Nora (Dodo) (sister to Percy)

Nora Lang was born on the 1^st November 1894 in India to James Matthew and Mary Ellen Lang. She married John Francis (Jack) Welch and she died in 1981 – Jack died on the 27^th Mary 1970 (Holywell 8a 2449) in Wales.

I have found her on a Passenger list leaving on the 23^rd October 1914 (so she was 20 at the time) along with James Matthew (who was 57) and it states that he was a merchant and Mary Ellen (who was 49) – destination Karachi, Pakistan – this must have been at the start of the 1^st World War so what was JM doing during the war - am assuming he was too old to be called up? The ship was the SS Kaiser I Hind, Official number 128653 – the master’s name was CD Bennett and was part of the P&O Steam line (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co). – it was bound for Bombay, India so how did they then get to Karachi, or was it one of the ports of call? – The registered tonnage was 5989 and there were 512 passengers!

Jack Welch was a poultry farmer (my mum remembers going to visit both Dodo and Jack and was then made to wring chickens necks!

They adopted a daughter Joan who married  William (Bill) Spiller. – they had 2 children, Kevin John (b. 21^st March 1950) and Trefine Anne May who was born on the 13rd November 1951

Who is Reverend Welch? Dodo apparently lived in Littlehampton.

John Francis (Jack) Welch

Had quite a few brothers and 1 sister (both brothers were priests so the above must have been one of them and lived in Shrewsbury – Hugh Welch, Terry Welch and Margaret Welch.

From Katharine 

Another interesting thing about Dodo and Jack worth mentioning is that they lived at Ferndown, Wimborne, Hampshire. Incidentally, Estelle talked about Jack in particular as being very good with children and often playing practical jokes on them. Anyhow, I visited the area hoping to find their home but it looked as though it had been built on with a housing estate! Their house and farm was not far from Stapehill Abbey, home of a Trappist Order of Nuns, which is where James Matthew's wife, Mary Ellen Crowley was buried in 1930. I have seen her grave with her gravestone. It is alongside nuns who are buried at the Abbey. I believe that she had a room at the Abbey or in its' grounds and she would stay there on occasions; she was also a benefactress of the Abbey. Now it is: https://www.stapehillabbey.co.uk 

https://www.stapehillabbey.co.uk