Filling in the family tree...

My great grandmother was Eleanor Halhead, born perhaps in 1845 at Levens. Her parents may have been John Halhead and Betsy. My great grandfather was David Thoms, born Perth, Scotland, perhaps in 1842. A copy of the 1881 British census gives David's age as 38, Eleanor's as 36.

Their children as listed were William (my grandfather, born Manchester); Mary E; Jane; Henry; Robina and Annie. Apart from my grandfather, all children were born in Kendal. The family resided at 6 Ann Street.

The only information I have of my great grand-father, David Thoms, was that around 1860 he and his brother James left Alyth near Perth and travelled south into England. David stayed in Kendal, where he was in business as a stonemason.

I believe he built Kendal Town Hall. I do not know the names of his parents.

My grandfather William emigrated to New Zealand in 1905 with my grandmother Isabella Anne Walton (born in Appleby in 1877), his brother Henry and sister Annie.

I believe Robina went to America where she married. I didn't know of the existence of Mary or Jane until I saw the census record.

I have been unable to locate a birth for David Thoms, nor a marriage between him and Eleanor. I know some records were lost through fire etc.

If any Halhead descendants in particular can provide any information at all, it would be very much appreciated.

Doreen Easte (nee Thoms)

Wellington, New Zealand Editor's footnote: Anyone who has any information can contact Doreen Easte by writing to her via Letters & Opinions, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright's Yard, Kendal, Westmorland, LA9 4DP n SIR, I am trying to track down my family history on my father's side. My father talked very little about his relatives, so I know next to nothing, except for the cold facts that I am digging out now.

I am seeking any information on my father's uncle, Herbert Vincent Mills, who was born in Haslingden, Acrington, on September 19, 1857. He married Emma Jane Poole in September 1880 in Salford, Greater Manchester. He had a daughter, Katherine Ethel Mills, who was born in Colne in 1885.

I am given to understand that he became the Rev Herbert V. Mills, who was appointed as Minister of the Unitarian Church, Kendal, on July 1, 1887. When they lived in Kendal their address was 22 Greenside.

Herbert V. Mills had an illustrated book published on April 10, 1892, by Elliot Stock, of London, entitled Lake Country Romances. It is an historical tale of the wooing of Katherine Parr, of Kendal Castle, by King Henry VIII, and subsequent tales. I am lucky enough to own a copy, as they are very scarce. If anyone has further information I would be grateful if they would contact me at 1 Hampden Court, Worle, Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset BS22 6DS.

Frank C. Mills Weston-Super-Mare n SIR, I am trying to trace my great grandfather's relatives who I believe lived in the Levens area. His name was William Penney and he lived with his wife Mary Ann at Green Gate Cottage. Mary Ann - I think her maiden name was Wooton - came from Rugely in Staffordshire. The couple had a daughter named Sarah Louise.

I have also been told that William had a brother named Joseph and that they both worked on the Levens Hall estate, around 1880.

William Penney moved to Formby in Lancashire between 1881 and 1891 according to the census and later worked on the Formby Hall estate.

As well as daughter Sarah Louise he had two other daughters - Catherine Isabelle (my grandmother) and Alice May Hollins who married one of my grandfather's brothers, from Yorkshire.

Will Fielding, 15 Cheapside Formby, Merseyside, L37 4EZ n SIR, I am writing regarding three articles with photographs which were about my father's school and his parents. In the school photo (Letters, July 23, School chums gather at Grayrigg') my father Thomas Chapman Atkinson is in the top right of the photograph and his younger sister is fourth from the left on the middle row her name was Mary Chapman Wright (nee Atkinson).

The other photograph (Letters, July 30, School of thought') is of my grandparents John Chapman and Eleanor Atkinson. The other article (Letters, August 6) was about my father's older sister her name is Isobel Chapman Wilson (nee Atkinson).

My father Thomas Chapman Atkinson was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Birkett and they lived on High Tenterfell. My father died on June 16, 1965, and my mother died on May 13, 2000.

I live in South Australia and have done so for the past 43 years. I am the only granddaughter to John Chapman and Eleanor Atkinson, as the remaining grandchildren were all boys.

I am a collector of family history, which includes articles and photographs. I would like to ask if Colin Wright and Kath Hayhurst could please send me a copy of the photographs that they used in their articles.

Claire Chapman Reed (nee Atkinson)

7 Charles Street, Saddleworth South Australia 5413 Tel: 08-88474493 Old programme SIR, While sorting out some personal papers I found a programme for a Carnival Week' which was held by Kendal Round Table in aid of the Lake District Cheshire Home in 1962 . The price of the programme was one shilling. If you attended the event in the town hall, your programme could be signed by William Roache, alias Ken Barlow of Coronation Street, in return for a donation. The programme reveals how much they wanted to raise. The target was £929 15s 0p.

Doreen Iley Kendal