Whitwick Connections.

Posted by Don Gallacher of Cheshire

My interest in Whitwick relates to the fact that my father Don Gallacher, stayed in lodgings there whilst working in the coal mine nearby in or around 1947-48. His family (including me) lived in Tottenham, London, he stayed in lodgings with a family whose name I believe was Garrett (might be incorrect spelling). I remember him talking about Mr & Mrs Garrett as though they were his parents and they had one son much younger than him, who I believe also worked down the pit. If alive today, I guess he would be in his 70's. Again this is from my childhood recollection and although my dad took my brother and I to visit the family in the 50's and can remember meeting them, being shown some of the mining kit, knee pads, helmet etc; that is all that I have.

My father died several years ago and I have been working on his biography which says little or nothing about Whitwick, even though he talked of it often, took us kids there in the 50's and when he remarried, they stayed at Mount St Bernards Abbey for a few days. Whilst working in the mines he played for Leicester City FC, I believe it may have been in the reserves as the club archive starts in 1949 and can't find much before that.

So, good people of Whitwick, in particular descendants of the Garrett family, I would very much appreciate any information that might throw some light on the short but happy period of time that my dad lived in Whitwick and played for Leicester City. His name is Donald Gallacher, always known as Don, when he boxed he was known as Patsy Gallacher. He was a character and may be memorable enogh to have left his mark. He worked as a groundmsan on sports grounds for most of his life and from 1977-1987 he was the head groundsman at Wembley Stadium.

This is a photo of him around about 1949....who knows, he may be in a picture on someones wall, if he is, I would very much like to see it or hear from anyone with any clues.

Posted by Adrian Prince of Queensland, Australia

My wife's 3rd great grandparents, Gabriel Evans and Mary (nee Hughes) moved from Cerrig Y Drudion to Whitwick in the 1820s. According to family tradition, their children (shown in the 1851 census as born in Whitwick) were born "at Standeroll". Is there anyone who could assist in identifying where or what "Standeroll" is or was? It may have been a farm or hamlet.