From inside an old frame

[John Turner]

A little old lady brought in a couple of pictures in old frames the other day, to have them re-mounted and reframed, one was a drawing of Chester cathedral, I told her I was from Wrexham and we got chatting about stuff - even how she met her first boyfriend under the famous clock in Chester!

When we opened them up we found 5 items behind the frame backs, one of which was this, an invitation to the coming of age bash for the grandson of Gladstone, as in one time Prime Minister. Hawarden castle - the family still lives there.

http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=5340&stc=1


From one of the other items we are sure that "HH Millar" is the old lady's father - and a quick google search for that name brought up this and brought us back to William Gladstone Jr - RWF officer killed in WW1.

http://www.flintshirewarmemorials.com/memorials/hawarden-memorial/hawarden-sodliers-2/william-glynne-charles-gladstone/

I doubt the old lady (Customer) knows a thing about this invite and all the other stuff we found, looking forward to showing her! By then my wife will know her whole family history from ancestry!

[Oldbloke]

Daisy - Fascinating story and a tragic one. Let us know how you get on with the 'Old Girl'. Piers is back mid July so I'll be over for a catch up

[John Turner]

Daisy - Fascinating story and a tragic one. Let us know how you get on with the 'Old Girl'. Piers is back mid July so I'll be over for a catch up

Will look forward to that.

The little old lady was pretty amazed at what we found but wasn't as old as we thought, HH Millar was her grandfather.

[ap1]

I wonder what HH Millar's war service was? RWF?

[John Turner]

We couldn't find much on him and there wasn't time to grill the customer, but she'll be back.

[ap1]

A closes friend:

Brotherhood’s Tribute to the late Mr. Gladstone
Speaking at the Connah’s Quay and Shotton Brotherhood meeting at the Picture Palace on Sunday, Mrs Lewis ( Wife of the Right Hon. J.H Lewis, M.P.), in dealing with the War and the death of Mr.W.G.C Gladstone, M.P., said why should they be sad when God took persons from this earth to a higher service, and why should they complain? Their lives and death taught all of us a lesson, and we were proud of our heroes. They sacrificed their lives for others, and she thanked God that we had such men. The drink question would have to be tackled, as there was nothing more despicable at this crisis than the treating of our soldiers.. It was not as hard to ask a person to give up strong drink, if only for the duration of the War, as it was to lay down their lives. The women of the country could not go to the front, but there was much good they could do, even if only to become teetotal. – Mr J. Mealor (president) in moving a vote of condolence to Mrs. Gladstone and her family in the loss of her son, said the Brotherhood, had lost a valuable friend. – Mr. H.H.Millar, in seconding, said he did not think there was anyone present, with the exception of Mrs. Lewis, who was more familiar with Mr. Gladstone than he (speaker) was. When the late strikes were on, and even after the War had started, he received letters from the deceased gentleman, asking him if there was any cases of distress in Shotton or any children shoeless, and if so, would he (Mr. Millar) let him know. He was a man who never wanted the many people he helped to know where the money came from. While at Wrexham Mr. Gladstone was a general favourite with his men. Before he arrives at the Barracks the men had very few games, etc., to amuse themselves, but upon his arrival he purchased all that was necessary for the men to pass a happy time – The motion was passed by the large concourse standing. – Mr. Isaiah Morgan presided, Mr. Millar read the Scripture lesson, and a solo was given by Mr. Evans, of Crewe Brotherhood.