ST ROBERTS AND THE MONASTERY

 ABOVE THE MONASTERY,ALL FIVE BROTHERS ATTENDED,PATRICK JUST SQUEEZING IN TO MISS PARKS NURSERY CLASS MOVED IN 1953 TO ST ROBERTS LONGSIGHT. THE ALFORD FAMILY SPRING FROM IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND WALES.THE DAVIES AND COURTNEY FAMILIES COMING TO THIS COUNTRY FROM IRELAND IN APPROXIMATELY THE 1850s.THE DAVIES FAMILY SETTLING IN CONGLETON AND WORKING IN THE SILK INDUSTRY,THE COURTNEYS SETTLING ABOUT THE SAME TIME IN GORTON,MANCHESTER AND OPENING A CLOTHES SHOP ON GORTON LANE.ONE OF JOHN COURTNEYS DAUGHTERS MARRIED A SWANSEA BOY RICHARD BEDDOW WHO GAVE BIRTH TO MARY ELLEN BEDDOW WHO MARRIED JAMES DAVIES (DIED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR IN PICARDY).ONE OF THE CHILDREN IRENE VERONICA DAVIES MARRIED FRED ALFORD AT ST FRANCIS IN 1934.THE ONLY MALE LINK I CAN DISCOVER IS HIS GRANDFATHER WILLIAM ALFORD WHO IN THE 1901 CENSUS IS SHOWN AS AN ADVANCE AGENT FOR A TRAVELLING FAIR NOW KNOWN TO BE PAT COLLINS FAIR.HE DIED IN 1904 AT THE MRI.HIS BIRTHPLACE IN THE 1901 CENSUS IS GIVEN AS HAWICK IN THE BORDER REGION OF SCOTLAND.

The imposing St Francis,the smaller buildings are the Monastery.To the side and actually behind the Church was the School.Back in the 1950s when I was there this was a poor area of two up two downs and huge blocks of flats(Brook House Flats)were behind the Church.It appeared like a mirage.Up there now with the Taj Mahal as one of the Worlds beautiful buildings.

Peter,David and Michael with Sheila and Patrick in front.Terry and Peter Connor to Peters right.Veronica Connors first marriage to Albert in between Terry and Peter at the back.Freddie was in Cyprus doing National Service.

Freddie and the Monastery team with the Wainright Shield.

My Dads two Brothers Phil and Matthew Hardy Alford who died aged 7.Phil managed several pubs,The Gorton Brook,The Trafford Park Hotel finishing up at The George and Dragon in Wilmslow.

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My Mother and Father,Fred and Veronica Irene Alford nee Davies married at the Monastery in 1934. Below Jim and Mary Davies nee Beddow.Jim died in 1916 in Picardy, France.