Extract from 'Childhood Memories' + by Ernest Dunford

Uncle Jim and Auntie Polly seemed to be everyone’s favourite and each of us spent many a summer holiday with them. They were living then in a little village near Devizes. Just a long straggling street which always seemed to be full of cows and cowdung. (They) lived more or less next door to my Grandmother. That was WORTON and apart from speeding up a bit it’s hardly changed from those far off days. When we got fed up with poking sticks at Uncle Jim’s pigs we could always slip just across the road to see Grandmother or Auntie Rose. That was heaven for us kids. Gardens full of fruit, green fields, a stream to paddle in. We loved that place, but while on holiday we had to attend the village school regularly.

I was packed off there during early winter once. Expect another addition was on the way. Nance I expect. After a week or so I was due back, so someone put me on the bus at Devizes – one of the old Bristol buses and believe me those old 1920’s buses weren’t quite so comfortable as they are today.

Polly's first husband, James Beard, died aged just 32 after falling from a tree.

Her second husband, James Holloway, joined Wiltshire Regiment in 1879 and served for 21 years before joining 2nd Batallion Royal Reserve Regiment. James only had one leg (presumably he lost a leg whilst serving in the military?).

Polly became ill whilst living in Bristol and was looked after by her daughter, Beat, her mother and her sister, Edith Rose. She died in Edith Rose's house aged 65.

Dunford 'mourning tableaux' group portrait commemorating death of young Nellie.

Back row: Sarah Annie, Thomas George, Mary Elizabeth (Polly)
Middle row: Florence Ellen, Ann Dunford (nee Marks), Henry Dunford, Edith Rose
Front row: Evelyn (Evaline) Nellie (“Little Nellie”) (deceased)

Probably the wedding of Margaret Marks and Percy Bolter, 1912.