Ted & Eileens Wedding

Ted & Eileen Johnson on there wedding day held at St Pauls Church Seacombe Wallasey, I think it was about 1944.

Remembrance Day

Ted Johnson
Taken in 2005 just before going to release a load of white doves on behalf of the Wallasey British legion on Remembrance day.

Butchers Shop

This pic taken of Ted outside his dads butchers shop in Westminster Road Kirkdale which was bombed in the war and has remained in the same state ever since.

The Johnson Gang.

As promised for Gerry.
The Johnson boys in 2004, a very rare get together, Brian, second from the right home from Australia, and Ian first on left home from Holland=back row Les,Ray, Brian=front row=Ian,Paul,Barry,Ted

Marg or Dolly ?

Have posted this picture I brought back from dads, it has Marg written on the back , but I now know from Gerry it's Dolly.
Thank you Gerry for your reply, I will post pic's of the Johnson clan soon.

Hello to all my cousins

Hello to all my cousins,
My name is Ray I am the 3rd son of Edward [Ted] Johnson. I thought I would share with you all this picture of grandma, Dad seems to think it was taken on holiday but he doesn't know were. Sadly I only met grandma once or twice, the reason being I was brought up by my other grandma Daisy Cooper, and each time dad made the epic journey from wallasey to liverpool I may not have been around, You may see I have named all the johnson family shown in the picture further down the blog,as you will see I am not on that photo either, do you think they were trying to tell me somthing?
My dad is 87 now and still lives in wallasey with Barry my eldest brother, although dad has AMD he is fantastic and it is he who looks after Barry.
Dad is a member of 3 clubs and goes out every weekend with 2 woman and gets home about 1 am in the morning [I'm going to have to have a talk to him] by which time I have been in bed 3 hours.
I now take dad to see aunt Renee every 2 or 3 months which I think they both enjoy.
Last week I met Kate and Andy for the first time, and we had a good chat about Kate being a singer and myself being a professional drummer in a band for 20 years, all very interesting, I think I must have some of the dowling genes in me, and Kates son also in a band. Dad loves music, and every day when I visit him it's like walking into the Grafton as the music is so loud the first thing I do is turn it down.
Dads house is a very happy house, and people are always calling on him, and Even neighbours from long ago still call.
I live in birkenhead and have been married to Kath for about 35 years we have 2 children and 2 grand children.
If any one needs to contact me please contact Kate and she will give you my email address
I have just sent kate a lot of information about the dowlings in America which I feel sure she will put on this blog.

Just found this Jackie & I Wedding Day 4.9.1971: see who you can spot on this photgraph.A.Vera & U.Peter. A.Rene & U.Tom. U.Bill & A Noreen .U.Bill Taylor & Many others ???

3rd October 1967-This Day

Martha passed away on this day in 1967.(I seem to have this date in my head-if I am wrong let me know)

Isle of Man holidays

Around 1970...Vera (my mum and Martha's daughter) at the back.
Patricia (O'Donnell), me,Dave Jobe, Jenny(Vera's daughter-my sister)
Sharon Jobe and David Jobe(Jen and Dave's children)




Early 1960's...Douglas, Isle of Man
Nell(Peter Breithaupt's sister) Peter Breithaupt(Vera's husband) Vera(Martha's daughter)
Vera (Peter and Vera's Daughter-my sister) and me.


Vera and I by the Legs of Man- the flower bed not the pub!! 1960'ish

This post is not strictly Marthas Blog but seeing Gerry was her son in law I'll post it anyhow.It might be interesting to some members of the family.The two photos are of Gerry(my dad) in Burma 1945 & His Bat Man Christofer

Shinooka (NCOS had a Batman in the 82nd Nigerian Regiment)Dad used to tell us of Christofers Bravery & when at the end of WW2 & they were all repatriated to their own countries Christofer wrote to my father (He was an educated Christian) To say he had been chosen by Nigeria to represent his country at the Victory Parade in London.Unfortunately Dad was at the time in a bad way & was in the Liverpool Hospital of Tropical Medicine & couldnt make it down to London but I have a copy of the letter (albeit rather old & faded now) which if anyone would like to see it give me a ring.

O'Donnells on the front lawn at Barnes Drive

Rene, Mark, Simon, Joanne, Stephen and me. A sunny day in Lydiate sometime around 1972.

