Who Do You Think You Are

[DJHawkes]

I've been looking at Una Stunns tree to see what they may pick up on, you never know what they stop at and find worth researching. He dad's side was from York craft, her dad's mum was adopted aged 6 or there abouts. that's quite interesting as usually it's a step-adoption but this isn's as clear cut. her father's parents were Arthur Stubbs and Annie Robinson b 1885 york though she was adopted and named Annie Horsfall by her adopted family. Her mother was Eliza Robinson b 1863 york.

[DJHawkes]

Minnie Driver's dad is possibly mentioned in thsi book, does anyone have a copy?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guns-in-the-Sky-The-Air-Gunners-of-World-War-Two-Chaz-Bowyer/200945520588?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D26170403804148573%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D200898557304%26

[DJHawkes]

just found the wedding photo for minnie drivers father and first wife, he's in his RAF uniform and so i guess the RAF record i found was correct
http://www.npgprints.com/image/675641/bassano-charles-ronald-driver-anne-frances-driver-nee-wilshaw

[DJHawkes]

before minnie drivers mum was a superstar model and socialite she was a nurse it seems, found her on the 1964 electoral roll living in nurses home in westminster. That explains how she was so good with the diet advice to the stars.

[DJHawkes]

...now i know why i couldn;t find minnie drivers mum, her parents and 2 older sister sailed to China in October 1936, I know it's the right family cos her older sister Andra was living with Gaynor on the 1958 electoral roll in marylebone. I reckon Gaynor Millington, Minnie's mother, was born out in China. Originally from Leigh-on-Sea, which is where my ex hubby lived from being 1 year old.

[DJHawkes]

Minnie's maternal grandfather was born in Hanley Staffs in 1888 but in 1911 he was a student teacher in York, St John's college Lord Mayors Walk, wonder if he went to teach in china? Makes sense I guess. Quite enjoying this, it's passed the time.

[andy-hughes]

Interesting - I am sitting in Hanley as i type this.

[DJHawkes]

lol Andy, bet it's hot there.
Francis taught at the Ellis Kadoorie public school in Shang'hai according to his military pension record
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Kadoorie

[andy-hughes]

It was at the time I typed that - it's not now!!

[DJHawkes]

I've spent a little bit of time working out the life of Minnie Drivers maternal grandfather Francis C Millington. He had an absolutely fascinating life and I hope they do look at him closely as he seems to have trvelled extensively . He was born in Hanley stoke on Trent but he must have been quite clever as he went to college in York and trained to be a teacher. He seems to have gone to teach in china but then World War One came and he made Lieutenant, he returned to teaching in China though and married over there I think, having 2 daughters. Some time between 1926 and 1932 he also seems to have changed his career to go into advertising, which is what started his travelling , he spent alot of time in North america. The bit I can't be exact on, and I hope the show clears up, is did he divorce his first wife and re-marry Constance, Minnie Drivers grandmother, or did they never marry? His second family, 3 girls, were I beleive born in the far east, including Minnie's mother Gaynor Millington. He carried on his travelling as an advertising agent and then publisher right into the 1960s. The family seems to have travelled with his quite a bit, very hectic life and quite out of the ordinary. Loking forward to this one when it airs.

[Connemmara]

Sorry, never was interested in History in school and do believe the past belongs to the past - knowing historical information won't enhance my future. xx