Mastodawn

Paul Simpson Jan 12, 2024

So very sad to hear the news about Annie Nightingale. Loved working with her at BBC Radio 1. Complete inspiration. Would regularly join us at our desks & talk about anything and everything. She did me the honour of DJing @ my leaving do from press team in 2001. RIP new music trailblazer. x

Paul Simpson Dec 26, 2023

Final week of #52ancestors family history project for 2023. Theme for Wk52 is "Me, Myself and I," but I wanted to sneak in one more ancestor - the one who had most influence on me. Mum's Mum, my Nan, Joyce Hale (1930-1999). Have gained a lot by taking part in the weekly writing challenges. Not sure what's next. More in this week's blog post: https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/12/26/52ancestors-wk52-me-myself-and-i-joyce-hale/ #genealogy #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk52): Me, Myself, and I – Joyce Hale

A different theme has been handed down each week for a whole year and now the final, Week 52 of the #52ancestors family history project for 2023 has arrived. Each theme provided the opportunity to …

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Paul Simpson Dec 17, 2023

Dad's cousin Arthur Taylor (1926-1984). This Leeds coal merchant was apparently assisted in delivering coal to home of legendary crooner, 'Mr Moonlight' Frankie Vaughan by my grandad. True or not, cause to reflect on #52ancestors #genealogy project Wk51 theme, 'Cousins': https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/12/17/52ancestors-wk51-cousins-arthur-taylor/ #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk51): Cousins – Arthur Taylor

Well “Hello, Dolly!” Actually, our focus in this week’s post is Arthur Taylor (1926-1984) – my Dad’s Cousin, and my 1st Cousin 1x removed. My Dad’s cousin on his Dad’s side, Arthur Tayl…

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Paul Simpson Dec 13, 2023

"You Wouldn't Believe It"!

I'm related to the Hobtroughs! I love the sound that the surname of my 8x great-grandmother Jane HOBTROUGH (1696-1737) makes when you read it out loud. It's as simple as that, conjuring up images of either hobgoblins or hogs feeding from their trough.

Much of her family's life centres around All Saints Church, Crondall, in Hampshire. More on Wk50's #52ancestors #genealogy theme in this week's blog: https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/52ancestors-wk50-you-wouldnt-believe-it-jane-hobtrough/ #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk50): You Wouldn’t Believe It – Jane Hobtrough

She had quite the surname. When I first stumbled upon on Jane, I could not believe it – what a potent sounding new addition to my tree. For a name so far back in the tree who I had identified…

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Paul Simpson Dec 6, 2023

Samuel Gill Simpson (1900-1987), my 1st cousin 2x removed. Appears to reject the family recipe at the time of life in Bradford of work in the ironworks or the mills. Joins fledgling RAF @ age of 18; then sailed for new life in Australia with young family. Wk49 #52ancestors theme is Family Recipe - using food to reflect on #genealogy more broadly: https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/12/06/52ancestors-wk49-family-recipe-samuel-gill-simpson/ #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk49): Family Recipe – Samuel Gill Simpson

No torn-out pages of an exercise book, yellowing, lost and inserted in a cheap mass-produced version of a Mrs Beeton cookbook I got back in my childhood. Cheap mass-produced version of a Mrs Beeton…

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Paul Simpson Nov 29, 2023

This troublemaker's place in my family tree was confirmed in prison/court records around same time Manic Street Preachers single, "The Secret He Had Missed" was getting airplay in 2021.

Great granduncle Arthur Noad (1871-1934) was in/out of Leeds penal system from early teens until mid30s. Records say he had all his siblings' names tattooed on his arm, but was missing a finger tip among his collection of scars.

Wk48 #52Ancestors project theme is Troublemaker: https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/11/29/52ancestors-wk48-troublemaker-arthur-noad/ #genealogy

#52ancestors (Wk48): Troublemaker – Arthur Noad

This troublemaker’s place in my family tree was confirmed just as the Manic Street Preachers song “The Secret He Had Missed” was beginning to get airplay in the summer of 2021. “The Secret He…

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Paul Simpson Nov 21, 2023

'This Ancestor Stayed Home': Wk47's #52ancestors project theme. Grandad Frank Holland (1921-2014) was in a reserved occupation during WWII. Was tough when his older brother's submarine sank. Frank was able to do his bit, both in the Home Guard, and with a Citation for brave conduct for saving two RAF airmen from their burning plane when it crashed near him. More: https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/11/21/52ancestors-wk47-this-ancestor-stayed-home-frank-holland/ #genealogy #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk47): This Ancestor Stayed Home – Frank Holland

This story is close to home. My maternal Grandad, Frank Holland (1921-2014) was always close to my home. Growing up, my Dad was often working long double shifts to make ends meet, and since my Mum’…

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Paul Simpson Nov 14, 2023

This is no nursery rhyme. “This Ancestor Went to Market,” but her trade went by the name of ‘bunter’ (female rag & bone collector). Charlotte Noad (1840-1916) 2x great grandaunt (Leeds). Did go to market, not to trade new things, but recycle & make profit from old junk! Wk46 blog for #52ancestors https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/11/14/52ancestors-wk46-this-ancestor-went-to-market-charlotte-noad/ #genealogy #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk46): This Ancestor Went to Market – Charlotte Noad

This is no nursery rhyme. “This Ancestor Went to Market,” but her trade went by the name of ‘bunter’. Official listings of occupations of the time describe a ‘bunter’ as a female rag and bone colle…

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Paul Simpson Nov 14, 2023

Ancestral Enquiries Nov 14, 2023

Astonishingly last weekend I visited the Grade 1 listed Leeds Corn Exchange for the first time. It's probably my favourite building. It was built in 1861-63 & replaced the first corn exchange built on the Briggate in 1828. It was designed by Hull architect Cuthbert Brodrick, also responsible for the Town Hall. The design of the dome was based on the Bourse de commerce, Paris by Francois-Joseph Belanger. It is made of timber, iron & a combination of clear & opaque glass. /1

Paul Simpson Nov 6, 2023

My grandad found it difficult to talk about the death of his brother George Henry Holland (1920-1942), able seaman on submarine HMS Unique N95, sunk off coast of northern Spain in Oct 1942 during WWII.

More on the role of Aldershot in my family's life across the generations, with the 'home of the British Army just down the road. Plus service in war and peace of more extended members of the family.

Wk45's #52Ancestors #genealogy theme is 'War & Peace': https://dutchhq.wordpress.com/2023/11/06/52ancestors-wk45-war-and-peace-george-henry-holland/ #ancestry

#52ancestors (Wk45): War and Peace – George Henry Holland

A silence would descend on my Grandad’s kitchen if we ever mentioned the subject of his brother, George. My Nan and Grandad, Joyce and Frank never used their ‘front room’, so if we ever popped roun…

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