RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Jean McGurn on Sunday 22 August 10 11:37 BST (UK)
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There is an item on BBC Sussex pages (http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8902000/8902551.stm) showing some photo's from an album that had been left in a Sussex pub.
Some of them show a Joyce Britton who appears to have gone to Canada in 1937.
If anyone has lost this album they can contact Sussex [AT] BBC.oc.uk replacing the [AT] with @
Jean
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Jean,
I've featured your posting as a 'RootsChat Challenge' - I'm sure we can get to the bottom of this one between us all.
Does any one have any ideas to get the ball rolling?
Trystan
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Not sure if this will help.
Joyce T C Britton travelled to Quebec aboard the Empress of Britain. Sailing from Southampton on 20 June 1936. She was aged 34 .
Travelling with her were
Frank L Britton, aged 64, married
Thirza Annie Britton, age 60, married
Valerie F M Britton, aged 32
Address -Lodge Hill, Farnham, Surrey
Gadget
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According to the manifest, Joyce, Frank and Thirza's intended permanent residence was England but Valerie's was Canada.
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Nice (and quick) work Gadget! ;D
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Well, there's no proof that it's her so far. I was wondering if our Canadian cousins might check at their end!
I like to be sure :)
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baptism
Joyce Thirza Constance Britton
14 Jan 1902 Bushey, Hertfordshire, England
Father's Name: Frank Leonard Britton
Mother's Name: Thirza Annie
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Joyce died in 1985, unmarried in Eastbourne, Sussex and it looks like both her parents died in the UK as well.
Wonder if there are any siblings of Joyce & Valerie here still?
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Joyce T C Britton died March 1985 (birth 25 Oct 1902) Eastborne, vol 18 p 576
Gadget
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Snap, Gadget ! ;D
They had a brother Roland Henfrey Glanville Britton, born 1906/07 (edit: who may have married in London in 1931, 2 children born in 1930s - likely to be living so won't post their names here)
Valerie was Valerie Frances May Britton
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I've been looking through the wills/probate but don't see anything for Joyce :-\
got to go paint windows now :'(
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maybe they were going over for Valerie's wedding if her place of intended residence was Canada ???
There is an entry for Valerie going over in 1935 as well, with her intended place of destination as Calgary for a visit to a Mr & Mrs Hunter. Father's name is given as Frank and same Lodge Hill address.
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There is a tree on Ancestry with Joyce Thirza Constance Brittain born 1901 Watford, Hertfordshire (David H Saunders Family Tree)
Wendy
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/pt/RequestTreeAccess.aspx?tid=1453780&pid=-602622918
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Hi,
It looks like Joyce travelled back home in 1934.
Departure New York. Arrival London.
Cunard White Star.
Ship Mongolia.
Vicki
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There is a Joyce T C Britton in the 1932 telephone book living at Bight Cott. (presume Bight Cottage) in Seaford. Seaford is mentioned on the photographs in the BBC website
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Rain stopped painting ;D
Looks like they went to Banff, Alberta
The photo has Joyce at Lake Louise:
http://www.banfflakelouise.com/?gclid=CLaA1_qOzaMCFUj-2AodhntDuQ
Gadget
PS - should someone contact the owner of the David H Saunders Family Tree
There is a tree on Ancestry with Joyce Thirza Constance Brittain born 1901 Watford, Hertfordshire (David H Saunders Family Tree)
Wendy
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/pt/RequestTreeAccess.aspx?tid=1453780&pid=-602622918
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(Book-marking .. 'notify' isn't notifying ... )
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The article doesn't say how recently they were left in the pub. If not long ago, someone has lost them perhaps.
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that fits with Valerie going off to Alberta as well.
There are living relatives in London through the brother Roland
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Have sent a message to the Ancestry tree owner.
Wendy
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Should the BBC also be informed RootsChat is on the case ?!
Good publicity if we crack it ...
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Have sent a message to the Ancestry tree owner.
Wendy
Fingers Crossed ! ;D
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Maybe Jean could contact the Beeb and we could all meet up in the Sussex Pub :)
Do you think they'd like the photos restored ;)
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There are still some Britton folk living in Eastborne.
As the wills only go to 1940's we can not find the family
in them. :(
Sandy
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So much info in such a short time. ;D
Don't know how long the item has been on the pages, it wasn't there yesterday and when I just looked again it's not there. Possibly because they only show about 4 or 5 items under the Features heading at any one time.
I do hope the album can be returned to it's rightful owners.
