Family Stuff and History

I'm now in touch with my cousin on my father's side (Jeanette and her husbnd Ian) and discovered several errors in my Auntie Gladys's version of the Gunston history which I will correct.

One of my  Australian cousins, Jacqui (my mother's side) is visiting again in September so I hope to  confirm some stuff when I see her. On our Maltese side there is the scary Greek Great Grandmother -who I resemble! - My sister commented that we have no idea of her background. There must be a tale of how she - or her family - came to Malta from somewhere Greek....

Diasporas are fascinating. I only got as far as Cardiff (20 miles!) and then came back - for some people that is quite adventurous, but nothing compared with Malta to Egypt and then to Australia like my maternal Grandparents. When I was in Cardiff I used to joke that I'd travelled 20 miles and got culture shock - it was quite true though.

Family History: My father's family

Several years ago I asked my Auntie Gladys (Dad's sister) about her family and wrote this based on what she said and bits I knew. The stuff about my grandparents is based on what my Gran told Gladys:

 

Alice Maud Llewellyn and Hubert Gunston were my paternal grandparents

Hubert was from Gloucester and ran away when he was 13. He went to sea and lied about his age. He had brother Ernie who was a postman.

Hubert was known as ‘Fiery Bert’ and was small but fierce.

Bert took lodgings with May Pullman in Llanelli.

Alice Llewellyn was from Llanelli and told her daughter Gladys that she dreamt of a man with brass buttons and a twirly moustache and it seemed that that is what she got!

Alice had brother Will who was a blacksmith. Brother Dai was lay preacher and sister Emmy was tailoress.

Bert  was possibly a wagon repair man. He was with Steelworks and may have been an inspector. Bert quarrelled a lot.

Bert and Alice moved on to Swansea, then Aberkenfig.

Lived at no. 31 or 21 the moved to 11 Dunraven Street.

Their children were:

Florence May

Harold William

Ernest Reginald (my father)

Gladys Elizabeth

Florrie’s children were Shirley, Rita and Jeanette:

Shirley married Ken and their children were Julie, Steve and David

Rita married Cliff and had Wakely, Guy and Victoria

Jeanette married Ian and their children were  Graham, Richard and Stuart

Harold and Gladys never married nor had children.

Ernest (my father) married Daria Molinari and had three children: Diane, Sheilagh and Irene.

The top picture is my maternal Grandmother with Harold as a baby. Harold was (we thought) the eldest, but apparently not. Because I've been writing  about Aberkenfig and came across the 1911 census website I decided to check out the family presence in 1911
I knew my Grandparents were living here and found them as expected - but also what would have been my uncle - named Bert after his father -  born in 1910! He didn't survive to overlap with my father and known siblings as far as I am aware - but what a surprise. Of couse child mortality was high in those days. I know that my Molinari grandparents lost a little girl - Emily - but didn't know about a lost Gunston...

This is the link for census: 

1911census

 The second picture is my father (sat on the right)  looking amazingly cool when having your photo taken was an event!

  

Another year and post-redundancy...

Well! I am sat in a hotel in my home city googling myself once more and discovered I still have a blog, but also lots of links, thanks to my various websites.

I did get made redundant, but was fortunate enough to keep my wonderful work with Abergavenny and Caldicot People First. I really hate to sound sentimental, but I'd be lying if I denied the pure pleasure I get from this area of work as well as a salary that enables me to survive.

I love mediation and training and get a real buzz from a session that ends in satisfaction for parties or students, but it is also a bit scary, unlike work with my learning disability groups. I get anxious about transport (and how!), room bookings, mailshots and all sorts, but just love being with the members - How lucky is that?

Strange being a hotel guest in my own city, but here at a conference and cannot believe the nightlife in Cardiff throughout the week. I am obviously getting old as I'd like to provide some warm clothing for the skimpily dressed youngsters all over the city centre after dark.

So where am I a year and a half post-redundancy? Still mediating when I can and running my learning disabilities groups. I have a mediation course running at the new Cardiff and Vale College at the Barry site and reluctantly embraced Facebook, but not yet tweeting!

My People First groups decided they wanted websites so I put them together and a Facebook presence followed. My increased Facebook activity connected me to my Australian cousins and my one remaining aunt and uncle who have also taken to Facebook - so great to see family pics old and new and have a connection that is a little faster than the old blue airmail letters my Mum used to exchangewith her mother and siblings.

I am a part-time fosterer which also brings enormous pleasure, but not appropriate or professional to say more other than I am so pleased I took the plunge.

Busy at the moment with various strands of work - did I say I'm on three management committees as well? - and luckily enjoying my life. I am about to make another major life change and move back to my old family home. Sadly, my sisters and I lost Mum last year. A burst pipe led to horrendous flooding and meant that we have had over a year of challenging times with the house. It is now nearly fit for habitation and I've decided to take the plunge.

If you want to know more - just google me (other search engines are available...).