Ray Dugdale – Pat and Graham’s father Reuben had three siblings; Winifred, Edith, and Cecil (David Espin). Ray was a cousin to them via Winnie.

Plot x he sent through the following;

“Hi

I found a hand written note/letter in with some photos about the Osborne Family. It was a photocopy of the original with some bits missing at the bottom, of the pages hence the dotted lines. I think Edith Speed wrote it, it does look like her writing although my Mothers Win Dugdale is very very similar. The red text is Mine.

I remember that Edith once went to the local school to talk to the children, this may have been her notes for that event.

I have copied it to forward out.

Ray Dugdale

The Osborne Family

My Mother Alice Osborne (Granny Espin) was the 7th of a family of 14 children, They were all born and brought up in a large cottage on a fruit farm on the edge of the village of Bideford on Avon Warwickshire.

My Grandfather worked on the railway as a Platelayer whilst my Grandmother managed and worked on the fruit farm in between having children! 9 girls and 5 boys all born at precisely 2 year intervals, My Grandparents married in 1871.

In their late teens the children left home and made their way in the world. Some of the girls went—————————————————————-

The youngest boy joined the Cheshire Regiment at 17 going straight to France. All 5 sons served in the 14-18 war and returned safely.

This picture is of 4 brothers before they left for France (missing photo)

My Uncle in Chester died in 1983 aged 86, retiring from the Cheshire Regiment with the rank of Major, His wife now 91 and daughter still live at Mollington

The 5th son took employment with the Dule of Norfolk and became head Chauffer living in a beautiful lodge on the Arundel Castle Estate . When the Duke of Norfolk attended Lincoln ———-   The Rolls Royce outside our village cottage in Branston, 4 miles from Lincoln, needless to say this caused quite a stir with the neighbours and subjected me to much teasing at school, Uncle was always careful to remove the silver mascot of a horse from the front of the bonnet before coming into our house.

As the family scattered to many parts of the UK I have cousins and relatives in most parts of the country, many in London,

The 14 children all lived to Great Ages one was 97 another was 95 and several in their late 80’s.

Before the first death the combined ages of the children totalled 996 years.