I have sent a message to BBC Sussex to let them know I have posted on RC and hoepfully if there is a successful conclusion someone there will post and let us all know :)
Jean
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This news item was posted on the BBC Sussex website some weeks ago now and I managed to trace and get in touch with 2 grandchildren of Joyce's brother. Both have contacted the BBC (not sure if they ever got a reply) and I contacted the BBC myself too. The reply I got (on 13 August) was that they were hoping to have an update on air in a week or two once they had tracked down two grandchildren of Joyce's sister, who they hope live in the Sussex area. I'll be interested to see what the outcome is...such a fascinating story..but at least I managed to put two first cousins back in touch with each other!! Dazey
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Well done Dazey, wonder why it was on the site this morning though if two relatives have been in touch.
Perhaps they have not yet been able to identify to their satisfaction who the owner of the album is otherwise why would it have come up on the site this morning.
Maybe the Beeb needs to have the pub identified as proof of ownership :-\
Jean
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Neither of the people I found were the owners of the album - but they contacted the BBC incase no-one else came forward (to try and keep the album in the family). I think the BBC are probably trying to trace the actual owner(s) of the album first...although they did say they'd been inundated with emails and phone calls.
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I should add...I think the Beeb have the names of the 2 nephews who they believe live in Sussex and they were in the process of trying to contact them. The article has been on the Radio Sussex website since at least 11 August. Details were posted on Sussex Rootsweb list on that date.
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Well, it was great fun doing it as a group and we got there very quickly. Such a pity the Beeb didn't give the latest news ;D ;D ;D
But, as I said earlier, maybe whoever inherits the photos might like them restored.
Gadget
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Had a reply from the owner of the Ancestry tree, but he is doesn't really seem very interested in the album, as he hasn't made a lot of progress with that branch of the family. Still I told him about it so it's now up to him.
Wendy
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There are 3 BRITTON residing in Eastbourne according to the 2008 Electoral rolls
so if anyone wishes to make contact with them PM me for details.
Mike.
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Just more background:
From London Gazette archives:
Gazette Issue 39714 published on the 9 December 1952. Page 39 of 49
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Name of deceased: BRITTON, Frank Leonard
Address, descripton and date of death of Deceased: "Lodge Hill", Lower Bourne, Farnham, Surrey, Gentleman of Independent Means. 12th June, 1950.
Names, addresses and descriptions of Persons to whom notice of claims are to be given and names, in parentheses, of Personal Representatives: Wiley & Powles, Princes house, 39 Jermyn Street, London, S.W.1, Solicitors. (Roland Henfrey Glanvill Britton and Joyce Thirza Constance Britton (Spinster).)
Date on or before which notices of claim to be given: 28th February 1953 (014)
"
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Wow what a clever lot on here
Very well done
Congrats
Heddwch
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Jean,
Saddles (Mike) has come back to me with a few addresses after I explained to him which living names are involved - Thanks very much Mike for your help there.
I'll send out letters today and update you with progress, here, and cross fingers for a positive outcome ! :)
Penny
- Amended post as realised had goofed! Was concentrating on descendants of Joyce's brother. Having re-read previous posts realise it is the descendants of Joyce's sister (Valerie Frances May Britton) we need.
Valerie Frances May Britton, birth registered 1903 in Hendon, Middlesex.
I therefore won't be sending any letters as presume these people have already been contacted, as indicated in Dazey999's posts.
Could not find any UK marriages, nor deaths, for Valerie F or Valerie FM Britton, which would indicate if she did marry then it had been abroad. It seems Canada is the next area to concentrate on for records to discover if Valerie married and/or had children there.
Stating the obvious, I know, but just summising; If Valerie married in Canada she still may have returned to England; Sussex even, but under a different name.
Jean - might it help if you post a link to this hunt in in a Canada section of Rootschat?
Penny
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Wonderful results re Joyce TC Britton! My Grandmother was Elizabeth Britton 1870 - 1960. She was one of three children of William Britton 1826-1871, who pre-deceased his father, also William 1800-1876. By a codicil to his will old William, a landowner of Aldingbourne, Oving and Littlehampton, transferred his dead son's share to the three children of his second marriage. This second marriage was to"deceased wife's sister" ( cf Iolanthe) and old William acknowledges the bastardy of the children. His Executors overturned the will, and they were contested in Court for the next twenty years. All the Estate seems to have been swallowed up in legal fees in a real "Bleak House" situation. Initial size of Estate and grounds for overturning the will are of interest. I can't access the Archive of local newspapers from Cambridge, but have high hopes of the sleuths of Rootschat. As many Brittons seem to be based in Sussex and we were brought up in Bognor, we would be interested to learn of any connections.
