Author Archives: rhbblog
Great-aunt Lillian
I knew little about my great-aunt Lillian, born 140 years ago today, and to be honest, still don’t really know anything beyond the bare research, which underlines the need to talk to family about family, and more importantly, to listen … Continue reading
Turn of the season – random snippets
The clocks go back tonight. This always brings to mind a surreal conversation years ago with my mother-in-law & her sister, as we drove them back home. My m-i-l was watching a flock of birds flying overhead on their way … Continue reading
Birthday memories
Always a family day to remember as my dad and his sister, born two years apart, shared a birthday. Remembering both of them today, I thought I’d scan a couple more photos from the family albums to mark the occasion. … Continue reading
Remembering Rachel
Ancestry popped up a birthday reminder the other day for my paternal great-grandmother, Rachel, which prompted me to collate the slightly sparse story I’ve been able to collate for her. She was born in Pontefract to Harriet and Peter Heptinstall … Continue reading
Lily, for remembrance…
Not that I do, actually. Remember Lily, that is. She was one of my lovely great-aunts and she died suddenly, aged 62, when I was just 3. Lily was born 128 years ago today to Sarah (née Helliwell) and Frank … Continue reading
On this day…
I had an email from a cousin a few days ago with the following message about a little discovery he’d made. “Now we know where our parents were 66 years ago! See attached picture of a signed beer mat from … Continue reading
Summertime
Just some summery garden photos to celebrate the season.
Looking forward, looking back…
Well, we’re halfway through January and it’s my first post of the new-ish year despite the resolution to write more regularly and the weekly alarm which I set but ignore! We have much to look forward to this year with … Continue reading
Season of Remembrance
An anniversary post for this season of remembrance. John Edgar Hardy was born to my great-great-grandparents, John, a fishmonger, and Mary Ann, in 1883 in Halifax, one of several siblings. They lived at 5 Briar Court. (I say ‘several’ rather … Continue reading
Tracks and traces
Just another inconsequential but somehow satisfying and serendipitous little find from my genealogy meanderings. You have been warned. I was doing some transcription work for a family history society and while checking records in the 1939 register, came across Arthur … Continue reading



