
I thought I would let Lionel and May wish you a Happy Christmas, can you hear Lionel on the violin accompanied by May on the piano coming to you through the years? This photograph must have been taken over 100 years ago, around 1910. The room is the same one as in the photograph here and is at Overton Villas in Dorchester. Christmas Bells is a one of Ezra Read’s ‘Descriptive Fantasias’ which was popular with music teachers at the time.

This picture in the snow was taken further down the road, most likely from outside Overton Villas. The only other photograph taken in the snow as at Blandford which is in this post.
The family lived at 6 Overton Villas in Maumbury Way, the road has been renamed to Monmouth Road and the house renumbered. The terrace with the name Overton Villas on the first house, is still there. The house looks similar to this now, the upstairs windows are different and the crenellations around the bay window are gone.

This photograph shows Rebecca, Lionel and May outside their home. From the age of the children, I would guess this was taken soon after they moved in. In 1908 Lionel would have been 9 years old and May 7 years.
Wishing all my readers a very Happy Christmas
Sylvia
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Well done, a year of fascinating blogs, I have really enjoyed it.
Happy Christmas x
Thank you Alison, it is hard to believe that I have done a year of posts. I have a observation test for you next week! Have a lovely Christmas Sylvia
This is lovely! I’ve managed to locate Ezra Read’s Christmas Bells on Amazon and am hoping it will arrive in time for Christmas so that Becky’s daughter Laura (named after her great grandmother Laura May) can play it on Christmas Day.
Happy Christmas!
Carolx
Carol, Lovely to hear from you, that would be great I do hope you get the music in time for Christmas. I hadn’t realised that Laura was named for our Grandmother, it would be really special for them both to have played the same music. I remember a piano at Wytherston, I think it is mostly likely to have been May’s, which would have meant she kept playing after she married. Happy Christmas Sylvia
Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I have enjoyed your blogs very much and it’s so wonderful to see all the photos of the family. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Heather, thank you for your kind comments. I am so happy that you got in touch with me, I didn’t expect to find new cousins. Happy Christmas Sylvia
Love the photos Sylvia, especially the houses from Monmouth Road , its always a treat reading your blog ! Happy Christmas , from all in the North East. IAN
Thank you Ian, especially for all your help and encouragement I do appreciate it. It is lovely when dependents of policemen get in touch with us though the blog. Happy Christmas Sylvia