After leaving the cemetery, I thought I would have a look at the shop where Phyllis had lived, I Knew where it was as I had seen it here.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32808721.html
But because the ex- shop next door had some ornate tile work on it, I thought I would take some photos of it, whilst I was doing that, I noticed a man with a phone, standing in Duffields driveway. My thoughts were, is he on the same mission as me and taking a photo of the sign, or is he checking me out, as a suspected burglar, casing out the joint. So I wandered over to explain what I was doing.
Then I was completely surprised by what happened next, the man was Ex RAF and owned Duffield’s and he said that he had a photo of the shop, hanging just inside his door, but had no Idea when it was taken.
So with his kind permission he allowed me to take pictures of it, and to show on here.
Thank you, Scott.
Great I thought, now I have a pic of Phyllis parents, Herbert and Sarah Duffield. That was until I got home and transferred them to my pc.
When I looked at the close up shot I took, I could not believe what I was seeing, we know that in 1911 Herbert was 38 and Sarah was 46, but the ages did not match the photo, so I printed out a copy and took it to work with me and asked as many people as I could, to give me the age of the people in the photo.
The answers I got for the man ranged from 40 to 60 and for the woman , 19 to middle 20s. I estimate that the pic was taken between 1925-35.
Looks like a cigarette machine in the back ground, but can’t find any info on that type of machine, might be players navy cut in the left hand side. Anyone else see anything to help date the photo?
Guess my next visit will be to the archives to trawl though newspapers.
It now appears that Plt Off Fox, May have had relatives in the area.
Still working on this, to see if I can find defining link.
This bit has nothing to do with this thread, but thought it might be of interest anyway.
As I was leaving the cemetery I noticed on a grave stone, (which was half covered in ivy) the word Somme. After removing the ivy, this is what was revealed.
Fiddaman Walter William. Private no. 13944 Norfolk Regiment, 1st Btn.
Thieval Memorial pier and face 1c and 1d.
Brother of Alice L. Fiddaman, of Manor House, Holme, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
Guess some Families’ really had Rough luck.
Second visit to brancaster.
My second visit to Brancaster has been very fruitful. (sorry).
I now know the exact spot Where Phyllis lies, which I should have figured out on the first visit.
The line of graves behind Plt B Fox reads as.
Feb 1944. 4 spaces. July42. Cherry tree. Jan 42. Nov 41.
So March 42 is where the cherry tree is.
This brings in the question will the cherry tree have to be removed or can the headstone be put in the front?
Another thing I missed, is that the gate onto the Docking road is actually accessible, so no need to go round the back.
Have more information to add later.
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