The late Mrs Margaret Wilce (nee Morgan) was born and bred in Walford, Bishopswood and Howle Hill. Her mother’s immediate relatives were the Symonds and Ayres families. Her photograph collection was taken custody of by her daughters Sara Ayliffe and Judith Slaterley after she died, but did not really know what to do with them, so taking Margaret at her word when she had already told them that if they didn’t know what to do with her collection the best person to ask was her cousin through the Symonds side of the family – Mary Sinclair Powell – who is very well known as knowledgeable in local history. She would be able to look through them, collate them some more and make sure that as many people as possible would actually see them.
Mary took custody of them on behalf of her daughters, and has been showing people in history groups and others who are interested as this was what she had done for many years before she retired – relating tales about local history and showing illustrations such as old photos and postcards. Margaret had also done this many times at local history interest days and it seems fitting for Mary to do the same.
Mary will be eventually working with the daughters about where the collection should end up for wider audiences possibly in the county history archives for all to access, but in the meantime they will be displayed and copied as much as possible for wider awareness within the villages Margaret loved.
Any financial donations received for showing these archives at events are helping the Howle Hill War Memorial Garden Project and the permanent move of the memorial itself to a more suitable place within the garden on Sharman Pitch. Margaret always said that it seemed disrespectful to have the local boys being remembered at a bus stop (it was moved from St John’s Church in a rush when it was sold for development in 2004) – but thanks to some funds being raised from the sales of some of the archive (mainly the large picture and local book collections – with the family consent) she will be helping to make sure the boys’ memories will rest with respect ever more.
If anyone is interested in looking through the archive at a group event, please contact Mary who will be able to bring them along to chat with those interested. Her email is: msprosecottage@outlook.com and she will get back to you as soon as possible.