Shap Abbey, Westmoreland

A post card of Shap Abbey from Edith, no message.

January 12th 1904 was a Tuesday. Henry Ford set a speed record, 91.37 mph.

Merton College Library, Oxford

Another post card from Edith when she and her husband were on holiday in Oxford. 

August 9th 1906 was a Thursday. The Times published a letter from Lord Kelvin on that day.

Brazenose College, Oxford

A second post card sent by Edith when on her visit to Oxford with her husband in August 1906. The other card sent two days later is addressed to her home in Lewes to her brother, John.

August 6th 1906 was a Monday.

Who was Mrs Williams?

There are several post cards in John's album that were sent to people that appear not to have a connection with him. This card to Mrs. Williams who was at an address in Torquay at the time is one of them. A search of the 1901 and 1911 census records as well as the BMDs suggest that Mrs Williams may have been Alice Langford before she was married. There is a post card from Alice within John's collect.

August 13th 1906 was a Monday.

Now you have left School

John left school in the Summer of 1904 just after his 14th birthday. As the only son, he felt that it was his duty to work for his father in the butcher's shop that he had lived above since his birth in June 1890.

July 11th 1904 was a Monday. William Morrissey alias Smith Arrested for: Sleeping Out Arrested at: North Shields Police Station Arrested on that date.

Worcester College, Oxford

In August 1906 John was staying at his sister Edith's home while she and her husband were visiting Oxford.

August 8th 1906 was a Wednesday. The SS Doric set off on her last voyage for The White Star Line from San Francisco on that day.

Wu sing is my new name

Who decided to call themselves Wu sing in 1904? This card contains a clue, "You know the P.C. with the motor bus on that you sent, well I thought it was for me but discovered on Friday that it was for Mother."

The post cards in John's collection contains one from Elizabeth Tidy, his aunt and Lily, his cousin so could Wu sing have been his cousin, May Tidy?

This photograph shows John as a young child holding the reins with his sister, Edith behind him and cousin May on the right. her father Jim Tidy is holding the pony.

In 1904 John left school and started working for his father, in the butchers shop, but would have liked to have had a career in buses. Was the Motor Bus post card an illustration of his interest?

February 22nd 1904 was a Monday. Winston Churchill spoke three times in a House of Commons debate about the Army (Supplementary) Estimates 1903/04.

Langland Bay, Swansea

Thank you for P.C. Wusing?

On another card in the album this correspondent describes 'Wusing' as their new name. One of John's aunts may be.

March 5th 1904 was a  Saturday, Nikola Tesla publish his paper entitled The transmission of electricity without wires on that day.

Ted and Freddie have got colds

A post card from Mary Goodridge to her sister in law Emma Goodridge. Her message about what is happening on the farm she and her farmer ran, Ted and Freddie have colds, three calves born and a foal on the way.

March 10th 1905 was a Friday. It was the day that Chelsea FC was founded.

A post card from Nellie

This card suggests that Nellie was working as a domestic servant for Miss H. and was clearly worried about having supper ready for her employer at 8 o.c. Was she and the George she mentions former school friends? The first post card that was posted on this website from John Goodridge's collection was to "Miss Hall", was she Miss H.?

John received this card while staying with his aunts, Sarah and Fanny.

August 25th 1903 was Tuesday, this was the last summer before John left school.