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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 12:47 BST (UK)

Title: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 12:47 BST (UK)
Hi Everyone,

In the course of my Fromelles research (my quest to find the families of the Scottish men who died at Fromelles) I've been emailed this photograph of a family gravestone which commemorates one of my HCB boys on it.  I already know all of the information on there but it seems the council have let the bushes grow wild around the stone and this was the only angle the photograph could be taken from.  I know you can work miracles on here but I'm not sure what you can do with this - if there's any way to remove the bushes to some extent and centre the stone a bit I'd be grateful!  As I say I've been sent it so I'm not sure if the resolution will be high enough for restoring but I'd be grateful for anything you can do.  Thanks.

Regards

Michelle
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 26 August 09 13:25 BST (UK)
Just bookmarking as I want to see what the wonderful restorers can do.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 13:27 BST (UK)
I just have to say as a headstone photographer, it always boggles my mind why a family would plant a hedge in front of a headstone.  Just my two cents worth.

Would you be able to provide a transcription of the headstone. Flickgirl?
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 13:48 BST (UK)
Hi Aislin,

It baffles me too but I believe the family are innocent on this occasion as, sadly, I think the father James, who died in 1933, was the last of the immediate family since David seems to have been their only child.  James died in Paisley; his death was registered by his brother-in-law and he must have been taken back up to Forfar to be buried with his wife so I don't think there would be many tending the grave.  I do feel sorry for him to have lost his wife in 1914 and his only son two years later - I had been hoping to find siblings of David but drew a complete blank so am working on earlier generations.

Transcription of the headstone:

Erected by
JAMES THOM
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
HIS WIFE
ANN McINROY TASKER
WHO DIED 10th MAY 1914
AGED 56 YEARS
ALSO THEIR SON
Pte DAVID LOW THOM
H.C. BATT  ROYAL
WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT
KILLED IN FRANCE
19th JULY 1916, AGED 21 YEARS
THE ABOVE
JAMES THOM
WHO DIED 29th MARCH 1933
AGED 75 YEARS

THOM

The only thing I'm not 100% sure of is whether Regiment is in full or abbreviated to REGT.

Regards

Michelle
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 26 August 09 13:53 BST (UK)
well here it is at stage 1   now when I get back from work   i can change the lettering and touch up   will that  be ok

xin
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 14:03 BST (UK)
Hi Xin,

Anything you can do will be more than ok - thanks so much for trying (it looks much better already ;D)

Regards

Michelle
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 15:19 BST (UK)
I'll probably keep poking at this, because there are parts that bug me.  But let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 15:35 BST (UK)
Hi Aislin,

That's fantastic :)  What a great improvement! Thanks.

Regards

Michelle
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 15:59 BST (UK)
Okay.  Final tweak.  I'm still not in love with it.  But if I poke at it too much, I do more harm than good.

Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Niksmum on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:14 BST (UK)
well done  ;D ;D ;D

Irene
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:22 BST (UK)
thank you for that Irene.  I kept looking for the "pruning shears" tool  ;D
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: oldtimer on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:25 BST (UK)
Brilliant Aislin  :o ::) :D :D
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: chewboy on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:44 BST (UK)
Superb job Aislin ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:51 BST (UK)
came home to play with the headstone..... finished  as far as i could (without as you say 2 much !!)  went to post it and there is AISLINS  absolutely wonderful ..... ah well I'll still post it ....  :-\

It was an interesting one to do... but I soon run out of steam..

Xin
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 16:55 BST (UK)
xinia, you're right.  It was a challenge and you certainly rose to the task!  I love your treatment of the name at the bottom. 

Nicely done.
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 26 August 09 19:30 BST (UK)
thanx Aislin

it is all very interesting

xin
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 26 August 09 19:40 BST (UK)
I love the ones that make me put my thinking cap on.   :)
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Wednesday 26 August 09 20:29 BST (UK)
Hi Xin & Aislin,

Thank you so much for all your hard work - they're marvellous and much better than I had thought would be possible!

Regards

Michelle
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 26 August 09 21:59 BST (UK)
It never ceases to amaze me how clever the restorers are on here.  Well done to you both.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 26 August 09 22:32 BST (UK)
thank you   


i thoroughly enjoy the challenge 

xin
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: jillwelsh on Monday 19 July 10 15:24 BST (UK)
Hi there - I'm trying to find out more about David Low Thom mentioned on this headstone.  I believe that he may be related to my husband. My husband's grandmother was Mary Ann Thom born Forfar 1866 to Charles Thom and Jane Sievewright - are these the parent names mentioned on James Thom's death certificate?
Jill
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Polldoll on Monday 19 July 10 19:09 BST (UK)
Flickgirl is at the dedication ceremony in Fromelle for the new Cemetery:-

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,468863.0.html

 but I'm sure you will be hearing from her as soon as she reads your post Jill. Once you have 3 posts under your belt ( it may be two now ) you can send personal messages( pms ) if you want to exchange email addresses privately   with Michelle and follow up your request , Cheers
Polly
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: jillwelsh on Wednesday 21 July 10 20:07 BST (UK)
Thanks to Aislin for the message and tree.  It's definitely the same family. My husband's great grandparents were Charles Thom and Jean Sievewright from Forfar.
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Aislin on Wednesday 21 July 10 21:27 BST (UK)
You're more than welcome :)
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: Flickgirl on Tuesday 27 July 10 16:56 BST (UK)
Hi Jill,

I've just got home this morning and I've sent you a PM - it certainly is the same family.  I had already looked into Mary Ann's descendants but did not pursue finding contact details for them since they are not suitable DNA donors.

I've got so many emails to sort through after being away but if you email me at the address I gave you in the PM I will send you on the tree I've compiled and some other information on David.

I hope you like the great work done on the headstone in this thread as well!

Regards

Michelle

P.S Thanks for letting her know I was away Poll!
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: mscroggie on Monday 21 November 11 21:54 GMT (UK)
I think that David Low Thom is distantly related to my family.  If my records are correct, David's Grandfather George Tasker (b.1826) and husband of Jane McInroy is my great great grand uncle.  George's sister, Grace Tasker (b. 1824 in Cargill, Perthshire) was my great great grandmother and was married to my gg grandfather Andrew Scroggie.  I don't have much information on the Thom or McInroy families but will begin to research them.  I have extensive information on the Scroggie line (from Aberdeenshire) and Tasker line (Perthshire).

Regards, Mike Scroggie
Southern California
USA
Title: Re: Poor Headstone - Can Anything Be Done?
Post by: wingersmum on Saturday 15 August 15 03:09 BST (UK)
Hi, I am new to Rootschat.   Charles Thom and Jane Sievewright were my GGGrandparents.  My GGrandmother was Jane Sievewright Thom, sister to Mary Ann Thom and James Thom.  Wonderful to see what you have done Michelle , Aislin etc.   Jill Welsh,  as you can see your husband and I are cousins.  Cheers Marilyn Owen