A BRANCH OF THE ROBINSON FAMILY.

Family history with photos

By Graham Norris

I have been researching the Robinson family for a number of years and I was recently looking through family photographs and came across this group photograph of some of the Robinson family on a family picnic near Wilmington, Sussex and probably taken in 1951/2, mostly of the Robinson family and close relatives.  I realised that there are only two in the photo who are still alive.

In the back row fifth from the left is Ernest E Robinson, born in 1874 in Newhaven, His father was Joseph Robinson of Lewes who was married to Jane Allwork; he was one of eight brothers. Ernest was married to Margaret Wilson in 1901, they had seven children one of whom died as an infant. The others were five sisters and one brother. 

Four of the sisters are in the middle row they are – Grace (known as ‘Baba,); Ivy (my mother); Evelyn (known as ‘Eve; and Dorothy (known as ‘Dot’); the other sister Millicent (known as ‘Titch’ as she was the youngest), probably took the photograph. Hubert their brother, was in the Royal Navy and at this time was with his family in Hong Kong, where he was stationed.

The men in the picture on the back row are Joseph Mathews husband of Eve: Fred Davies husband of Dot (he can be seen in other photographs – football teams, on the Our Newhaven pages): Ronald (known as Roy) Bishop husband of Millicent: and to the right of Ernest, Ivan Davies my cousin. Ivy’s husband, William (known as Bill) who was still in the Army at this time was probably on duty. The lady on the left of the back row is Fred’s mother.

On the front row are Paul Bishop, Gillian Mathews, Angela Bishop and myself. 

Of those pictured only Ivan and myself survive.

The second photograph are all the sisters; they are from left to right – Millicent, Ivy, Dorothy, Grace and Evelyn; they are sitting in order of their ages the youngest on the left. I believe this photograph may have been taken just before WWII, possibly around the time of Millicent’s wedding.

The third photograph of Ernest, is believed to have been taken before the war and the family is known to have lived at 32 Harpers Road. It is also believed that the house numbers of Harpers Road were rearranged at some time. The roof line of the houses falling away down a hill would seem to suggest that the photo was taken behind what is now number 2 onwards of Harpers Road.

Throughout his working life Ernest was employed as a clerk at the Cross-Channel Ferry Port at Newhaven, by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and then the Southern Railway. Interestingly at age 17 his weekly wage was 13 shillings and 6 pence. (or 65p decimal in today’s currency). He had already retired by 1939, as in the pre-war population survey he is recorded as a Railway Clerk retired.

I hope readers find this item interesting; I know there are other Robinson branches and descendants not only living in the Sussex area but also far and wide!!! I would be pleased to hear from anyone via this website.

Graham Norris