Exciting News

Well the really unexpected has happened. I have not yet found Annette but I have found (or rather, they found me) two half sisters and a half brother I did not know existed. Because of this blog and the wonders of Google, they were researching their family and discovered that we all shared the same father. We are now in contact and I am really looking forward to learning much more about the family I didn't know I had. Because this blog is in the public arena I won't be publishing their details.

"Jack" Walker

I have now located our father's birth record. His birth certificate shows he was born on 28 August 1901 at Wem, Shropshire, UK and was named Charles John Walker. His father is shown as Charles Walker of Worralls Yard, Wem, a Malster (Journeyman). His mother is identified as Mary Ellen Walker, formerly Edwards. The 1901 census lists the following living at Worralls Yard, High Street, Wem in that year: Charles Walker (malster at brewery), aged 31 born at Brignorth, Shropshire; Mary Walker, aged 30 born at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire; Frank Walker, aged 11 born at Shrewsbury, Shropshire; Stanley Walker, aged 10 born at Wem, Shropshire; Elsie Walker, aged 2 born at Wem, Shropshire.

Happy Birthday

Today is the anniversary of Annette's birth. If she is still alive Annette is 73 today and yet this is the first time in my life that I have been able to observe my sister's birthday. If you are still with us Annette, have a great birthday.

A Plea

If you are viewing this blog for the first time I would ask that you spare just a minute or two in thinking of how I might progress in my search for Annette.

With the rules as they are, about gaining access to adoption records, I feel as if I have got as far as I can with the search. What I need is a bit of latteral thinking by some clever or imaginative individuals who can come up with some suggestions as to new avenues to follow. Please don't be shy, any ideas, no matter how obscure, would be most welcome. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment with your thoughts and ideas.

Annette's First Home

As mentioned earlier, Annette was born at Cleveland House, Sutherland Place, Wolverhampton in 1935. There is a reference to Cleveland House, in the "Wolverhampton Red Book for 1942-3", where it is described as "A hostel and maternity home for women and girls suffering from venereal Disease. Applications to be made to the Lady Superintendent."
Source: http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/news/2007/news27.htm
I don't quite know what this tells us, but it does suggest that Annette did not have one of the best starts in life.

Thoughts

Because I was never told about my sister, by my mother, a number of people have asked me if I feel that I have been deprived of something all these years. The simple answer is, no. It is said you cannot miss what you have never had, and that is how I view the situation.

Some have asked me if I "blame" my mother for never telling me about Annette. No I don't. I can't imagine what she went through all those years ago, an unmarried mother in the 1930's and having to give up her first child. She had her reasons for not divulging her secret to me and I must accept that.

Now I do know about Annette however, I would love to know what happened to her. If she is still alive it would be wonderful to meet her.

Our Dad

Throughout my Mum's life she always insisted that my father died when I was very young. As I got older however it became more obvious to me that this was not the case. I never challenged her on the issue because clearly it was not something she wished to discuss.

During my research, in attempting to trace my sister Annette, I discovered a number of things about our father:

My Dad, and presumably also Annette's, was Charles John Anthony Walker (known as Jack). He was born about 1922 at Wem, Shropshire. Jack married Margaret Olive Lane (my mother's sister) on 10 January 1929 at Shrewsbury, Shropshire. At the time of his marriage his occupation was recorded as "Boots in Hotel" and his address was 85, High Street, Wem.