A week or so later John messaged me to say that he and Pippa had uncovered a third reel, which was emblazoned with the mysterious words:
Proof. Do not erase.
Actually I guessed that this would probably turn out to be a recording of their parents’ wedding, as John had told me when we were going through the first batch that Pippa was half-exoecting to hear a recording of their parents’ wedding, as she remembered the folks telling her that such a recording existed.
Anyway, in early February 2020 John brought the mystery third spool round to Clanricarde Gardens and my trusty Sony TC377 (combined with the computer) did the rest.
The recording runs to just under 35 minutes and is surely a rare and wonderful relic for the White family to have.
While some of this was going on, in the spring of 2022, what would have been mum’s hundredth birthday had been and gone.
Within a bundle of papers I dug out while examining the various other stories, I found my mother’s birth certificate. I think it is a somewhat mysterious one.
It appears that my mum’s birth was registered as having occurred on 2 May 1922 on 22 May 1922. It seems that my Grandpa Lew subsequently took the trouble to traipse to the registrar’s office, seek and obtain a dispensation from the Registrar General and thus, some five weeks later, on 26 June 1922, the birth certificate was corrected to 1 May 1922.
This seems to me to be a lot of fuss for a minor correction. What’s in a day?
Perhaps Grandpa Lew thought 1 May to be an especially desirable date of birth. It is Labour Day after all and I know that he (and possibly the immediate family) would have seen that as a significant date for political reasons. Or possibly it was a more simplistic superstition, thinking that the first of the month was auspicious. Or might he simply have spotted it as a mistake and felt honour/duty bound to have an official document corrected.
Almost as mysterious is the fact that my mother was registered with the single, simple forename Renée. There was no precedent in either the Marcus nor my Grandma Beatrice’s family for such a name.
Indeed, I remember as a child there were cousins in the family (Sadie Moliver being one I remember in particular) who were convinced that mum was really named Rene not Renée and insisted on pronouncing her name in the more colloquial, single-e-no-accent manner.
The birth certificate proves that mum really was registered as Renée, but why?
I can only imagine that my grandparents were naming her after a well-known person, much in the manner that certain names crop up these days when a singer, performer or sports personality becomes iconic.
I can only find a couple of Renées who might have been thought of as stars at that time. Renée Adorée has a proliferation of acute accents, in my opinion and certainly looks the part.
Renée Adorée
But I think Renée Adorée’s silent movie fame in the UK would have been limited that early in the 1920s, even if, like Grandpa Lew, you have a couple of nephews, Sid & Harry, in the cinema orchestra business.
A better bet might be Renée Mayer, who had been a child star, a star of stage and was also making it in the silent movies in the UK in the early 1920s.
George & Edith Corke are John Burns (aka John Random)’s great-grandparents. (John and the diary are shown above). This is a blog version of their fascinating and charming honeymoon diary from the summer of 1901. The original is in fading pencil but was diligently transcribed by John’s mum into biro many moons ago. Notes in square brackets are mostly hers. John has now digitised the words. Additional notes, links and some insight into our editing process (May/June 2020) can be found through this link.
THURSDAY JUNE 27th 1901
Arranged to be married at Halewood [Parish Church]
John Lord / St Nicholas’s Church, Halewood / CC BY-SA 2.0
Left Widnes by 8.15 am train. Arrived Halewood 8.35 in company with Chris and Bella [her younger brother and his wife] Ned and Ann Butler. [Ned Franklin was the son of Hannah Franklin née Corke and Anne Butler a more distant cousin descended from Richard Houghton.] Clara Thomas, Sally Bradshaw and Jane, friends and employees from the shop. We all travelled first class and were a merry, happy party.
Arrived at the pretty church at 8.45. We were met by the rector the Rev. Gibson Smith who greeted us very cordially and performed the ceremony without any hitch. After signing the register Edie and I went to Mr. Millen’s in Wood Lane, so that I could change my suit for travelling. The others of the party were looking round the graveyard as the rector is very proud of it and has great care bestowed in the cultivation of flowers, especially roses.
From ‘A Centenary of Halewood Parish Church’ by James Eccles (1939) p.48 Halewood Parish Local History Pages, www.halewood.org.uk – with thanks to Mike Royden
We all met again and went to the station. The party returned home and Edie and I came on to Liverpool in order to catch the 12am train for London.
