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Thanks Jan, sorry I signed up purely to reply to that thread so I'm a real newbie here!

Cheers

Lisa

Hi Clare

Really sorry for the slow response! I just found your post while I was footling around online trying to confirm the spelling of my grandmother's maiden name.

I might have some info for you...?

My paternal grandfather was Reginald Holland, he married Selina Lucy Worrell (who was known as Sis). They had four kids, in this order: Celia, Trevor (also known as Peter - my dad), Johnny and Sue. Only Johnny and Sue are still alive now. Reg drowned in the sea, although not in the Isle of Wight to my knowledge. I barely remember him. Sis (Nana) died of old age in 1996.

We had an Aunty Grace and Uncle Ben who lived in Barnsole Road, Gillingham. They were very devout people; we weren't much in contact with them as they were a little too devout for my dad's liking. (That said, my dad was a very antisocial man who didn't really like mixing with anyone.) They were Plymouth Brethren, I think, as were quite a few of that side of the family. I head my dad speak about a cousin Aubrey a couple of times but don't remember him mentioning the others.

Both my dad and Johnny excelled at sports, but I never heard them say their dad did - I'm sure they would've boasted about it if Reg had been professional. The main thing I did hear them say about Reg was that he was a difficult and unpleasant man, although charming with the ladies.

My dad was born in Gillingham Kent so the family was based there (I think both Reg and Sis were both born there too, there were lots of aunts and uncles around?) but they moved around a lot owing to Reg's career as a Customs Officer. The family were based in Wallasey (Merseyside) during the war. My dad remembered the bombing, and seeing the Protestant cathedral being built.

Reg and Sis ran a place called The Granleys in Cheltenham for a while during the 1950s, as live-in caretakers I think. My sister and brother (12 and 10 years older than me) remember spending holidays there, there was a pony they used to ride on! The Granleys is now a care home.

After The Granleys Reg and Sis bought a house in Grange in Borrowdale (Lake District), which Nana sold after Reg's death to go on a round the world cruise. She ended up emigrating to Australia, but came back to the UK in the early 80s when my sister starting producing grandchildren.

Dad lived in Kent 1968-2011 and was a Customs Officer like his dad. Johnny and Sue both settled in Cheltenham. Johnny never had children; Sue married and had two sons. Celia died around 1995 - her two daughters live in London and Surrey.

My sister lives in Gillingham (2 kids), my brother near Bristol (4 kids), I'm in Cardiff (no kids).

Apologies if you know all this already - I realise your post is quite old now! But I have plenty more info I could send you if you're interested. Before he died my dad drew me a family tree - it's fairly sketchy, based on his fading memory, but still interesting. I had to clear out his house after he died so also have possession of eleventy million photos of his and Nana's.

For my part I'm interested in all those other names you mention! I really don't know anything much of my family history beyond my grandparents and close cousins and would be thrilled to find extended family I didn't know existed.

Please do get in touch if there's anything else you'd like to know. I see on the t&cs I'm not supposed to post my email address here but I'd be happy to provide it if you'd like me to send you photos etc.

With very best wishes from - a potential cuz? -

Lisa

:)

Any Info on descendants of the following Hollands would be greatly appreciated: REGINALD HOLLAND m. SISSY (poss. CELIA) c.1928 children: CELIA, SUSAN, PETER, JOHN REG DROWNED on a daytrip to the Isle of WIght. He was very sporty and may have played professional FOOTBALL for GILLINGHAM. Also:- FRANK (Francis) HOLLAND m. ERIKA c.1930 children: LOIS, MARTIN, MARK, ANDREW ERIKA was probably HALF-GERMAN Also:- JOHN HOLLAND m.MABEL c.1931 children: GRAHAM, BARBARA, BARRY BARBARA & BARRY were TWINS Also:- BENJAMIN HOLLAND m. GRACE c.1936 children: AUBREY, BRADLEY, ROSEMARY, CHERYL, PENELOPE, NOELE Any help much appreciated Clare