September 2013

Hi!
I just found the attached article on FIND MY PAST in their newspaper database.

"Cheltenham Chronicle
Publication date: Saturday 03 January 1914
Article text: "Mistook Ammonia for Beer"
Mistaking a bottle of ammonia for a bottle of beer which he usually drank at night in bed, Michael Rochford, of Leicester, was found dead in bed in the morning. At the inquest on Monday a verdict of Death by misadventure " was returned.
I keep looking for the inquest report but no luck so far.

Joyce

Read more family lore about Michael Rochford.

Dorothy Rochford (gen 3) Roberts Family Reunion, 2013

This being the year sister Joyce celebrated her 85^th, we congregated in 4 houses for a week at Whistler where sister Brenda has a country home.

Pot luck dinners on the beach and in homes, swimming, hiking, golf, and just hanging out together - we had a glorious time. This was capped off with a mega party for brother Jim’s 82^nd at his daughter Terry’s.

Absolutely nothing matches the pleasure of getting together with far flung family for a few days of fun and frolic.

Sheila Roberts Piccinin

August 2013

Christina Alice Johnson and Claude Vertzagias have become parents to Leonidas Alexander on August 14, 2013.  Christina is the daughter of Peter and Joanne  Johnson and the granddaughter of Patricia and Robert Johnson (Joseph’s descendants). The picture is of the 4 generations.

May 2013

Joseph Rochford, son of James Rochford and Alice Dunne died on April 5th, 1945 when the Avro Lancaster Mk1, Flight RF150 QB-W crashed during one of the last bombing raids of WWII.  A Lane End Lancaster website has been developed by Shane Stockbridge-Allen describing the Avro Lancaster’s final flight RF150 QB-W, the crew, the crash and the memorial in the Brookwood Cemetery where all 7 officers have graves.

May 2013

William James Marshall (1914-2013)

Died May 10, 2013 at the age of 99. Bill was born in Montreal and during the depression he rose to be purser on the CN Lady boats - cruise ships of their day - which connected Canada with the West Indies. He married Ila Boon in 1940, then was posted in Plymouth, London and Scotland to acquire ships and establish bases for the growing Canadian Navy. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), among his other awards. After the War he remained in the RCN, serving on HMCS Magnificent and at other postings until he retired in Victoria. There the family ran a nursery growing specialty rose bushes. He is survived by his son Peter, daughter Patricia and grandsons Richard and Donald. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday May 25 at Franciscan Friars Chapel, 1076 Joan Crescent, Victoria..

To our knowledge, there is one member of generation three surviving, Catherine Ann O’Grady Gribock, daughter of Kate O’Grady who settled in the USA.
 

April 2013

William Rochford and Marie-Eve Blais are the parents of a baby boy, Eden, born on april 22, 2013.  William is the son of Joseph Rochford and the grandson of Gerald and Juliette Rochford (Joseph’s descendants).
 

March 2013

The following email was sent to Pat and Bob Johnson from Alan Smith, son of John Rushton Smith who was a good friend of Pat’s brother, Joe.

Dear Patricia and Bob,
I don't know if you have ever seen this film.  It is quite amazing.  Much of it is filmed at Hemswell Air Force Base.  That was my dad's base.  He was in the 150 squadron which is mentioned.  He was not on the raid to Berlin though so I don't think he is in any of the footage until the very end when the entire base is having the victory march.  The film gives you an accurate depiction of what a mission for Joseph was like. 
Alan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-cVw7Xb6Nk.
 

March 2013

The following email was sent to Pat and Bob Johnson re John Rushton Smith (1924-2013) who attended the Ad Astra ceremony in 2011 with Pat and Bob

Dear Pat and Bob,
I wanted to contact you before you read the news in the Hamilton Spectator.  My dad has passed away.  He developed mesothelioma (lung cancer caused by asbestos).  His work as a brick layer at Stelco was his undoing as the many substances in the brick were so toxic.  He had moved up to Ottawa for the past few years and there he underwent chemotherapy treatment.  This created a good quality of life for him.  He was such a private person and he didn't want to be a fuss so he "disappeared" for his last two years.  I wanted to let you know because the Ad Astra ceremony was really the last time he went out with a large group.  He was diagnosed not too long afterward.  That ceremony and our time together with our dad is something that we will never forget.    When we visit his and Joseph's stones in Trenton we will always imagine two young men flying together, learning the tricks of the navigation trade and becoming the heroes that we so cherish. 
Thank you for that.
Alan.
 

February 2013

David McGowan an Brie Worgan had a daughter Grace Kara on February 5, 2013.  David is the son of Carol Ann Johnson and Phillip McGowan and the grandson of Patricia Ann Rochford and Robert Johnson (Joseph’s descendants).