Sunday 19 December 2010

Russell to steam in 2011

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway intends to steam Russell in 2011. Donations are being sought and every donation of £5 or more will earn an entry into the prize draw for a rare replica Russell nameplate. A donation form is available on the website.Russell website



Sunday 21 February 2010

JCR as Executor

A search of the Great Western Railway Shareholders Register that has been made available on http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ shows that JCR acted as an executor for several relatives who were holders of GWR shares as follows.

The Reverend Robert Cholmeley, JCR's maternal grandfather died 30 August 1880 at Findon, Sussex. JCR was joint executor with Mrs Constance Mary Cholmeley. These shares had been jointly held with Anthony Adey (deceased) .

JCR's brother, Robert Bruce Russell died 18 March 1887 at Queen's Gate London.

George Buchanan McClure the brother in law of JCR's sister Charlotte died 11 July 1888. He had emigrated to Australia and is listed in the Register with addresses in Scotland and New South Wales. The other executor was GBM's twin brother, James Howe McClure (Charlotte's husband).

William Cholmeley MDST FRCP, a maternal relative of JCR's died aged 73 on 18 June 1896 with addresses in Grosvenor Street London and Notting Hill. WC was a well known doctor who rated an obituary in the British Medical Journal 4 July 1896

Saturday 20 February 2010

JCR in 1911

At the time of the 1911 Census, Sunday 2nd April , JCR was at his home Longdene in Haslemere Surrey. An indication of his poor health and general frailty is that he was being looked after by two 'sick nurses', Harriet Annie Spooner and Hilda Scrase. JCR's secretary was Elizabeth Cater and the household was run by seven servants including a cook. Also in the house on that Sunday was Francis Napier Broome, Eleanor Russell's nephew, an Oxford undergraduate, born in Natal and who later became one of South Africa's leading judges.

Eleanor was not at home that weekend as she and her daughter Margaret were staying with Major General (Ret'd) Pelham James Maitland (1847 -1932) then aged 63 and his wife Lucy (43), at their home 'The Gables' in Branksome Park, Bournemouth. See Alwyn Ladell's photograph here. According to Alwyn 'The Stables' used to be number 9 but has been renumbered 19 Forest Road, due to infill developments.

Maitland had been the Political Resident in Aden before retiring from the army in 1904 and had had a distinguished career in the Indian Army including service in Afghanistan. He died in 1932. See Kings College London for more on his life. Another example of Russell's good connections.

Friday 1 January 2010

NWNGR Company - Extension Bill 1885


The NWNG Company desperately wanted to extend its line from Dinas into Caernarvon to avoid the problems of transhipment and to give it access to the harbour. The Company promoted a Parliamentary Bill to this effect in 1885. A contemporary newspaper carries an account of the proceedings of the House of Commons Select Committee on the subject and includes the evidence of among others of James Cholmeley Russell. It was opposed by the LNWR.
Thanks to David Allan for tracking down the cutting.