December 1918 – Margaret Box home soon, or not

Previous Index Next By late December 1918, Margaret Box had been Nursing in Salonica and Serbia for around three months, and her Father, John Robert Box must have written to Scottish Women’s Hospitals, with the aim of sending her a tie as a Christmas present. On the morning of 20th December they sent him a… Continue reading December 1918 – Margaret Box home soon, or not

On being born

Birth is one of the experiences we all share, although the circumstances can vary widely. I, and – I believe – my brother were born in The Simpson Memorial Ward of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (although, surprisingly neither of us are mentioned in the Wikipedia article section on Notable Births !). Sir James Young Simpson,… Continue reading On being born

Christmas at Rest Harrow and Little Cucknells

When we were young, Christmas was a very special time for my siblings and me. We lived in Edinburgh, but our Grandparents, and most of our relations, lived in the south of England, or even further afield. Although I have written about going to Pickwick for Christmas, my father’s parents must have moved when I… Continue reading Christmas at Rest Harrow and Little Cucknells

Burns Night

On or around the night of January 25th, many Scots celebrate the life of Robert Burns with a Burns supper, eating haggis and neeps, drinking whisky and listening to the works of Robert Burns. My Great Great Grandfather, John Robert Box, although not born in Scotland, may well have celebrated the night. He had a… Continue reading Burns Night

My first home

When my mother brought me home from the Simpson Memorial Ward at Edinburgh’s Royal Infimary, the house she brought me to was 2, Lovedale Grove, Balerno. In those days Balerno was a village outside Edinburgh, although it is now a suburb. Although quite small, the house had enough garden to keep my parents occupied, and… Continue reading My first home

Pictures of Pickwick

When my Grandparents left Grove Farm at Box, where they had been farming, they moved in to 141, Lordship Road, Stoke Newington with my Great Grandfather, Joseph Lines. This was around 1925, and may have been prompted by the death of my Great Grandmother, Jane Lines (nee Fitzhenry) on 7th June 1925. They lived with… Continue reading Pictures of Pickwick

The Toy Wheelbarrow

When I was very young my parents gave me a toy wheelbarrow, probably around 1959. Although there are no markings on it, it was almost certainly made by Lines Brothers, with whom I have a family connection. Three of the Lines Brothers were my Great Uncles (three Lines make a triangle, hence the name Tri-ang,… Continue reading The Toy Wheelbarrow