Guildford High Street – Queen Victoria’s Jubilee 1897

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Julie Goucher

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Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 53

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Julie Goucher


Today is week 53 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week’s Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week’s prompt is – Your Home Town

We all have one, perhaps it is where we were born, perhaps it where we lived for that special time in our lives, or perhaps it is where we now live.

Wherever it is, why not tell us about it.

Explain where it is, don’t forget we are across the world!
What is it that makes your “place” special?
Do you feel a nice comfy emotional connection?

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Photographer – W Shawcross, Spital Street, Guildford Circa 1880

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Julie Goucher

I purchased this Victorian card, which dates from circa 1880, purely because the photographer was from Guildford and I had never heard of Spital Street.

Some research revealed that Spital Street was an abbreviation for Hospital Street, which referred to the ancient Leper hospital which had stood at the junction of Epsom and London Roads until the 1840’s.

It then became known as Upper High Street in 1901. In 1961, the road was formally included in the High Street and the buildings renumbered.

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Outlander – Books, Tartans, History and Scotland

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Julie Goucher

Several years ago I was introduced to the books set Scotland, called the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. The series has progressed and is now on book eight; and each of the books is a whopper! 
The initial book in the series (Cross Stitch in the UK) is set just after the second world war.  The following is an excerpt from the author’s website

“In 1946, after WWII, a young Englishwoman named Claire Beauchamp Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with her husband, Frank. She’s an ex-combat nurse, he’s been in the army as well, they’ve been separated for the last six years, and this is a second honeymoon; they’re getting re-acquainted with each other, thinking of starting a family. But one day Claire goes out walking by herself, and comes across a circle of standing stones—such circles are in fact common all over northern Britain. She walks through a cleft stone in the circle….and disappears……….”

As I started to read this book I wondered if my Grandparents had experienced something similar. They married in November 1939 and in 1940 my Grandfather joined the army. He was discharged from service in 1946 and remained on the reserves list until 1954. My Mum was not born until 1947, so it is probably fair to say that by the time Mum was born, her parents had actually lived together for about a few years.  How had they adjusted to each other? That is as far as the similarities ended, as my Grandparents never went to Scotland, and as to disappearing in standing stones, I can hear the voice of my Grandmother now saying “what poppycock!”

Now there is to be a television series which sadly, does not appear to be airing here in the UK soon, unless you know different! – If you do please leave a comment.
Yesterday I was working on an article for The In-Depth Genealogists when I spotted that the tartan’s used for the series had been registered with the Tartan Register in Scotland. You can see the five tartans associated with the series HERE and to see the article on Tartans you need to subscribe to The In-Depth Genealogy blog or check using this link
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My Lost Son – BBC Documentary (Lockerbie Pan Am 103)

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Julie Goucher
Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial
Taken April 2006  – Julie Goucher
I recall back in December 1988 hearing the tragic news of the air disaster in Scotland; the bombing of Pan Am 103 heading to the United States. 
It was therefore quite a coincidence that I should, a mere six years later go on to marry someone whose birthday fell the same date as that air disaster and that my husband should have grown up in a small hamlet just outside of Lockerbie, where part of the aircraft came down. 
Over the years I have visited the memorial in the churchyard at Tundergarth and the main and tasteful memorial at Lockerbie Cemetery. I have stood and read all those names including those of the locals who were victims of the disaster; and that of the friend my husband lost on that sad and tragic day.
I was therefore surprised when, whilst searching the various television channels for news rather that sport news this evening to catch the end of a program indirectly about the air disaster. I quickly added to the program to record, but had missed about half of it. I quickly turned to trusty YouTube to see if the program was there. It was and the program is available for all to see and I then spent the next thirty minutes watching it.

As you will see, this is a story not just of the tragedy itself, but also of loss at a personal level, grief and the need to make that special journey even if the road of that journey is a tough one.

For some reason, the program resonated with me. I fully understand the need for this tough and emotional journey and admire the courage and determination of the lady concerned.

Below you will the photographs I have taken of the memorial stones.
Introduction and the link to the various photographs – all taken April 2006.

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Photographer – W Bassett, Stoke Road

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Julie Goucher

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Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 52

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Julie Goucher


Today is week 52 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week’s Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week’s prompt is – Inherited Items

There is something very special about inheriting an item from a family member. It doesn’t have to be the riches, in terms of monetary value, or in the finest condition. Sometimes, just knowing that an item has stood the test of time in whatever shape it is now, is enough.

That link between the past, present and future as you in turn pass it along.

This week share those thoughts, memories and pictures. Lets having a trip down memory lane as with the passing along of each item there is always memories attached.

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Guildford Halfpenny Token

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Julie Goucher

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Surrey Photograph Company – 32 High Street – Circa 1870

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Julie Goucher

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Book of Me, Written by You, Prompt 51

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Julie Goucher


Today is week 51 of what is going to be a 15 month project. Each Saturday, at around 12.30 am UK time I will release the prompt for that week’s Book of Me, Written by You.

If you are new here, welcome! The details, background flyer and Face Book link to the Book of Me can be found HERE.

This week’s prompt is – Your First Home

This can be either or a combination of any of the following

  • Your parent’s home – the first home you can probably remember
  • A home away from home – perhaps collage
  • Your first big purchase
  • The first home with the love of your life and perhaps your descendants
  • Perhaps talk of the excitement, stress and emotional attachments to locations
  • Was your home in your family for lots of years, was it an old house or a new build?
  • Can you visualise the rooms, or have photos?
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