On Oct. 4, 5 & 6, Richard, Ann, Loraleigh, Chantelle, Cally & Lorne, Nick & Di, Bruce and Connie will meet in England to see West family landmarks and visit with English relatives. These days will include:
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-A 2 day tour with Bruce of the old mills, homesteads, villages & graveyards of our ancestors.
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-Pub lunches and social get togethers with descendants of the Aldworths (Grandpa’s family) and the Longs (Grandma’s family). Some of us will be housed with these “cousins”.
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-A Saturday reunion picnic which our England Cousin Helen Barker (Billy Smith’s daughter) has hosted at Bridge Farm in Grove for the past 2 years.
Information booklet for the tour participants prepared by Bruce
ITINERARY
Thursday, October 4, 2012
8:30 am Meet in Wantage town square (King Alfred Statue) for walking tour of Aldworth-connected places (grave yard, Collins pub, Mary Irish’s school, Baptist Church, the Camel, Ham Mill etc.)
10:00 Letcombe Basset - Church & graveyard.
11:00 Garlands Farm (Peter West host) via Childrey Hollow Way
11:45 Grove Chapel, Graveyard (or Sat. if run out of time)
12:30pm pub lunch ("Dutch treat") at The Fox, Denchworth (with some "Aldworths")
2:30 pm - West Hanney - Church and "Long" graves, Martin Shepherd's bakery
- East Hanney - Bakehouse, Mill, Moreland/Ireson farm
3:30 pm Venn Mill House (Matt Webb host), Mill (Ian Smith host)
Then Garford Church, Manor House, School
6:30 pm - Buffet get-together at the home of Mike & Ella Ireson with Enid Ireson and other "Long" relations. BC folks please bring wine.
Afterwards: Cally & Lorne to Colin Smith’s; Chantelle to Richard Smith’s; Richard, Ann & Loraleigh to Connie & Bruce’s in Oxford; Di and Nick to The Alfred Lodge in Wantage.
Friday, October 5, 2012
9:00am meet at the green (across from the Crown) in Marcham.
(Take A338 north from Wantage, East on A415 to Marcham center)
- Abingdon: Abbey Chapel & river walk
- Drayton Church & graveyard
- Steventon Church & graveyard, Westell property, railway crossing
12 noon Pub lunch ("Dutch treat") at The Royal Oak, Didcot (Enid Ireson and others join us)
2 pm East Hagbourne Church, Thatch
- Aston Tirrold: Chapel
3:00 pm - Blewbury Old Mill (Helen & Dermot Mathias hosts)
Return to hosts, B&B’s or to Bruce & Connie’s Oxford house.
7:30 pm (ish) Evening “Dessert & Coffee” reception at the home of Roger and Pam Smith
Saturday, October 6, 2012
1:00 pm Meet at Grove Chapel to see gravestones & take a short walk to Hines Mill and Vennbrook on Cane Lane (Uncle Percy and Miriam's house)
2:30-6:30pm "Ancestor's Day" at Bridge Farm - outdoor picnic (informal attire)
Suggested evening with hosts
Addresses:
Mike & Ella Ireson: 25 Fairacres Road, Didcot, OX11 8QG, mobile phone 07896 709 443
Colin & Barbara Smith: 57 St John's Road, Grove, Wantage OX12 7NP, tel 01235 762261; cell 07946 761168
Richard Smith: 17, Minns Road, Grove, Wantage OX127NA, tel 01235 762108
Roger & Pam Smith: Elmskirk, Main Road, Grove, Wantage OX12 7HR, tel 01235 762587
Helen & Roger Barker's is Bridge Farm House, Bridge Farm Close, Grove, Wantage OX12 7QK, tel 01235 772500.
Bruce & Connie More at house exchange (Lucy Watson, owner) 80 Warwick St. Oxford OX4 1SY 01865-727878
Grove Strict Baptist Chapel, 15 Main St., Grove
