Helen
@helen60.bsky.social
I lived in Manchester for many years and am now back in my home county of Shropshire. Interests include history/genealogy. Family links to Shropshire, Cheshire, Flintshire, the Wirral, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Devon.
Reposted by Helen
Remembrance Day, a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So take a moment to pause, reflect and honour those who served and continue to serve our country.
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
November 11, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Remembrance Day, a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So take a moment to pause, reflect and honour those who served and continue to serve our country.
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
When I was about 18 I remember asking my grandad about his family. He said he had an aunt who married a window, which he found absolutely hilarious! Anyway, today is the anniversary of her death in 1920. Ellen Edwards who married Daniel Windo (not Window, grandad!) in 1890. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
When I was about 18 I remember asking my grandad about his family. He said he had an aunt who married a window, which he found absolutely hilarious! Anyway, today is the anniversary of her death in 1920. Ellen Edwards who married Daniel Windo (not Window, grandad!) in 1890. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
St Hilary, Wallasey - another of my ancestral churches! My great-grandad's younger half-brothers and sisters were christened here and 2 are buried in the churchyard.
@marcpetty.bsky.social this one is slightly out of your area!
#genealogy #FamilyHistory
@marcpetty.bsky.social this one is slightly out of your area!
#genealogy #FamilyHistory
Dramatic skies over the old tower of St Hilary, Wallasey, after a dull, wet afternoon. #Wirral #Photography
November 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
St Hilary, Wallasey - another of my ancestral churches! My great-grandad's younger half-brothers and sisters were christened here and 2 are buried in the churchyard.
@marcpetty.bsky.social this one is slightly out of your area!
#genealogy #FamilyHistory
@marcpetty.bsky.social this one is slightly out of your area!
#genealogy #FamilyHistory
Reposted by Helen
A totally unexpected celestial treat on my way home just now!
#MilkyWay #LongMynd #ChurchStretton #Shropshire
#MilkyWay #LongMynd #ChurchStretton #Shropshire
November 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A totally unexpected celestial treat on my way home just now!
#MilkyWay #LongMynd #ChurchStretton #Shropshire
#MilkyWay #LongMynd #ChurchStretton #Shropshire
Reposted by Helen
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, completed in 1805, is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. It is Grade 1 listed and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I can confirm walking across it is scary!
Current View :) It is nice to be back in my spiritual home!
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, completed in 1805, is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. It is Grade 1 listed and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I can confirm walking across it is scary!
A mythical creature has watched over my home town centre for centuries, long may it continue!
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Helen
1/2 Is it just me, or can anyone else imagine four Hobbits hiding from a Black Rider along this path on Wenlock Edge? Or Gandalf striding out beneath that ancient yew tree? There were plenty of opportunities to let my imagination wander on a day spent... #Shropshire
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM
1/2 Is it just me, or can anyone else imagine four Hobbits hiding from a Black Rider along this path on Wenlock Edge? Or Gandalf striding out beneath that ancient yew tree? There were plenty of opportunities to let my imagination wander on a day spent... #Shropshire
Reposted by Helen
Common Heather was still flowering abundantly last Thursday lunchtime on the Cliffe (rhymes with 'life'), an area of lowland heath in the Nesscliffe Hills.
#WildflowerHour #Shropshire 💜
#WildflowerHour #Shropshire 💜
November 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Common Heather was still flowering abundantly last Thursday lunchtime on the Cliffe (rhymes with 'life'), an area of lowland heath in the Nesscliffe Hills.
#WildflowerHour #Shropshire 💜
#WildflowerHour #Shropshire 💜
The war affected grandad deeply. If my grandmother ever spoke of it (she loved telling us stories), he would get up and walk out of the room. She once said it was because he had to dig the bodies of his friends out of the rubble when an airfield was bombed.
#genealogy
#genealogy
Remembering all who served.
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The war affected grandad deeply. If my grandmother ever spoke of it (she loved telling us stories), he would get up and walk out of the room. She once said it was because he had to dig the bodies of his friends out of the rubble when an airfield was bombed.
#genealogy
#genealogy
Basil told his daughter he used to gather up rifles dropped by those suffering from shell shock and who'd run away, and hand them back to try to save them from being court-martialled. That's the only thing he ever said about his service in WW1. It must have been horrendous.
#genealogy
#genealogy
Remembering all who served.
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Basil told his daughter he used to gather up rifles dropped by those suffering from shell shock and who'd run away, and hand them back to try to save them from being court-martialled. That's the only thing he ever said about his service in WW1. It must have been horrendous.
#genealogy
#genealogy
Reposted by Helen
Reposted every year in response to all those who fetishize remembrance
November 9, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted every year in response to all those who fetishize remembrance
Reposted by Helen
Remembering all who served.
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Remembering all who served.
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Remembering all who served.
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Remembering all who served.
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Basil Hopkins, 12th London Regiment, my husband's grandad. Wounded twice, he was discharged from service in 1917. His rescue was recorded in the regimental war diary (extract below).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Remembering all who served.
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Remembering all who served.
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
My grandad Frederick William Johnson, worked in an munitions factory and was called up aged 36 in 1942, an armourer with 129 Squadron (standing far right and standing third from right).
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Remembering all who served.
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
November 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Remembering all who served.
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Thomas Williams Leaver, 4th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. Died 18 August 1916 aged 20. My 1st cousin 2x removed.
#RemembranceDay
#RemembranceSunday
#genealogy
Reposted by Helen
Remembrance Day, a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So take a moment to pause, reflect and honour those who served and continue to serve our country.
