Bernard and Fozzie,
Thank you very much for your information. This has helped us to sort out some queries. We were confused over Frank Catt's various marriages and it makes much more sense now that we know that there were two Frank Catts!
Bernard - your grandfather was brother to my g.g.grandfather Frank, 10.03.1861. As far as we know, their siblings were: Isobel, b.1860, d. 1897; Harry, b. 1873; Arthur Ernest, b.1865, d.1901; Alice Laura, b.1866; Herbert Henry, b1868, d.1917; Frederick, b.1870 and possibly Lilian Sarah, b.1870. Do you have any further information about this?
It therefore appears that my g.g.grandfather Frank had Florence, b.1888, with his first wife Mary ? and then had Frank, b.1898, Arthur Augustus (my g.grandfather), b. 25.06.1900, Violet, b.1906, d. 1940 (in the first Blitz bombing raids in Hastings - ahe was a teacher, married to Bob Gooday, who later remarried a friend of Vi's) and Alice Mary, b.1908, d.24.08.2003, with his second wife Elizabeth Chapman.
We used to have news of Florence (Floss) from Hastings relatives, and were in touch with Alice until she died 18 months ago, through Mavis (nee Catt) and Ray Spice towards the end, as she lost her sight.
Arthur and Mabel had their six children in Hastings. At the beginning of the war, at least one of the children was evacuated. Soon afterwards, Arthur got a job at Hullavington Aerodrome and the family moved to Chippenham, Wiltshire, where they were split up in various digs until they got a house. Joe was the eldest. He married Pam Stapleford in 1952, but there were no children. He commited suicide in the 1960s, after problems at work. Next came Frank, b.1924, who married Ruby Robbins, in the late 40s. Frank and Ruby are still alive and living in Melksham and have an extended family, including a great-grandson. Then came Bernard, b. 06.05.1925. He married Eileen Beams on 01.01.1944. He was my grandfather. He died in July 1998, having divorced my grandmother and married Wendy Coleman a few weeks before his death, from cancer. The fourth son was Arthur Peter, who married Anne Donovan, who died of cancer and then Rita (no children from either marriage). They live in South Wales. The first daughter was Margaret, who married Donald Campbell, in 1955. She died of a brain tumour, aged 49. There were no children. Don has since remarried Gill. The last child was Dorothy, who celebrates her 70th birthday this year. She married Raymond Gooden in 1955, soon after Margaret. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren and all live in the Hailsham area.
We would love to hear more about our family. Did you know Hetty Shelton, nee Catt, b. 06.01.1905, d.17.10.1996? Also, can you provide any other information about Arthur's brother Frank who married Bertha Mitten and their descendants? Do you still live in the Hastings area? - we live in West Sussex, near Chichester.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Sarah
