The photograph above has been passed to us by Linda Waters, who worked at one time at the Southern Reporter. It was brought in to the newspaper office by someone descended from one of the children. Fortunately Linda made a copy as it was clearly taken at the valedictory celebrations for Andrew Blythe, schoolmaster of Windyhaugh School, in 1919. Of gipsy stock, Andrew was born and brought up in Yetholm and after his retirement returned to the village. The beautiful windows in the kirk were presented by him - along with several other bequests to the wider community. More about Andrew can be found HERE. A portrait image of him sitting reading in a chair, probably taken at the same event, is in wider circulation, so we are grateful to be given a copy of this more unusual image.
Subsequent correspondence with Derek Knox of Longhorsley Local History Society has suggested that some of the children can be identified. Derek thinks that 'Dawson Telfer of Rowhope is the boy in the middle. The tall girl to the right of Blythe is Eliza Robson Barton of Barrowburn. The boy on the left is probably Thomas Oliver of Windyhaugh and his 2 sisters with the striped sleeves behind him are Margaret and Ellen. The lass at back with ribbons is Jane Dagg of Linbrigg and the fair haired girl is probably Ellen Oliver of Carlcroft. The boy on the right is probably Michael Anderson of Bygate Hall and his 4 sisters with the dark sleeves are Jane, Margaret, Beatrice and Mina.' Thank you to Derek for sharing his extensive local knowledge with us. It would be interesting to know what became of these children from the now vanished shepherding community of upper-Coquetdale ...?
0 Comments
|
Archives
April 2024
|