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Remembrance Day, a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So take a moment to pause, reflect and honour those who served and continue to serve our country.
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
We will remember them. Lest we forget #LestWeForget #PoppyDay #RemembranceDay #RemembranceDay2025
Reposted by Helen
Buried among the kings: Ahead of this weekend's #RemembranceSunday commemorations, read the remarkable story of the Unknown Warrior and how his body was brought from the battlefields of northern France to be buried in the Abbey
www.westminster-abbey.org/history/expl...
#Remembrance #LestWeForget
www.westminster-abbey.org/history/expl...
#Remembrance #LestWeForget
Buried among the kings | Westminster Abbey
Honouring the Unknown Warrior, a centenary after his burial in Westminster Abbey.
www.westminster-abbey.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Buried among the kings: Ahead of this weekend's #RemembranceSunday commemorations, read the remarkable story of the Unknown Warrior and how his body was brought from the battlefields of northern France to be buried in the Abbey
www.westminster-abbey.org/history/expl...
#Remembrance #LestWeForget
www.westminster-abbey.org/history/expl...
#Remembrance #LestWeForget
The grave of Harold Edward Whitfield VC in Oswestry Cemetery. He was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Tell 'Asur. He died in 1956 aged 70 when, cycling home from work, his bicycle was hit from behind by an army Jeep. #Shropshire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_...
November 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The grave of Harold Edward Whitfield VC in Oswestry Cemetery. He was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Tell 'Asur. He died in 1956 aged 70 when, cycling home from work, his bicycle was hit from behind by an army Jeep. #Shropshire
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_...
Reposted by Helen
The remains of the mighty basilica wall at Roman Wroxeter (Viriconium) in Shropshire. Established by the end of the 1st century AD, Viriconium was one of the largest cities in Roman Britain. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Wroxeter #Shropshire
November 8, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The remains of the mighty basilica wall at Roman Wroxeter (Viriconium) in Shropshire. Established by the end of the 1st century AD, Viriconium was one of the largest cities in Roman Britain. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Wroxeter #Shropshire
Reposted by Helen
During the summer of 2025 I visited the WW1 battlefields and I made a promise. At every cemetery I visited, I would choose one individual, not known to me, and tell their story. This is the first of those stories.
#WW1 #RemembranceSunday #Military #Genealogy
chiddicksfamilytree.com/2025/11/08/t...
#WW1 #RemembranceSunday #Military #Genealogy
chiddicksfamilytree.com/2025/11/08/t...
The Story of Second Lieutenant Clement John Byron, Honourable Artillery Company
One of the unknown soldiers I promised to honour……. During the summer of 2025, I had the privilege of visiting the battlefields of the Western Front to honour and remember three members…
chiddicksfamilytree.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:46 AM
During the summer of 2025 I visited the WW1 battlefields and I made a promise. At every cemetery I visited, I would choose one individual, not known to me, and tell their story. This is the first of those stories.
#WW1 #RemembranceSunday #Military #Genealogy
chiddicksfamilytree.com/2025/11/08/t...
#WW1 #RemembranceSunday #Military #Genealogy
chiddicksfamilytree.com/2025/11/08/t...
Reposted by Helen
How satisfying are the autumn curves of Oswestry?
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 PM
How satisfying are the autumn curves of Oswestry?
Reposted by Helen
🌊 Restoring Birch Road Pond!
Huge thanks to our amazing Ellesmere volunteers 💚 Together we cleared willow, opened up the pond & created space for wildlife to thrive again — a true team effort for nature!
#ShropshireWildlifeTrust #EllesmereVolunteers #PondRestoration #TeamWilder
Huge thanks to our amazing Ellesmere volunteers 💚 Together we cleared willow, opened up the pond & created space for wildlife to thrive again — a true team effort for nature!
#ShropshireWildlifeTrust #EllesmereVolunteers #PondRestoration #TeamWilder
November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
🌊 Restoring Birch Road Pond!
Huge thanks to our amazing Ellesmere volunteers 💚 Together we cleared willow, opened up the pond & created space for wildlife to thrive again — a true team effort for nature!
#ShropshireWildlifeTrust #EllesmereVolunteers #PondRestoration #TeamWilder
Huge thanks to our amazing Ellesmere volunteers 💚 Together we cleared willow, opened up the pond & created space for wildlife to thrive again — a true team effort for nature!
#ShropshireWildlifeTrust #EllesmereVolunteers #PondRestoration #TeamWilder
Reposted by Helen
#311, The Mere, Ellesmere, Shropshire
Another one from yesterday. The sun didn't have a lot of room to do its shining thing so it just put out a small but powerful beam.
#photography #ellesmere #shropshire #autumn
Another one from yesterday. The sun didn't have a lot of room to do its shining thing so it just put out a small but powerful beam.
#photography #ellesmere #shropshire #autumn
November 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
#311, The Mere, Ellesmere, Shropshire
Another one from yesterday. The sun didn't have a lot of room to do its shining thing so it just put out a small but powerful beam.
#photography #ellesmere #shropshire #autumn
Another one from yesterday. The sun didn't have a lot of room to do its shining thing so it just put out a small but powerful beam.
#photography #ellesmere #shropshire #autumn
Reposted by Helen
November Evening in a Welsh Wood, painting by James Thomas Watts (1850-1930).
November 7, 2025 at 12:53 PM
November Evening in a Welsh Wood, painting by James Thomas Watts (1850-1930).