After he was married, William (Harold) started a small bakery business baking and selling confectionaries from a shop on Cannon Street.This shop was a grocery-bakery shop with the family living quarters in the back of the shop.During this time some members of his family were preparing to emigrate to Canada and Australia, they sold their homes and belongings for the trip and while they were waiting for visas to be approved they lived with Doris and William (Harold).While living there the relatives freely ate out of the shop, and ate quite heartily; eating almost all the shop’s profits.Later William (Harold) opened a bakery on Claughten Street.This shop had a big front window to display all the cakes, confections and pies he made.It was from this shop that William (Harold) made his name as “Pie King of Daubhill” this being the area surrounding Claughten Street.William (Harold) had no car, so with a huge basket on his arm, he would walk to all the local pubs and hostelries (inns) in the area.This involved several trips; he kept the pies hot by having a jug of hot gravy to “top” them up with.Later the family, which consisted of William (Harold), his wife Doris; son Eric, who was born on July 13, 1921, and son George, born on December 8, 1926, moved into a nicer three bedroom house, they lived here for only a short while.
All of us have a unique story to tell, that story is created as we live our life.These stories often speak of happiness, wonder, excitement, dreams, possibilities, challenges, changes, love, disappointments, sadness, resolve, joy, and endurance; single elements combining to form a meaningful life, a thoughtful story.Over time as I have listened to my mother tell stories of her family I have realized that these, my ancestors have a story worth writing, a story worth sharing.So, may the lives of our predecessors inspire us in our lives, to construct a story worth telling.
Here I need to give credit to my dear mother, Grace Alma O’Dair, for inspiring me to begin this project of putting together the remarkable stories of her parents.She has patiently spent hours helping me gather and record this information. Also, I thank my cousins in England, Steve and Martyn Taylor, for sharing their memories and pictures as well.