Rene O'D with her girls

Taken on holiday in the Isle of Man sometime around 1963.

Not quite Bay Watch!

Looks like this could be Crosby beach. Tom O'D (my Dad) with Alan and me.

Some old Photo's of the O'Donnells

Just had a dig around some of Mum's old pictures that I had scanned a while back. This is Rene, Tom and Alan enjoying ice lollies. You can just see the Weld Blundell Pub, Lydiate in the background.

Cine pic 2

This is another from cine-Jen's wedding this time.

Cine film photo's

Love all the old photos of Aunty Doll and Uncle Gerry.


This is from an old cine film so just trying it out and will try and do more,it is a bit blurred but it is Jim and Marie's wedding reception at The Swan, Aughton.
Vera (young!!) is in the foreground and I think Jim is behind and is that Uncle Tom (far left) ...not too sure of the rest.

Photos Taken at the end of W.W.2

Dad & Gegs Aged 4 Sitting of the Banks of Manchester Ship Canal ( Near Barton)




Doll & Gerry a couple of months after his homecoming :-
on holiday in Flixton 1946 in Aunty Henny & U.Barty's
back Garden



My Dad & I with Uncle Barty & his two Grandsons by M.S.Canal
Doll took the Photo.

The Whitehead Girls 1963 with our New Morris Minor

Ron, Sal & Sue 1963 with our new car !!!!
(The only registration i can still remember)

Doll (Various Snaps) before W.W.2

The top two photos were taken 1939 - 2 years before
she married Gerry.
The lower photo was taken outside our family home
(at the time) 38 Lathom Road. Doll is Left with her
future Mother in Law Molly ( Granny Whitehead) &
Dads sister A.Monica, still alive aged 99 in September.

Camping in the 1930's

In this photo can you spot Uncle Tom O'D ( Back Left)

& My Dad Gerry ( Front Centre). This was taken when they were approx 20.-y.o. at Appley Bridge Nr.Parbold.I don't know if thay had met Marthas 2 Glamerous Daughters at this

stage but I know they were pals in Scouts See Dark photo below full of indistinguable Scouts about 1930 -31 but they are

in there somewhere. ( My Dad told me when he was alive)

The O'Donnell gang

This is a great shot of us all in May/June 2010. It was fantastic to get together - we must do it more often.
From the left Tom, Alan, Kate, Patricia and Susan

What a Night Gerry 60 Birthday

Aunt Rene & I ( Heads cut off) with Marthas

Grandchildren & 3 Great Grandchilden

Three Very Glamerous Ladies 2007

Pat : Kate : Susan Looking very glam : Martha would have been very proud

The Whiteheads & Breithaupts approx 1955

Vera -Martha's daughter

1.Vera posing with her bike!!! Does anyone recognize where this is??
2.A young Vera
3.Vera and Peter Breithaupt(I think this was their wedding photo).

In April this year my son Steve, his wife Jo and our grandsons Tom and Ollie spent 28 wonderful days with us in Dominica. Lots of adventures and fun - and of course - a few cocktails!!! Andy and I loved it.

If you fancy a look at the blog of their visit you can see it by clicking on 'Kate-and-Andy-wandering'

Next week we are back in the real world of Blackpool. Just bought a car on ebay so lets hope it runs! Hoping to use it to get up and down to Mum whilst she settles into the care home. Looking forward to seeing all the family when we get back.

Just closing up Mango Lodge ready for rental to American Professors at the local University. Hope they look after it!

Dolly and Michael's Trip to NY - 1973

Dolly, Michael and Susan in New York 1973. George Washington bridge in background.

When we took Dolly to Broadway, she got out of the car and tap-danced - she couldn't believe she was actually on Broadway.

Dolly, Marge, Jack - USA 1973

Dolly, Marje and Jack at Steve (Marje & Jack's son) and Carol's wedding in 1973.

Wedding Day - Tom, Wendy and Martha

Martha looks beautiful at Tom and Wendy's wedding. Kate - what year was this?

Family Tree

Just deleted my version of family tree as it took up too much space. Check Derek's link which has much more information.

Family Tree

Here is a link to the Dowling family tree. Derek Wilson and my sister in law Jill have both been working on ancestry.com gathering information. (Thanks to you both)
This looks backwards to ancestors, rather than Martha's children onwards.