Called at Kardomah [Coffee House] and had light refreshments. Proceed to the London and North Western Railway Station and at 12am [noon] then started travelling via Runcorn Bridge. We could see our house in the distance.
Kardomah picture borrowed from https://sites.google.com/site/kardomah/ – permission for fair use assumed – would actively seek permission if we could work out how to do so.
We had very good places in corridor train occupying the seat solely all the way, which was very pleasant. No crushing whatsoever. We arrived in London at 5pm at Euston and took [a] hansom [cab] to 37 Bedford Place, Russell Square, which is kept by the Misses Dobson. After tea we went by bus to Strand and along the Thames Embankment over Westminster Bridge and on to Green Park through Pall Mall and then on home.
Hansom cabs at Temple
FRIDAY JUNE 28TH
We walked down Oxford Street to Regent St. to see the shops. On the way we saw a regiment of Horse Guards mounted, who were going as a guard to the Mansion House where Mayor and officials proclaimed the month for the coronation of Edward VII and his queen next year [August 1902]. After lunch, we went from Tottenham Court Rd. station in the two-penny tube to Bond St. and thence to Hyde Park where we saw the London society driving in their carriages and parading Rotten Row. There were hundreds of carriages mostly with two horses in each and the largest number of smart society people ever in our lives. The sight was one of great splendour.
The traffic and carriages were controlled by the police both mounted and on foot with such order that not the slightest accident occurred amongst the assemblage. We came home by bus to dinner and then to the Vaudeville Theatre see a comeditta entitled Sweet and Twenty in which Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss were the principal actors. The piece was very well staged and played.
Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss
SATURDAY JUNE 29TH
In the morning we went through the Houses of Parliament. The House of Lords and Commons. The Lords was better fitted. All seats were covered with crimson. The gilded throne for the king and queen being at one end. In the centre were tables containing books and writing material. Also, the woolsacks were in the centre. We passed then to the House of Commons was arranged with raised seats on each side covered in leather with a desk in front, the Speaker’s chair and mace being in the centre. The walls of the buildings were covered with paintings and the grand staircase had a great number of statues of eminent men. After leaving the Parliament we came home by the Horse Guards after seeing the government offices and Downing Street.
After dinner to Hyde Park via Piccadilly to see the swells again and this time we saw the Queen (Alexandra) who drove with only one lady. They were both dressed in black. We had a very good view of her twice. Bus home to dinner (7pm) and stroll round the Square. Bought new white felt hat 7/6 in New Bedford St.
Sunday June 30th
Morning Westminster Abbey to service. Thence to Hyde Park, Rotten Row to see the Church Parade. Ladies and Gents in all the latest London and Paris style. Dinner at 1.30. Then to Albert Hall Sacred Concert. Great Organ. Royal Artillery Band. 80 performers and lady and gent for solos.
Tea at Kensington. Passed Palace. Statue of Victoria put up at Jubilee by her daughter Princess Beatrice. Kensington Gardens and park by the lake and home via Hyde Park where military band played in evening. Rain came on, home by bus and escaped the wet.
P.S. Walked to Marble Arch through park and home down Park Lane on Sunday morning.
Monday July 1st
Bus to Paddington via Edgware Rd. Train from Bishop St. to Richmond via Hammersmith. Very busy little place. Good shops. Bus on to Hampton Court via Twickenham, Teddington and Bushey Park. The drive is lively, well-wooded, especially the park in which were numerous deer, quite tame.
Stephen Williams / Deer in Bushy Park / CC BY-SA 2.0Andy Beecroft / Private Gardens, Hampton Court / CC BY-SA 2.0
Hampton Court 1.45. Had lunch. Then to Hampton Palace. Picture galleries, apartments of former Eng. kings and queens. Courtyard, corridors, apartments let to ladies in reduced circumstances. Changing guards. The magnificent gardens: orange trees. The vine. Fountains and goldfish. The lake or canal. The maze. Beautiful avenues of trees. Swans. Dull morning. Beautiful afternoon. Started home 6.15 by bus to Richmond. Pretty place very busy. Pleasure boat in river and beautiful scene looking from the bridge. Tea at Richmond and look round. Train home 8pm to Bishop St. Bus home arriving 9pm.
