RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: dido on Monday 09 August 10 19:27 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone.
looking for info about Hills travelling fair. Were they a whole family?
Dido.
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hi, dido. you may get more response if you can give more info, areas, names, dates, or person? etc. good luck.. rob ..g
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Hi Rob g.
The only thing I know is that Billy Butlins mother Bertha travelled with the fair around 1920s I guess. I know he later set up his holiday camp in Skegness. Wanted to know if the fair was a family concern and how many family members ran it. When did it start or how far back does it go?
Dido.
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hi
Was you looking for a particular family member that ran the fairground in skegg?
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No, not really. Was curious about how far back the family went. Or, do they still exist in the fairground traditions. Bertha is on my line of ancestors and wondered when her family started the fairground previously to her being proactive.
Dido
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This should be your first port of call:
http://www.nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk
Cati
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Thanx Cati.
Had a quick look. May be useful.
Dido.
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Hi dido bertha is also related to my family?
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Rainscombe.
Sorry for delay to your reply.
Very interesting Berthas also your rellie :o Could you elaborate a little?
Dido.
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Rainscombe.
Just read your thread on Hill family so know where you are coming from. Just so you dont repeat yourself.
Dido
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Hi DIDO
What is your family conection to the hills
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Hi Rainscombe.
I am connected to the Hill families of Glos, Eng.
Dido.
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How big was the fair? I ask because when I lioved in Doncaster, there was a family in the same area named Hill, they had a collection of fairgrounbd equipment stored on the drive, which looked to be out of use, so if it is the same group I suspect the fair is no longer in business. The date was the 1980s.
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Hi Redrodger.
Don't know much about Hills fair, only snippets. It is possible that the equipment you mention could be that of Marshall Hill (Bertha Hill line). I don't know if Doncaster was the last stop???
While on Doncaster subject I am trying to trace another elusive rellie by the name of ]Selina/Lena Wilson. Wilson being her maiden name she referred to.
I don't know if she belonged to(THE WILSON FAMILY) showpeople.
She was registered in Mexborough, Doncaster. Born 1878 to Jim and Sarah Wilson. They were pot hawkers. Her sister was called Ada born 1869.
She returned to the travellers in 1916 aged 40years. Her last known whereabouts was in Doncaster which looks like she has gone back to her kith and kin and birthplace,or with a fellow traveller by the name of Foley[His first name was possibly Michael. It was mooted she lived to quite an old age. She was in her 90s in the 1970s.
Maybe she died in Doncaster. She is a mystery..............
Dido
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There were a lot of show people in Doncaster, one Alderman Tuby was Mayor in the early 1920s, perhpaps late 19teens. His portrait hangs (hung?) in the Mansion House there, full lenth and more than lifesize. It might be worth your while contacting Doncaster Archives, King Edward Road, Balby Doncaster to see what they have about the show people there.
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Thanx for info Redroger, it might be worth a try.
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Hi Dido
My grandad's father was john (known as jack )watts he married millie bernice hill.Bertha's sister
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Hi.
Yes, I read your recent threads on that family. Sadly I dont know Millies connection.
Dido.
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miles is my husband's family
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sorry dido thought you said miles
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Hello Dido,
I hope you do mind me getting in touch with you on here as I am very interested in your question about Bertha Hill. I am a Butlins collector and own a website that is quite popular, I have not placed the link on here until I ask a moderator for permission. However, that is not the point of the message, I wanted to ask, if you do not mind, if you were able to find further information about Bertha as I have done a timeline on the site showing her importance to the Butlin time line.
This has excited me when I had seen this and that is why I registered, I am hoping you might know some answers. Between 1905 - 1910, Billy Butlin and Harry John Butlin had returned back England when Bertha and William separated. They returned back to Bertha's mother on the Hill's Travelling fair and it was here that Billy Butlin had learnt about being a showman and selling gingerbread men (showing the business side).
Sadly, Harry John Butlin (known as Binkie, which is represented in Butlins in a bear form today) passed away from Polio. Bertha and Billy continue with the family tradition (as it's stated) until 1910 when she made the difficult decision to move to Canada in hope of a new life and a better future for her and Billy. However, Billy remained in England and was looked after by two aunties (names unknown) and a cousin named Jimmy Hill.
It was in 1915, that Bertha married Charles Robotham and Billy moved to Canada. This is the research that has been shown to me, however, I would like to show the important name of families that help Billy in the past, for example, the two aunties. I am unsure if you are aware of the above, however, I am very interested if you don't mind helping out with the research. Of course, if you say no, I would fully respect this as it's a big thing to ask.
In the meantime, I am in touch with Sir Billy Butlins Nephew through a friend and the God Daughter of Sir Billy Butlin. I will ask to see if they might know any further information, however, I can not make any promises as I respect their decision to help out or not.
I wish you good luck in your research and if you believe any of the above is incorrect, please let me know.
Kind regards, Banmrk.