A PHOTO taken in Westbury on Trym in 1970 inspired family members to travel across the world to stage a re-enactment.
A group of cousins posed for a jolly picture on the wall of 1 Tower Villas along College Road 55 years ago. Last month they returned to recreate the shot.
Linda Sutcliffe, who arranged the re-enactment, described how it came about. She said:”My grandparents, Arthur and Nora Fisher, lived at 1 Tower Villas and my dad and his two sisters were brought up there. In fact, Nora was actually born in the house, around 1904, and lived there all her life. They later sold the land around the house, on which the retirement flats of Westminstere Court have now been built.”
The location of Tower Villas was originally part of Westbury College, constructed in the 13th century as a college for priests, and of which the 15th century gatehouse remains, maintained by the National Trust.
Linda explained that her cousin was visiting from Australia, which inspired her to get the group together and recreate their pose from childhood. Another sister also flew in from Switzerland for the occasion, which was the first time in 40 years that the cousins had been together. Sadly, the group of nine is now only one of eight, as one of the cousins died at the age of 17. Linda herself now lives in Salisbury, but others came from Wales, Southampton and Farnham, as well as a couple who are still living in and around Bristol.
Linda said:”It was such a lovely thing to do and for us all to be together again. We all went for drinks and a meal after and there was so much laughter and memories.”
The gathering brought back fond recollections of her family’s history in the area; her grandfather had owned a saddlery and shoe repair business opposite the White Lion pub, while her great-grandfather had been a blacksmith, with his workshop through the archway which now leads down to the Il Sapore Italian restaurant.
As a final note, Linda added: “My father, John, has passed away, but if anyone remembers his sisters, Judy and Anita, they are still alive in their 90s and continue to live in the Bristol area.”