catherine Jackson

Submitted by catherine Jackson on Sun, 2011-08-14 16:07

Location:

U.K.

I recentley discovered this site and I love it. My great grandparents were Kate neeLing and George Messenger. My two older brothers, mum and dad (who was their grandson) used to spend every summer holiday with them. The old bungalow was called Windrush and was on the Drift- a track between it and the allotments. The school, now a hostel was up on the other side of the rd. Dads mum was called Hilda and though she married and eventualy went to London the ties with Blaxhall remained strong. I have very happy memories of her brother Chris my uncle who used to take me to feed the chickens. He was married to a Maud and they always had loads of cats. One of my earliest and happiest of memories was being in a big old pushchair and being pulled over the common with my dad and brothers. It was raining but to this day I can recall the sound as it patted on the hood and my lovely g.g.Messenger with his big white moustache leaning in saying "you be al rit then gal" in his wonderful singsongy voice. We used to visit some people in Rose cottage and I think a vet and his family lived at the bottom of The Drift. I got stuck trying to get down from having bravely climed the apple tree at 5 in the morning and my dad had to come and rescue me in his P.Js! I remember Frank Reeves and his wife who ran the little shop and The dear old lady who I collected eggs from. I think she was Mrs Poacher . My mum cooked on the old range and I used to get the water in from a tap which was fed from a spring in the front garden. I used to get told off for getting to near the huge pig which was at the back of the land behind the bungalow. Oh dear! Im rambling. See, my memories are many of this very important place and times of my childhood. My brother Andy visits Blaxhall and I belive has sung a ditty or two in the Ship. I love reading about all the Lings and the connections. Would love to know more about the Messengers too. Will continue to look at this site now that I have found it and hope even better still to visit Blaxhall. Meanwhile my love to its lands and its people where ever they may be.

Submitted by andy jackson on Sun, 2011-08-14 20:58.

Hi Cathy.
Yup she's my sister, and correct in her memory of such happy times. Just a couple of corrections, it was Mrs Savage who used to give us a couple of Bantam eggs when we visited. Maudie and Chris lived at Stone Common at the time and kept what seemed like hundreds of bantams. The pushchair we used to borrow from Geoff Ling and he remembered it well when we chatted to him a couple of years ago.
I see a joint visit coming up!

Submitted by carpfishing on Tue, 2011-08-16 10:27.

hi cathy my nan was ruby constance amilia messenger,she was hidas and chris sister.my dad often tells me about hilda and how he remambers how nice she was.i would be so greatful if you could tell me a bit more about her what she did .oh my name is paul jeffery i live in epsom.my dads name is gary rubys son.i think hilda lived not far from epsom but im not sure.also any infoon chris would be great.we are long lost cousins so it would be great to get to know you my number is 01372815895.thanks.or leave a message or youre number this is great i have done a family tree messengers and lings.and i have a recording of george messenger when he was inteviewed he also sings on it.i can tell you how to get this.well take care youres paul jeffery epsom surrey.

Submitted by carol a on Tue, 2011-08-16 17:46.

Hi catherine ! i enjoyed your letter ! You said you remember visiting Rose Cottage. Was it the one down from The Ship ? That is where my Grandparents and my mum lived. Their names were James and Clara Hewitt, though Granddad died in the 40's.when my Mum was a girl. I am wondering if this Maud was my grandmothers sister? Cheers ! carol you can contact me at wyobrit79@zoomtown.com

Submitted by carol a on Fri, 2011-08-19 17:37.

caterine, my mum thinks it may be Maud Thurston you are thinking of. Her Aunt maud lived in Saxmundham and she doesn't think she was married. Carol

Submitted by daviddling on Wed, 2011-08-31 13:42.

HI MY NAME IS DAVID LING JNR. MAUD WAS MY FATHERS SISTER. CHRIS AND MAUDY HAD A DAUGHTER GLORIA AND A SON BARRY.
GLORIA STILL LIVE IN BLAXHALL.BARRY IS IN IPSWICH.

Submitted by carpfishing on Wed, 2011-08-31 16:53.

hi David give me a call on 01372815895 always nice to meet new family.thanks for youre message.

Submitted by catherine Jackson on Wed, 2011-08-31 17:11.

Hi David, have lovely memories of Maud. My brother Andy saw Gloria on one of his visits to Blaxhall. He was in the ship looking through some photoes when a voice behind him said "thats my great Granddad George Messenger" It was Gloria!. I remember Barry very well. Me and my two older brothers used to see him on our yearly visits to Blaxhall when we stayed with our g.g.parent. Andy sings in the Ship when he visits which is following our family tradition and has meet up with many family connections there. I hope to visit again, and breath the Blaxhall air again. Take Care.

Submitted by catherine Jackson on Wed, 2011-08-31 17:42.

Hi David. Thanks for the contact. I remember Maud very well and Chris too. Very Happy times spent in Blaxhall. Used to see Barry on our visits though I dont remember Gloria I am aware of her in the family. When my brother Andrew was on one of his visits to Blaxhall, he was in the Ship looking through old photoes when a voice said "thats my G.Grandad" It was Gloria! so a lot of chatting and merriment flowed. Have promised myself a visit back to Blaxhall and a walk across stone common! Regards.Cath.

Submitted by daviddling on Fri, 2011-09-02 19:18.

HI CATH .CLAD TO BE OF HELP .MAY BE ABLE TO CONTACT BARRY AND GLORIA AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MEET THEM WHEN YOU COME TO BLAXHALL.