Find Ancestors

Hello everyone.

I have received details today of my dads admission record from Shaftsbury Homes. I think it makes sad reading.

Name Sloper Richard Charles
D.O.B ...15.08.1942

Birth place...... Kenton
If and where baptized...... Grooms orphanage Clacton on Sea

Name of School .... Baidge School Wealdstone

Living with..... Mother formerly Mrs. Sloper now known as Mrs. Shipton.

Address .......40 Hindes Road Harrow Middlesex

Christian Names of parents/step.... Eric Douglas Shipton- Dorothea Maud Sloper

Step fathers occupation....Shop Manager

Mothers occupation.. Clerical work part time

Notes… Mother and Mr. Shipton living in one room which is having a bad effect on boy. The man has no affection for the boy. Mr. Sloper left wife when boy was about two and nothing has been heard of him since.

Date of Admission to Bisley School 26.09.1951


It seems my dad blocked out so many memories of his childhood and to be quite honest I can understand why. He can only remember spending the odd weekend with his mother and Eric Shipton. It also looks like he spent some time in an orphanage. This might be the school where he can remember having his arm tied behind his back because he was left handed. I have also found out that Dorothea and Eric Shipton both worked for the same company that being Heinz.

So that is my update for today. I am hoping that tomorrow some more certificates will turn up that I have ordered.

Dionnex

Hi Dionne,

I have been watching this thread from the begining and i must say the last message has brought tears to my eyes.

Best of luck
Val

hi dionne

i have also been reading this thread on a daily basis.
what your poor father had to go through a as child.!!!!
i hope he found lots of happiness later in life.

good luck

theresa

I too have been reading this thread since the beginning, and the last little bit was heart renching,
hugs love and prayers to you and your father.

Kindest regards

Frances

I am so sorry that your dad had such a bad start in life but he must now be a proud and happy man with his own family - you're trying so hard for him.
...............................................................................


this would appear to be Shipton's info:

Births3rd qtr 1911
SHIPTON Eric D mmn Daker W. Ham 4a 456

death
Eric D Shipton age 53
Maidstone
4th qtr 1964
vol 58 page 734 or 5B 734

Brenda

Oh gosh Dionne, I have tears in my eyes reading your latest infomation.
How amazing your dear Dad came through all that to have his own family who I am sure he is very close too..
Bless him..
Regards, Jennifer

Hey Dionne i have pm'd you...

n

Dionne

I too have been reading this thread since the beginning. Your last thread was heart renching,
hugs love and prayers to you, your father and your families.

At least you are filling in the jigsaw even if the information you have received is perhaps not quite what you were looking for.

Give your dad a big hug and tell him you love him

Nicki
xx

I completely agree with Nicola.... and if Nicola doesn't mind me stealing her words....

Can you extend that hug from all of us and tell him we all love him !!

( I think i know your dad better than i know my own!)

Wow, I have been following this thread from the start too and am amazed at the extent of research.
Well done everyone !

All best wishes to you and your father and family x

Joan

Hello everyone.

Thankyou so so much for all of your kind words. You neally had me in tears,lol.

I spoke to my mum this morning and read her the information. It didnt surprise her but like me she was a little shocked about the orphanage. She hasnt told my dad what I have found and is leaveing it to me. I am seeing him tomorrow but I honestly think he will be fine.A little sad but fine.

I spoke with him a few weeks ago and explained that I may find things about his past that he doesnt like but he has insited that I continue.I think he just needs to know and I can understand why. I also understand why his family of three children,grand children and wife have always been so important to him.

All he is asking for now is what happend to his grandfather and who his grandmother is.I have explained that he might never know and it isnt for the lack of trying. He knows that many members here have put so many hours of their time and efforts into helping in his search and he is so greatful to all of you.

I have sent two letters off today to the Livermore family so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I just might get a response.

Many thanks everyone
Dionne
xx

Bookmarking this till later as I'm only on page 8....

This thread is a breathe of fresh air!
It's lovely when members keep to the same thread so we can follow it...
Many thanks Dionne and everyone else thats helping her.

Gerri x
(I must NOT look at the latest post untill I have caught up!) lol


UPDATED
I cheated! I read last two pages! but I want to read the pages i skipped so will have to come back after work LOL

Hello Dionne, I have sent you a quick PM.

If I remember right, no one ever found a marriage of Dorothea to Eric Shipton. .

Does this mean she was divored from Mr Sloper? Is there anyway divorce records can be obtained?(hoping someone know the answer to this). Just trying to think of more pieces for the puzzle.

Thinking of you,

Selena

Hi Selena

No Dorothea never married Shipton.She just took his name. On her death certificate Formally known as Sloper and Livermore.
She also insisted that Shipton went to prison and she never married him.Perhaps for once she was telling the truth.
Dionne

Dionne

Have just read the beginning of your story again. I think it is worth writing the to the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow to see if you can have access to your grandfather's Army file.

You have his name - do you have his dob? You would not need to know what arm, service or corps he was in nor his military number, they are more interested in full name and dob. If you have his full name and date of birth then they would be able to locate his file from the archives at Hayes if indeed he was military. I have been successful with four files that belonged to relatives that were in the military in the 1930s.

It might just give you a bit more info.

Just a thought.

Nicki

xx

I am thinking, she definately married Arthur Knight so would she have had to show divorce papers (from Sloper) when she married?

Does it say on her marriage cert to Arthur if she is spinster, widow, or divorced?

Selena

Isn't there a prison at Maidstone?

Sorry. Very, very naughty of me.

Selena

Hi Selena.

Her marriage to Arther in 1971 shows her as a widow. Herbert Sloper died in 1967

Hi Nicki

Ann manged to get Edwins Army records from Kew.She is going ack on Saturday to speak with an expert as his records are quite complicated.Thankyou anyway.

Dionne
x

Dionne

Sorry, got confused, I knew Ann had found Edwin's military record, I thought Herbert Sloper was the father, sorry.

Take care

Nicki
x