The result on 'ancestry' is only accessible if you register and pay, however this link takes you to a snapshot of what has been gathered. Click on the link and then use the 'ancestors/descendants/family' functions to navigate.

http://marthasfamily.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=marthasfamily&view=0&pid=43&rand=349389837

If anyone can fill in more gaps - write them in comments below.

O'Donnell family news

This is a good forum to bring everyone up to date with a huge change happening to my Mum - Rene O'Donnell. She has decided to move out of her flat and into a residential care home in Aughton.
Mum said she is sad to leave her lovely flat in Maghull, but she is looking forward to freshly cooked meals in her new 5* home. She moves on 15th May. It's a big step but she is struggling so much with her eyesight that everyone agrees it will be for the best.
Although Mum can't read - I can pass on any comments wishing her well. So click on "comments" below and bring em on........

I don't want to post her new address or phone number here - but if anyone wants them please email me.

ODonnell boys Two generations on

James and Adam ODonnell (Martha s GreatGreat grandsons )at this years St Patricks Day parade in Limerick

Billy Johnson

Amazing how all the Johnsons look so much alike. I remember Uncle Billy used to entertain us playing the banjo. So many great musicians from the Johnson family.....Dolly's kids did not inherit such talents, even though she sent me to piano lessons for years. Neither of my girls, Jenn and Alison, inherited any musical skills.
Never stopped us from enjoying a good 'do' though:)

Mavis and Eileen Taylor

Mavis and Eileen Taylor. Mavis died in her teens. Do any of the 'older' cousins remember her at all? Does anyone keep in touch with Eileen or know anything about her? She married a man named Stan

John Dowling

What a handsome guy he was! On the back of the photo it states that he died on September 1, 1956 at the age of 96.

O'Donnell Boys

Alan and Tom....

Not sure of date....maybe 1951/1952?

Three Johnsons

From left to right
Back: Billy, Gerry, Teddy
Front: Noreen and Rene

I think this was taken at Uncle Peter's funeral.

Dolly and Gerry at 38 Lathom Road

This was taken outside 38 Lathom Road.

Dolly and Gerry eventually rented 36 Lathom Road and Monica (Gerry's sister) her husband Philip later lived at 40 Lathom Road.

Breithaupt Boys

From left to right -

Billy, David, Stephen and Jimmy

The only one missing is Peter

A Great Day Out

From left to right -

Gerry, Dolly, not sure of gentleman in the middle,

Tom and Rene

Not sure when this was taken.

Teddy and Eileen Johnson & Family

Teddy and Eileen with their six children. Does anyone keep in touch with them?

Can anyone identify them?

Gerry With 8 of Marthas Great Grandchildren

Marthas 8 Great Grandchildren ( Whiteheads)with Gerry when they were all small.

Doll Aged 26 Flixton Manchester

Mum (Dolly) Flixton Aged 26

Dolly & Gerry in Flixton Manchester Aug 1946 when Dad returned from Burma

Doll Aged 26 with Gegs & Gerry Just after he returned from Burma 1946.At Aunty Hennies (Granny Whiteheads Younger Sister)

Aunt Ida In her Sweet Shop in Walton About 1950

Aunt Ida (Marthas Eldest) In the Sweet Shop she bought after Mavis Died in Walton by Goodison Park About 1950

Marthas Five Grandchildren (to Aunty Doll)
Mike : Sally : Ron : Susan : Gegs. At Richards
Wedding August 2005 Sheffield

7 of Marthas Great Grand Daughters & Mikes Wife ( Grandma In Law !!!!) From right to left

Jennifer (Sue's Daughter)Leesa( Rons Daughter)

Helen Whitehead (Mikes Wife) Kate & Becky (Rons Daughters)Ali (Sues Daughter)Rachel & Sarah ( Sallys Daughters) & Helen (A.MonsDaughter)

Meadows, Maghull

I can see Gerry,Rene and Dolly and some of their children, not sure about the rest!

Martha-4 generations

This was taken in the back garden of our house in Coppull Road, Lydiate.
Martha,Jennifer Breithaupt(Jobe) and Vera (Martha's daughter) .
The baby is now in his 40's-Jenny's son Dave!!