Tuesday July 2nd
Bus to Strand. Called at Sharp Perrins. [wholesalers to the drapery trade. The bride and groom ran a draper’s shop in Victoria Rd. Widnes.] Mr. McIntyre not in house. Asked for Mr. Freeman who took us into private office. Was very cordial and said he would do his best for us. Edie bought some things to be sent on. Up in lift. People all very nice. After lunch Burlington House to see the pictures. Very fine collection. Entrance and catalogue 1/-. Special picture Queen’s funeral. Portraits of King and Queen. Duke of York. Roll call etc. The statuary very good also. Rained very heavily. Tea in Piccadilly. Home for dinner 7pm. Strand Theatre in evening. HMS Irresponsible. Mr. Arthur Roberts very clever actor. We thoroughly enjoyed the piece which has many absurd situations presented.
This original page from The Sketch is available from Vintage Edition – click linkBorrowed from The British Music Hall Society Facebook Group (linked) where this is image is unattributed; assumed public domain and/or fair use
Wednesday July 3rd
Bus to Strand, Fleet St, Cannon St. to Bank and Exchange. Went through both places. Fine painting round Exchange Walls. Lunch. Then to Mall and saw Buckingham Palace, Marlborough House, St. James’s Palace and saw company of Horse Guards who looked so bright and interesting in their pretty uniforms and trappings. Walk up Piccadilly and home by two d. Tube. Dinner 7. Bus to Earls Court Military Exhibition. Various types of soldier in life-size wax models. All kinds of guns. Hotchkiss, Krupp, Howitzer, Maxim, Field etc.
Public Domain, with thanks to the Getty Research institute & Hathi Trust Digital LibraryPublic Domain, with thanks to the Getty Research institute & Hathi Trust Digital LibraryPublic Domain, with thanks to the Getty Research institute & Hathi Trust Digital Library
Beautiful grounds and gardens. Several military bands. Canadian water-chute very exciting. Electric launches. Canton river. Had sail around; water kept in motion by water-wheel driven by steam. Big wheel. Oriental market. Egyptian coffee saloons. Chinese soldiers. Endless staircase lift. You stand still and it takes you to the top for 1d. Refreshment room. Ladies band. Home by Rails Underground.
Thursday July 4th
Bus to Piccadilly. Then to Regent St. and Bond St. Beautiful shops. Called at Paris Bank re more money. Far East café. Strawberries and cream 1/-. All decorated in willow pattern blue. Girls’ dress Oriental style. Yellow bandolier, fans etc. in hair. Very pretty effect. Lunch. Steamer upriver (!) to Greenwich Hospital and Observatory.
Home by tram over Westminster Bridge. On tram nearly 1 hour for 3d. Bus over halfpenny. Westminster Bridge from Trafalgar Square only a halfpenny. Wrote letters and stroll round Russell and Bloomsbury Squares.
Friday July 5th
Covent Garden flower women
Walked to Covent Garden Market. Enormous quantity of fruit and vegetables and flowers. Then on through Strand to Victoria Gardens, Thames Embankment and sat for about an hour. Bus home. Lunch. Oxford St. afternoon bought bag and brooch. Ices and then to Covent Garden Theatre to Leon Italian Opera Company in Carmen. Madame Clave. [Emma Calvé] Finest music and opera singing we ever heard.
Emma Calvé as Carmen. Click picture for Internet Archive source book.
Below is a YouTube with the voice of Emma Calvé singing the Habanera in 1902.
Three tiers. Boxes all filled. Jewellery and dresses of ladies magnificent and the carriages after the performance was wonderful. Ices 6d and 9d each.
Bus to Sharp Perrin’s to give small order. Bus to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Right up to the altar and sanctuary. Splendid view. Bought paper dish covers. Home. Lunch. Bought tickets for Paris. £9 12/- 6d. Ordered box to be called for while Edie packed. Paid Mrs. Dobson. Wrote letters. Dinner 7. Hansom to London Bridge Station at 8. Left at 9 for Newhaven. Arrived 10.30. Left Newhaven 10.45. Arrived Dieppe 3 a.m. Slept most of the time in berths. Fairly rough passage.
