half brother & family

[hassle]

I am trying to trace the history of the following families of Paul Wheeler born 1917 in Marylebone to Agnes Wheeler born 1891. His father's name was John F Collard born 1894 who was my father. I think Agnes, who was a children's author and had books published by The Oxford University Press, came from Frome and she took the pseudonym Frome for her books.
Agnes had a sister called Emily born in 1901. The Wheeler family came from Frome in Somerset. I think. Paul or Paul Edward Wheeler married a Norma D Sparey in 1953 in Frome. It appears Paul's birth was registered twice in Marylebone, one with an E & one without the E. Perhaphs this was so the name Collard could appear if needed on one of the registrations. So Paul may have used the surname Collard & Wheeler.
There is a Paul Wheeler who died in Portsmouth aged 70 but no trace of Norma D Sparey. There is no trace of the Paul & Norma having had any children.
There was a Paul Collard living in Maida Vale in the 1980s near where we lived and maybe the was the person my father bumped into in a pub to discover the person he was talking to turned out to be his son but he would not say more. I want to check out this strange past family history as the actors will likely all be deceased by now.
Be so grateful for any help.
Anne Collard Kember

[Jeuel]

I can't help with any of it, except to say that whether or not Edward Wheeler had an E in his birth reg is irrelevant to him appearing as Collard in the registration.

If he was born illegitimate he would be registered under his mother's surname of Wheeler.  But he could have chosen the name Collard - or any other surname - if he wanted to, without any legal niceties.  You can call yourself any name you want as long as you don't intend to defraud and of course in those days there was less fuss about identity and fewer people had either bank accounts or passports or driving licences.

I wouldn't assume Norma is dead if you haven't found a death for her.  My parents married in 1953 and my mother is still very much alive!

I suppose you could try the phone book for Norma Wheelers in Portsmouth, or place a letter in the Portsmouth newspaper with the largest circulation, appealing for information.

You also can't assume that Paul Wheeler who married Norma is your chap either.  Wheeler is a relatively common surname.  Unless you get the marriage cert and it states his father was John F Collard (which it might not) you can't be certain about it.

[hassle]

Thank you for your input. I am aware of most of the points you mention.
However, since my last posting I now think Norma D Sparey is nothing to do with my family. I had a son out of wedlock and registered him under his father's name, which he is still using. so Agnes could have used either name to register my half brother. My friend now has tracked down an address where we think it is possible my half brother lived. As my father who lived in the same vicinity met him accidentally in a pub, this is another possibility it is the same Paul who also went by the name of Collard.
Regards,
A C K

[sillgen]

Hi
We do not allow posts which mention living people so please be aware that you must be careful what information you put on the board.
Andrea

[hassle]

Hi Andrea,
Sorry about that I guess you are referring to my son who is the only living person in the message. He wouldn't mind but I understand the relevance of your message.
Anne

[Jeuel]

I know what you mean about registering illegitimate children with their father's surname, but I thought you'd only found a registration for Paul Wheeler not for a Paul Collard?