Roy Ward

I was born on Summer Lane, Totley in 1927 and moved a few months later to the middle one of three terraced cottages in Chapel Walk (for some obscure reason now called Chapel Lane).

In the Totley Independent of September 2010 Marlene Marshall was enquiring about Effie and Cecil Graham Hill. They lived in a row of terraced houses at the bottom of Mickley Lane, now demolished but almost opposite the Shepley Spitfire. Their house was at the end next to the river. 

Effie (nee Green) was my mother's stepsister (same father, William Green) but different mother. Effie had a brother, my Uncle Harry Green who was the landlord of the Fleur de Lys for many years, and a sister Aurelia (known as Reallie) who married Walter Green. The married couple eventually "heard the call" and sailed for America to join the Mormons in Salt Lake City. My grandmother, Elizabeth Green (Reallie's stepmother) corresponded with Reallie for many years, and I have American family photos and an American newspaper cutting which mentions Totley. 

Mr and Mrs Walter Green Honored On Occasion of Golden Wedding Date

Mr and Mrs Walter Green of Eureka, Utah, were the honored guests at a dinner given on January 1st, by their daughter, Mr. Louise Kurtz, at her home in Mammoth.

The occasion was the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Mr and Mrs Green, and a beautiful Tea Set was presented to them by their three children to commemorate the event.

Natives of Totley, a small town near Sheffield, England, where Mr Green was employed as a mechanic in the ormour plate division of Vickers' Sons and Maxim. The Greens heard the siren call of Utah and the USA and, like all forebearers, they left their homes and native haunts to undertake the great American adventure. This was in March of 1908.

Tempering the pleasure and satisfaction of living in America though, has been the yearning to follow who leave brothers, sisters and parents at the old homestead, and the Greens' cherished dream has been to visit Totley once again, for as Walter and Aurelia say, "where your home has been, part of your heart is also."

Arriving in Nephi in April of 1908, Mr and Mrs Green lived there for four years before coming to Eureka, where they have resided ever since - a matter of 38 years.

Of interest are the facts that Mrs Green's maiden name was Green also, and that two of their three children were born in England.

Present at the Anniversary Dinner were the honored guests, Walter and Aurelia Green, their son Lloyd, their daughter Louise Kurtz, who with her husband Fred, were the hosts, grandson, Freddie G. Kurtz and Mr and Mrs Earl F. Dunn.

Bernard, the Green's eldest son, who resides in Evanston, Wyo. could not be present, but with his wife, held a four-way with Sir Walter and Lady "Ree" just as they were being served dessert.

This paper joins the Greens' many friends in extending congratulations.

Eric Hill R.N. and Alma

Effie and Graham had four sons (my cousins). Eric was the oldest and they all were placed in Cherrytree Orphanage on the early death of their parents. Eric joined the Royal Navy as a boy seaman and frequently visited us at 25 Mickley Lane when on leave. The last time I saw him in uniform he was a Petty Officer. I recall that he married a lady named Alma.

Eric advised his brothers to join the Merchant Navy rather than the Royal Navy and I think they followed his advice. I have a newspaper cutting somewhere (it can be found) reporting on one of the Hill boys being adrift for thirty days in an open boat after his ship was torpedoed during the 1939-1945 war. 

I have never tried to make contact with my American relations. I think one of the Hill boys was named Leslie and may be related to your email correspondent (Graham Leslie Hill). Graham Hill reportedly generated electricity from a turbine in the river next to his house, enough to light a bulb in his cellar. The inventor of stainless steel, Harry Brearley, also lived in the terrace row in Mickley Lane but date unknown. Bill Glossop may know more about this.