A Christmas card in which are stuck two historic pictures was sent out by John Stuart Boddington, signing it Stuart, Peg, David & Lindy. On the back is a message indicating that the pictures are of the Shaws and the Boddingtons. The card is dated 1953.

The Boddingtons

Subsequently someone has written on the card back:

'Centre back - Arnold'
'[Centre] seated - Winifred [Boddington nee Shaw], on her L[eft] Len [Leonard Boddington]'

Analysis of the Boddington picture and relative ages of the individuals makes it hard to accept the description. If the two principals are Arnold and Winifred then who are all the girls? There are seven other youngsters in the picture, at least four are girls, two are boys and one is an infant. If the male principal is Arnold and one of the boys is supposed to be Leonard - well suppose that the infant is Ida, born 1902 and perhaps a year old in the picture then Len would be 23. The boy is not that old.

I now believe that these are the nine children of Samuel Boddington JP, five girls, four boys. The young man centre back would be Arnold. The young lady seated at front middle is not Winifred Shaw, but Nellie Elizabeth holding the infant Guy Livingstone. This would date the picture about 1892-3. The ages of the others then relate reasonably well. Arnold would have been 18 or 19. The 7 or 8 year old girl on the right would be Gladys Mary. See the further history page on Samuel Boddington JP.

 

The Shaw Family

The Shaws

The Shaw family picture is older. It is probable that the gentleman is Fredrick Shaw JP and he is shown with his wife and six children. I have no idea which one may be Winifred. The lad may well be Fredrick Arthur who went on to marry Clara Boddington, Samuel's 4th child.

Tim Boddington