I had thought I would post blogs in some sort of order, since we started to think about our trip six or eight months ago, but now I think I will get up to date in one go and then fill in stuff from before as and when I think about it.
I emailed my cousins about either weeks ago and am delighted that Ant Pardoe especially has come up with some lovely stuff. I know everyone else is looking but I also know that this sort of thing can be buried in amongst other stuff in suitcases, attics etc.
My cousin Phillipa has said she might have some more stuff but that it is buried amongst things st Hill Cottage. Hopefully she will unearth it before we go.
I have a photograph of Columbia Road, where Granny and Grandpa lived and lots of other bit and pieces which I am intending to put together in some sort of record over the next few months.
My friend Steve who works in Shanghai very regularly has sent me some photos of Columbia Road as it is now and I have had some interesting records of Granny and Grandpas time in Shanghai from a contact in the Royal Asiatic Society, Shanghai Branch.
They sent me records from the North China Herald and the Municipal Journal. They record Grandpas arrival, his appointment as Assistant Surveyor. Grandpas promotion to Surveyor, Granny and Grandpas wedding, the births of all the children bar one of the boys. I am nit sure why this is missing.
They also record a visit by Granny's parents who had left Shanghai to return the UK and had settled in Portugal. (I am not sure what happened to Grandpa Dunn but of course Granny Dunn lived there and used to come a visit Hill Cottage from time to time when I was a little girl.
Finally there is a record of when Granny and Jane come home when Grandpas mother was killed and a record of Grandpa's redundancy. Although Ant sent me a letter of reference for Grandpa. Interestingly this reference was signed by one of the men who went out the Shanghai with Grandpa on the train!
Back in October Tony and I visited Barry to see if we could find the house from which Grandpa left in 1913.
The librarian there was really helpful. She found the two addresses at which Grandpa and Great Grandpa lived, Romilly Road being the latest we think. She also found a reference in the local paper to Grandpa leaving
In the edition of 22nd April 1913 it says "Mr Leslie Pardoe who has recently secured an important appointment as surveyor at Shanghai was, on Saturday, presented with a travelling overcoat, a book and a compass by his colleagues on the staff of the Barry Distract Council in the various appointments. Mr Pardoe who is the son of Mr J C Pardoe, surveyor to the Barry Council was extended hearty good wishes on the occasion. Mr T R Torfoff, clerk to the Council presided and Mr Hinchcliff also spoke. Mr Pardoe left on Sunday and sailed from England the following day with the hearty good wished of his numerous friends."
While we were at Barry Island station there was a train waiting at the platform. Tony had a conversation with the Guard (Train Manager) which was about how one purchased a ticket as there was no machine or ticket office. The Guard said that you purchased a ticket from him, Tony asked if he could sell us two singles to Shanghai, the reply in a beautiful Welsh accent was " I could but they would not get you there!" (Posted by Tony)
If anyone reading this has any other stuff that can shed a light on Grandpas or Granny's lives please do let me know.
More to follow
