Hi Gill,

I hope you are all well and that your Dad is also.

In early July i could drop in on him with my 2 sons if he was interested

My eldest son Steven is doing his PhD at Nottingham University and I'm taking him and his younger brotherDavid up on a family history trip to Scotland. Although they have been to Scotland before at that point I was not as aware of the history.

We will stay a couple of days in Stirling maybe at the Golden Lion which Grace's husband's family Walter had owned. Walter also served with the South African Police force . Maybe they knew each other

I'd love to shed light though on Hellen or Ellen Penman , my ggran's and your gggran. She came from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, the granddaughter of a customhouse boatman. Her mother Christian or Christina married a millworker. She was obviously quite a character as I've discovered she had relationships with at least 3 men. From a couple of emails I've received our Hellen's mum was a very colourful lady but I'm sure we would have loved to have met her!

Anyway please tell me what your Dad thinks about meeting up. I know for lots of people that's a real hassle but I would love to take you all out to a meal or coffee if that was easier

All of my cousins and brothers in both Australia and New Zealand were fascinated that we had made contact

Kind regards,
Julia