After Mum and Dad enjoyed their excursion over to Norway during their post-retirement overseas trip (July 1975), they returned to Cardigan, Wales. Here they met up with Evan (not sure of his surname nor where he fits into the picture) but in this footage he is standing with Mum outside “Glyncoed” (house on the left of the terrace) which was where Grandmother Davies had been born.
The car at the end of this film belonged to Uncle Ieuan and his second wife Auntie Jean. Their children Delyth and Kerri are seen waving out of the window.
Unfortunately this film has been superimposed with later footage of the Victoria Falls (maybe during the family’s June/July holiday 1963)
Not sure about the ship leaving harbour.
The rest of the footage was taken at Kendal Road, Escombe, showing the fowl-houses and Marilyn and Shân enjoying running in the grounds as well as arriving home from school (Escombe Primary). Guessing 1955/6.
The Morris Minor belonged to Auntie Gwen who was a frequent and loved visitor.
This cine was taken in the garden at 18 Kendal Road, Escombe, early 1954. The family owned Corgis and here Ceri, Marilyn and Shân are playing with the dogs, Cymru, (known affectionately as Kimmy) Daisy, ? & ? (maybe Topsy). There was plenty of space for the children to play and run, and handstands were a favourite activity, Shân trying hard to keep up with her older sister, Marilyn. The homemade seesaw also provided lots of fun. Ceri attended Cowan House boarding school in Pietermaritzburg to which he went from January 1954, and here he is posing proudly in his new uniform with sisters Marilyn and Shân, the huge bougainvillea hedge which bore masses of bright purple flowers every summer, providing a good backdrop for the photographs.
Graham and Shân’s South African friends, as well as Shân’s sisters Marilyn and Stephanie and their families were not able to attend Shân and Graham’s wedding in the UK in July 1979, so Mum and Dad held a reception at their home in Somerset West during Shân and Graham’s next visit to Cape Town in January 1980. Dad welcomed everybody to the happy occasion on a glorious day before lunch of a delicious buffet was served and enjoyed on the lawns, shaded by the huge pine tree, amidst lots of laughter and reminiscing. Good use was made of the swings before the newly-weds cut a tier of their wedding cake, kept specially for the occasion, to hand around with tea.
Graham and Shân playing frisbee on the lawns of Cherwell Court, Broom Park, Teddington with friend David Fleetwood. River Thames flowing by and Kingston Rowing Club in the background on the other side of the River Thames. Lots of activity on the river on a lovely sunny day. Graham owned a yellow Capri…not sure why Shân is driving it out of the garage.
Initially Graham and Shân lived at No13 Cherwell Court, Broom Park, Teddington, situated on the River Thames opposite Kingston Rowing Club. Ceri visited them there immediately after their wedding in July 1979 and here he has a walk with them via Teddington Lock to the towpath along the other side of the river from where there is a good view of the block of flats.
When Dad retired, he and Mum had a trip overseas, arriving in Southampton on The Union Castle ship, Windsor Castle. During their stay in the UK they visited Dad’s first cousins, twins Lena and May Jenkins at Craid-Y-Don, Aberporth, near Cardigan, Wales. The gentleman with Mum and the cousins in this snippet could be Idris (?their brother). The final footage is taken travelling through the Highlands of Scotland where the cattle proved to be a source of entertainment.
Stephanie Ann Davies married Peter John Berlyn on 13th December 1975 at Christ Church Kenilworth, Cape Town. Photos were taken in the garden of Marilyn and George’s house, 16 Cherbourg Avenue, Diep River, before leaving for the church. Stephanie left the house and walked up the aisle on Dad’s arm (Capt Eric Davies). 2-year-old toddler Stephen Tjasink watched proceedings from the lounge window. After the service the bridal party and guests adjourned to a church hall in Rondebosch for the reception. Stephanie’s sister Shân and Peter’s sister Rosemarie were bridesmaids, whilst Peter’s friend Teddy was bestman.
During December 1975, Shân’s friend Janet Turner (from the UK) was staying at Marilyn and George’s and the two young ladies enjoyed keeping Stephen entertained with games in the garden.
Footage also shows the start of the Cape to Rio Yacht Race (January 1976) with participating craft joined by keen well-wishers as they left Table Bay bound across the Atlantic Ocean. There was controversy over this race due to opposition to apartheid and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, pulled out of the destination port and the yachts had to head for a port in Uruguay instead.
Shân Erica Davies married Graham John Christmas on 21st July 1979 at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Ellingham, Ringwood . She was given away by her Dad, Capt Eric Davies. After the ceremony, conducted by the Rev John Worthington, photographs were taken in the churchyard by Geoff Eales, first of all of the bridal party and then with parents and siblings, followed by the group of relatives and then the group of friends.
Here is a short length of film with Mum showing her new baby girl, Marilyn, off to brother, Ceri (1946).
A few yars later, during 1950 (we think), Dad had the opportunity to travel back to his home town of Cardigan, West Wales. Whilst there he took the chance to visit his various cousins and attended a family wedding…we are not sure whose special occasion…as well as paying respects at his late mother’s grave. Mari Davies, the dressmaker, had passed away in 1947.
Some of the old faces are familiar to Shân who had a chance of being introduced to Dad’s ageing family during her overseas trip in 1973. The house Y Nyth at Penparc is familiar, but the names of the occupants escape Shân’s memory. Lovable twins, Lena and May who lived at Craig-y-Don in Aberporth and cuddly Auntie Bess at Y Bwthyn, Cenarth were a few who made lasting memories on Shân. Men at Cenarth rowed their boats called coracles on the River Teifi hoping for success on salmon-catching expeditions.
Daddy returned home to South Africa, after having completed a Radar Observation Course, on a new tug for the South African harbour service…The Sir John Campbell.
Shân was born on 2nd August 1951 and here is the first footage of her as a baby in pram whilst big brother Ceri and sister Marilyn look on.