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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Angus (Forfarshire) => Topic started by: doddsie4 on Saturday 11 June 16 11:35 BST (UK)
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My grandmother, Evelyn Widdop, lived in Glasgow and during 1939 and 1940, she was travelling through to Dundee to attend meetings at the Dundee Society of Spiritualists at the Fabian Hall, South Union Street, Dundee. I was fascinated to discover adverts in the Dundee Courier
for that time, which advertised the date of the coming meetings, and mentioning that Evelyn Widdop would be giving readings.
She was always religious and she held meetings at her own home in Glasgow, and she also travelled to meetings, like those at the Fabian Hall. She died in 1955.
I can't help wondering if the Fabian Hall kept records of what was read out at these meetings. I would love to find out if any of my grandmother's readings could be traced. Interested to know the content of her readings.
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Hi,
What an interesting post.
Records of readings given were not kept or are now kept at Spiritualist Services. What the mediums, including your grandmother, would say to people at these meetings would be relevant and personal to them only.
One place which may have further information on her is the Spiritualist National Union www.snu.org.uk Its worth a try.
Did you know that there are a number Spiritualist Churches in Glasgow and other cities throughout the UK. Might be worth a visit to see the kind of work your grandmother did.
Hope this helps.
Dorrie
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I doubted very much that records of "readings" would be kept, and what you say sort of confirms that. She used to hold meetings in the house where I am living now - you know, the darkened room, and trying to make contact with the dead. That sort of thing. Conan Doyle was a great believer in the afterlife, and there was a great upsurge of interest in spiritualism at that time.
But at the meetings in Dundee, I am guessing she spoke from a stage to a seated audience, and some of the readings there would be likely be based on her religious beliefs. She was a great Bible reader. ...I have seen a long poem she wrote about the first world war, and I can tell from it that the war had a great affect on her. Her husband and two of his brothers were all wounded. Her husband lost his leg around 1917.
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Yes, at the time your grandmother was a Spiritualist Medium most meetings were held behind closed doors. There was a definite fear that a public meeting would be "raided" by the police. This happened to a very well known medium called Helen Duncan. She was imprisoned during WW2 under the Witchcraft Act after giving a message regarding someone who had been lost on HMS Barnham. At the time the details had not been made public so how did she know? She was hounded for most of her life and died in 1956. Its possible that your grandmother knew her.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was very interested in Spiritualism as you say and there is a Spiritualist Centre in Edinburgh named in his honour.
Back to your grandmother. Its amazing that you live in her house. That was really sad about her husband and two brothers being wounded in WW1.You mention a poem she wrote. Do you have a copy of it? I would be very interested in reading it. You are correct about the meeting in Dundee.
Dorrie
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It might not be everyone's cup of tea this, but if you read the content closely then some of her descriptions are amazing. You would almost think she'd seen these things herself. I hope you can enlarge it enough to make it readable.
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That's beautiful doddsie4! Very sad, but beautiful thoughts!
What a lovely treasure you have. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Jeanne
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Thanks for posting a copy of your grandmother's poem.
What an inspired poem. Her insight into what these young men suffered is nothing short of amazing.
She must have been a special person. Did you know her?
Would you give me permission to pass it on to a Spiritualist Church to be used as a reading at one of their services? Obviously with her name being mentioned and a little bit about her work as a Spiritualist Medium?
Dorrie
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Dorrie,
I was only twelve years old when she died in 1955 aged 62. I always thought there was something "special" about her. Her mother was a qualified midwife, and although she had no qualifications herself she did also deliver babies. A long time ago, she delivered a baby for one of the neighbours where I live.
Yes, you can use the poem in any way you like. ....The same day as I posted it here,
I looked at it and thought no-one would ever be able to read it. I doubted whether you could even read it after enlarging it. So, a few minutes after I posted it, I contacted Roots to ask them to remove it. But they either didn't get my request, or ignored it, or I made some error in trying to contact them. The last explanation is probably the most likely. It was the "report to moderator" button below that I used.
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Doddsie, the poem is beautiful and emotional. Reads really easily (with a little help by enlarging it) , so don't worry about that :)
Monica
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Hi Doddsie,
Thank goodness it was not removed. I have enlarged it as Monica did and it reads very well.
Yes, she must have been a very special person and thanks for giving your permission for it to be used for other modern day Spiritualists to read (others too).
My own grandmother and father were involved in Spiritualism in Dundee before and after WW2. My sister, husband and myself are present day demonstrators and healers with the Spiritualist Church.
Thanks again,
Dorrie
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Thank you for sharing that, very moving and beautifully written.
(it does enlarge fine)
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It might not be everyone's cup of tea this, but if you read the content closely then some of her descriptions are amazing. You would almost think she'd seen these things herself. I hope you can enlarge it enough to make it readable.
What a beautiful poem! Thank you for sharing such a treasure! I notice that it was letter-headed by the Shettleston, Tollcross and Govan branch of the British Legion. My grandmother was in this area at the same time as your grandmother. I wonder if she ever went to your grandmother's meetings. She would have been very interested in that sort of thing. She used to read the Tarot cards and read tea-leaves, but as I learnt on my own Spiritualist journey, these can be used as a focus whilst making your 'links'. Like your grandmother, she, too, was 'special'. I have inherited her Tarot cards and whilst I don't use them, they are a treasured reminder of my grandmother. 😊
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Wallbanger,
Thanks for your comments. My grandmother lived in tenements in various streets just off the Gallowgate from 1921 up until 1928. About two hundreds yards east of Parkhead Cross on Tollcross Road, there is an very old Salvation Army building, and I suspect that is the place she was attending.
In 1928, she managed to get a semi detached house about two miles east of Parkhead.
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Hi Doddsie,
My grandmother's family were in Chester St, which I think came under Shettleston, but they always referred to it as Tollcross. My great aunt taught at Tollcross and kept up a correspondence with many of her pupils most of her life. They all eventually moved to Lamington, and finally ended up in England in the 30's. 😊 It's been lovely to swap stories. x
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Hi doddsie
Is this old post on another forum connected to your Widdop family?
www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12833
Monica
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Wallbanger,
Chester St is on the north side of Shettleston Rd, and South Chester St is directly opposite on south side of Shettleston Rd. I had a haircut at the corner of South Chester St and Shettleston Rd just the other day. In the old days the tram cars used to rattle along Shettleston Road, and Shettleston Rd was always a great place for small shops. There was always a great hustle and bustle in Shettleston Road back then.
Monica,
My grandmother's maiden name was Holmes and she married Harry Widdop in 1913. This is the Evelyn Widdop who wrote the poem about the first world war. The Widdop family actually lived in the house where I am living now Grandmother is buried at St John's Episcopal church in Baillieston, and so are my parents.
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Interesting!