industry &amp; trades, schools, health &amp; welfare, social life &amp; clubs, amateur dramatics, Scouts &amp; Guides, local government &amp; politics, pubs &amp; pantos, the mines, forestry, etc etc, even the sheep get a chapter !. There are sections on more general aspects of life in the 60s; holidays, food, shops, fashions etc. </p>
<p>You can read old Mercury newspaper clippings; interesting news stories both serious &amp; amusing, great old adverts reminding us we could buy a brand new house in Springfield Drive for £3000 (Rates £80pa) or an older twoup/twodown terrace in Belle Vue Rd for about £1000, or we could join the &quot;37% of households who were car owners&quot; &amp; buy a new Austin saloon for around £1000.</p>
<p>Throughout this beautifull book are several high quality photos showing, for example, the local school's &amp; inmates, plus the &quot;new&quot; High Street shops being built and the Triangle being redeveloped, or members of the Mintec amateur dramatics in action. I particularly enjoyed the section about the Wesley Players pantomimes which were a Christmas highlight. </p>
<p>The Scrapbook was produced to help commemorate the national W.I.'s Golden Jubilee, having been formed in 1915 to assist the War Effort. One chapter describes the celebratory Golden Fayre held at the Miner’s Hall, opened by BBCTV “Points West” presenter Jeremy Carrad (and family!); many photos illustrate this day including one of the Jams &amp; Preserves Stall manned by Mrs E. Healey - how different things were then for the wife of the serving Secretary For State !, clearly a different age....<br />
There is a subsequent feature illustrating the Royal Garden Party to which the Queen invited a member of each national WI branch. Even in those days May 31st could be cold, dull and wet, sadly !.  Mrs Cicely Morgan was the lucky winner of the Bilson draw who joined 9000! other members in Buckingham Palace Gardens, apparently Prince Phillip was &quot;mobbed a number of times&quot; ! The Cinderford &amp; Ruspidge party’s big day out ended with the Black &amp; White Minstrel Show at the Victoria Theatre, not returning home until 2.30am. </p>
<p>One of the more extensive Mercury clippings describes the life &amp; times of Mr Charles A.J. Hale, who in the same week celebrated his 96th birthday and 70 years of Marriage to formerly Miss Ida Bright, they were clearly highly regarded &amp; respected members of the community. <br />
I also enjoyed the clipping detailing the life of &quot;our oldest inhabitant&quot; Mrs Elizabeth Susan Smith, enjoying her 100th Birthday party at the White Hart. Born December 1865, one of eight all of which lived past 80 and a brother still alive aged 98ish. A fever when just three left her deaf &amp; dumb, yet that didn’t hold her back from enjoying life. At the annual Speech House Miner’s Demonstration she met her future husband, son of Thomas Smith (Engineer at Lightmoor Colliery), he was also deaf &amp; dumb, they had a son Fred who accompanied her at the 100th party. Even into her 60s she still regularly walked from Cinderford to Gloster, and was famous for very high standards of personal appearance &amp; behaviour - that said ;-)   the clipping says she insisted on her photo being taken WHILE holding her lighted cigarette &amp; sipping her sherry, not to mention her &quot;love of policemen with flat caps&quot; - her favourite TV show being &quot;Z Cars&quot;. A remarkable lady !</p>
<p>I think &amp; hope you will enjoy this unique “timecapsule” of Dean life in the mid 1960s, many will find photos or mentions of friends or even family, plus places and pastimes of a simpler age itself almost 50 years ago.</p>
<p>May I suggest this FoDFH website considers contacting the Library wrt maybe adding part or all of the pdf files to this website's online database, for a much larger audience to enjoy.</p>
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<pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:26:35 +0000</pubDate>
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