Incidentally, I am also a Jean. Wife of Curt32.
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Just a thought but would the marriage not have been intimated in one of the papers here? I'm supposing the marriage took place the same year and in Calgary Valerie's destination.
I would have thought perhaps one of the better newspapers here would have carried an intimation of the marriage - Times perhaps?
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Just a quick update... neither of Joyce Britton's brother's grandchildren have had a response of any kind from the BBC. Joyce's sister, Valerie, did indeed marry in Canada. The BBC (in their response to me) said they had been inundated with emails and phone calls re this news item, and were hoping to hear from 2 sons of Valerie's son, Ian, who they understand live in Sussex. I got the impression that they had names..and perhaps were waiting to hear back from them at the time of their email to me (a couple of weeks ago). I just wish they'd post an update on their website!! Dazey
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deleted details of Valerie's death registration in UK after realising my post had just crossed with the previous from Dazey999.
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Yes - that's her. I'm being cautious not to post any details of living people...although I did send the BBC the address of a lady in Bath who I believe is Valerie's youngest daughter. Dazey
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The BBC (in their response to me) said they had been inundated with emails and phone calls re this news item,
It sounds very much like the BBC are waiting to hear from the person who actually left the album in the pub. Bit like if you have to identify lost property to the police. Would think they would have to name the pub and identify the album and if there were any other pictures in in.
They would need to know it is being returned to - who they think - is the rightful owner.
Jean
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;DGREAT NEWS!!!! I have just heard from Joyce Britton's great-niece who has been in touch with the BBC today and they have FOUND the owner of the photo album!!
They didn't say who it was but they are doing a follow-up story on BBC SUSSEX on 3 September!
If I find out any more I'll post details here! Oh, I do love Happy Endings! Dazey ;D
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That is great news.
I didn't know what I started when I posted details on Sunday. So much info in such a short time.
I hadn't realised the item had been on the web site earlier and I can only presume that as the owner still hadn't been found they put it up again. :)
Like Dazey I am so pleased the owner has been finally found and I look forward to seeing more details on 3rd Sept. ;D
Well done everyone and thank you
Jean
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So was anyone able to watch it ? I couldnt get access to it, living in Kent... ???
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Tomorrow's the 3rd! But I've no idea which programme it's on...am guessing maybe the local news at 6.30pm. Dazey
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Oh of course, thank you Dazey, tomorrows the third... then tomorrow I can go to
http://www.tvguide.co.uk/
click on 'Add a channel' (at the bottom of the page)
select BBC1 South and then try watching it at 6.30
(hoping thats the Sussex channel!) ;D
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I think BBC Sussex is the radio station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sussex/programmes
Jan
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Thanks for your link Jan,
I'll tune in as and listen, .... tomorrow.
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Does anyone know whether the item about Joyce Britton's photograph album was broadcast on 3rd September on BBC Sussex? If it was on, I would like to find it and listen to it on iPlayer, but need to know when it was broadcast.
The 'challenge' certainly seems to have provoked a lot of interest, but I would understand if the family didn't want to be pushed into the limelight. It would be nice if BBC Sussex could acknowledge the efforts of all the researchers who managed to piece together her story from very small clues.
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I didnt get to see / hear it either and have wondered what happened in the end :-\
Maybe Jean McGurn could post a little update - explaining the what the outcome was that BBC sussex broadast ... ?
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Oh dear and I thought someone may have heard.
It wasn't on BBC TV so must have been on the radio. I tried looking at the BBC Sussex website and there's not been anything at all. :-\
Jean
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I had Radio Sussex on for most of the day on Friday and didn't hear anything. :(
Jan
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I'll try contacting the niece again (she's the one who was told by the BBC that it would be going out on the 3rd). I checked with her last week and she'd been trying to speak to the presenter who'd given her that date - but had ended up just having to leave messages on his mobile!! Dazey
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Hullo all; this is to let you know that we hope to broadcast the result of the hunt for Joyce Britton's family on BBC South East Today on Thursday 9th September at 6.30pm. This date may change, but that's the target at the moment. The BBC would like to thank all of those in the genealogical community who have put time and effort into helping us to tell this intriguing story.
Regards, Chris Bennett, BBC Sussex. Email: christopher.bennett[at]bbc.co.uk.
Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace [at] with @
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The piece about the lost photo album is now on the BBC South East website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006pfp8
Watch the latest South East Today
All's well that ends well!
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And for those in a hurry... It starts at 22 minutes and 30 seconds in.
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....but isn't available on iplayer :'(