Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know where I might find them if they exist?
We have a family story about a relative being employed in some sort of capacity with Edward VIII, when he was a child, at Sandringham in the early 1900s. I would discount this except my grandmother used to talk about it, somehow she felt it gave us a royal connection, and we have photos of the young Prince of Wales taken on a family trip to Norway in 1908. We also have a photo taken at Sandringham of this person's aunt visiting him.
The trip to Norway did happen they visted Holmenkollen which is a winter sports centre. the photos we have are of a walk in the snow and the young prince skating.
Any ideas?
Monica

How about

Sandringham Estate
Enquiries can be made by post, telephone, fax or e-mail.
The Estate Office
Sandringham
Norfolk PE35 6EN
Tel (during 9am - 5pm (GMT) Monday to Friday): (+44) (0)1553 772675. Please note, calls to this number may be recorded.
Fax: (+44) (0)1485 541571
E-mail: [email protected]

You've got to start somewhere and they may be able to point you in the right direction. Don't forget that the Estate usually hosts the Royal's Christmas stay, so may be rather busy right now.

There are some records on Find My Past up to 1924

That is a good idea! It would be great to find out if this is a family myth or possibly true. I am in Canada so post or email would be the best choices. I have looked at the 1901 census from the area and didn't find the relative, but I have no idea how long he worked there, the prince went away to school at 14 I think.

Hi K
On only Find My Past, or family search as well, what category did you find them in? I don't use them very often, so a point in the right direction would be great.Thanks

Just on FMP - as below - the image gives years of employment, wage and position. Who are you looking for?


Royal Household Staff 1526-1924

First Name(s):Alfred John

Last Name:Forward

Additional title:-

Birth Day:18

Birth Month:Jul

Birth Year:1876

Year of Entry:1909

Event Year:-

Year of Death:-

Reference:PERSO/EB 35

Title:Master of the Horse's Department Establishment Book

Date:1910

Record source:Royal Household Establishment Lists 1854-1924

Data provider:The Royal Archives

Walter Jones, not a very distinctive name!
Thanks

Sorry - no Walter Jones coming up. A few W Jones but very little info given

Kay

Any other ideas, out there? What could I do with the photos?

Have you found Walter in the census in 1901 or 1911?

Actually I haven't really been looking for him, he is a nephew of one of my great grandmothers 1st cousins, the family is from from Staffordshire and he doesn't really have a big role in the family tree, its just fascinating. How he would have ended up at Sandringham is a mystery.
The family is well researched back to the 17th century courtesy of a tree done by Debretts in the mid 1960's I am adding some people and details they didn't have, plus verifying some information.

Details of how the Royal Archives at Windsor may be able to help....

http://tinyurl.com/4xkpkg9

Good luck
Chris

I found him! His name is Joseph Walter Jones but he was known as J. Walter Jones. He wasn't officially on the staff of the Royal Household, he was the village schoolmaster at West Newton, which is within the parish of Sandringham, and on the estate. I found him in Kelly's directory 1883, and 1888, plus White's History 1883, after which I just Googled Walter Jones teacher Sandringham, came up with 2 books about the childhood of Edward Prince of Wales and Albert Duke of York, and an article from Life Magazine December 1947, written by Edward then Duke of Windsor, they both had fond memories of him and there is also a picture of Edward with Walter Jones. He used to take over as teacher to the princes when their regular tutor was on holiday and also as a nature study teacher.
So my grandmother wasn't making it up! :-)

Brilliant! Thats a proper Christmas present for you :-D

Congratutations and thanks for letting us know :-D

If what I'm seeing in the newspaper archives is correct, he was responsible for getting the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York to take up pigeon fancying around the turn of the last century.

EDIT: Now that I've read more articles it seems he was actually the King's loftsman and was mentioned as such from the 1890s up to about 1937.

Here's one article ....

Dundee Courier - Friday 21 June 1912
"HIS MAJESTY'S PIGEONS"
His Majesty has constructed a magnificent new pigeon loft recently in place of the old one standing at Sandringham.
King George's original loft was a cottage with an aviary attached to one of the lower rooms in which the birds could take air when not at liberty, but the new loft has been designed by Mr J Walter Jones, the Sandringham schoolmaster, who is the trainer of the royal pigeons, and there is excellent accommodation for the birds.

Oh wow Marie Celeste that's marvellous, too bad my grandmother is long dead, she could never remember exactly what Walter was involved in, however my 85 yr old father will get a good chuckle out of it. What else did you find? Was that in Ancestry newspaper archives or somewhere else?
Thanks so much

Monica - it was from the British Newspaper Archives. If you want to send me a pm with your email address then I'll forward a copy of the actual article. There were several others so if your prepared to wait until after Christmas then I could send you a selection when I'm not at work and can look some more up.