Met Daisy Jarnke on board just arrived at Dieppe. We travelled together to Paris arriving 7.30. Bus to Hotel Rapp et Duphot.
Breakfast café au lait, bacon and eggs. Hotel close to Madeleine. Walked through streets. Hôtel de Ville and into Notre Dame. Iced lemon. Rest in afternoon. Walked through Place de la Concorn [Concorde] and Champs Élysée. Saw carriages and people promenading. The Hyde Park of Paris. Dinner at 6.30. Walk along boulevards, café au lait. Home at 10.p.m. Very tired after travelling.
Monday July 8th
Camille Pissarro: The Tuileries Gardens, 1900, Hermitage Museum
First drive in Cook’s four in hand coach as per programme. Lunch. Palais Royale Café. Gave each a rose. Had bottle of wine each. Home 5.30. Diner 6.30. Walked through Tuerilles [Tuileries] Gardens and then by steams up river to Café Charitant. Home by steam train. Then to Place de La Concorn [Concorde] 10.30
Coach to Versailles Trianon. State coaches. Bois de Boulogne. Longchamps St. Cloud,]. Lunch. Versailles. Gardens. Grounds. Fountains etc. State rooms. Picture. Furniture. All very beautiful. The day’s drive was really fine. Home 5. 30. Dinner 6. 30. Walk through Tuilleries [Tuileries] Gardens. Sat by Monument. Rue de Rivoli. Tea 9.30. Home 10.p.m
Paris – Rue de Rivoli (c 1900) Source: Les anciennes rues de Paris
Wednesday July 10th
Coach drive as per programme. Louvre pictures and sculpture. Mint workmen leaving. Through Luxury magazine (magasin = department store). Bought buckle. Very large business place. Moving staircase. Coach to Gobelin Tapestry. Church of St. Etienne du Mont. Palace of Justice. Gardens and galleries of Luxembourg pictures and statuary. Panthéon. Resting place of great men of France buried in vaults underneath. Names on tablets inside. Very large building formerly used as a church. Visited morgue. Home 5pm.
Walk round streets. Home dinner 6.30/ Another walk round shops. Lemonade bottle 1 Franc. Weather today and each day very hot. Cloudless sky.
Thursday July 11th
Edouard Manet Le fiacreClaue Monet : La Cathédrale de Rouen, 1901
Breakfast 9.30 Fiacre [a French horse-drawn cab] to Station St. Lazare. Left at 10.00am. Arrived Rouen 12a.m. Saw cathedral. Fruit 1 Franc. Arrived Dieppe 1.00 close to steamer. Left Dieppe 1.45. Found it much colder on the steamer. Slight fog at sea. Horn blows.
c1910 Publisher: Eugene Le Deley. Paris.
Epilogue
GEORGE CORKE BORN 1857 ST. HELENS LANCS, DIED 1913 WIDNES
EDITH ELIZA WILKINSON BORN STOCKPORT 1862, DIED 1935 WIDNES
My interest in early music has not only led me to a great many concerts, but also in recent months it has led me deep into the archives to seek rare early music manuscripts and attempt to perform them.
Brave readers might click through to watch my performance of this one (below).
A few weeks ago I uncovered a most unusual piece, which seems to originate from a lesser known order of monks known as the Litorean Order, in the late 13th or early 14th Century.
The Litorean Order is believed to have been established in the far western coastal fringes of civilisation…”beyond St David’s Cathedral” if that is possible – could they have meant Ireland?
…but I digress. Let us return to the canticle Deus Intellegit.
The canticle appears to be intended for use at Lauds on the third day of Easter. It is attributed to Brianus Filius Willelmi and Antonius Fraxinus, the latter seemingly a visiting monk – there is no record of him being a member of the Litorean order.
It is an astonishing canticle. Musically, it begins in the Lydian mode, but the piece modulates and includes touches that seem centuries ahead of its time.
This canticle is an entirely and utterly charming piece. In the hands of those Litorean monks (or indeed in the hands of modern expert performers) I imagine the canticle to sound heavenly. In my amateur hands it still sounds out of this world, but sadly not in that heavenly sense.
Canticle performed by Ged’s Virtual Throdkin. Soloist: Ged.
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