John Screen Snowden (1892-1970) & Alice Thom (1895-1980)
John’s Younger Years
Imagine a picturesque little village nestled in the Scottish countryside, where John’s journey began. Dunsdale Haugh in Selkirk, his birthplace, held a special place in his heart. The charm of this place was unparalleled, with the Toll Bridge steps leading down to the river and an old railway line connecting neighboring towns. It was a place where nature and history danced in harmony.
However, time can be unforgiving, and progress often demands sacrifices. Sadly, the irresistible tide of industrial development swept through Dunsdale Haugh in the 1970s, leaving no trace of the once-beloved building where John took his first breath. But even though the physical remnants were lost, the memories and stories carried on.
In a touching tribute to his mother’s father, John Screen, he and his twin brother, James, were named after their beloved grandfather. They were the eldest among five boys, each born from two different marriages, creating a lively and diverse family. Life wasn’t always easy for them, though. Their father, Robert Snowden, a skilled baker from Selkirk, tragically passed away when the twins were just toddlers, leaving them with little memory of their biological father. But life had a way of unfolding in unexpected ways.
Their mother, the resilient Mary Screen, found solace and love once again. James Brodie Scott, a hardworking diehouse laborer from Ettrick Terrace, became a vital presence in their lives. Just a stone’s throw up the hill from Dunsdale Haugh, you can still catch a glimpse of his house today. A row of sturdy stone houses proudly lines the left side of the A7, beckoning you to step into history.
John Screen Snowden and his twin brother James embarked on their educational journey at Knowepark School, Curror Street, Selkirk, on a crisp January day in 1898. As they entered the school gates, their excitement was palpable. Their entry numbers in the school’s prestigious admission register, 972 and 971, respectively, etched their names into the annals of learning. Their address was noted as 12 Dunsdalehaugh, where they lived with their widowed mother, Mrs. Mary Snowden.
The years flew by, and the twins’ education came to a close on a breezy day in March 1906. The Selkirk Burgh School Board, responsible for their academic fate, had an important decision to make. It was their step-father, James Brodie Scott, who appealed for their exemption from further schooling. The board, initially hesitant due to their tender age, resolved to reconsider their cases in a month. They hoped that suitable employment opportunities awaited the ambitious young boys.
The next chapter unfolded at a subsequent meeting of the School Board, where a Mr. A. Johnstone proposed a motion that would change their lives forever. If John or James secured gainful employment, the board would grant them the exemption they sought. The motion resonated with hope and potential, and it was unanimously agreed upon. The excitement must have been palpable when the clerk, at a later meeting, proudly announced that certificates had been awarded to the twins. They had achieved their goal and were ready to embark on their respective paths.
John Screen Snowden found himself drawn into the captivating world of tailoring. As an apprentice tailor, he began to hone his craft, stitching together dreams and aspirations. His nimble fingers delicately wove fabric into intricate patterns, bringing joy to those who wore his creations. Meanwhile, his brother James discovered his calling in one of the woollen mills that graced Selkirk.
Alice’s Younger Years
Alice’s story unfolds in the picturesque landscapes of Perthshire, where destiny weaves its tapestry with the ebb and flow of rural life. Named after her father’s sister, Alison Miller Thom, Alice’s roots dug deep in the heart of Tarrylaw, a charming farm hamlet nestled within the parish of St Martin’s. Its enchanting aura embraced the village of Balbeggie, beckoning travelers along the winding route from Perth to Coupar Angus. For Alice’s father, an agricultural worker seeking greener pastures, the nomadic rhythm of farm life dictated their journey. They traversed the fertile lands of Perthshire, leaving traces of their presence in the birthplaces of Alice’s siblings—a testament to the Thom family’s peripatetic existence.
In her early days of education, Alice found herself in the humble embrace of Balbeggie School, circa 1900. However, her father’s yearning for change led the family to the Logierait area of Perthshire in November 1901. In the solitude of the Braes o’ Tullymet, perched above Ballinluig, they settled upon Balnafuaran, a remote farm that became their abode. It was within the walls of Logierait Parish School that Alice embarked on a new chapter alongside her sister, Mary Scott Armstrong Thom, affectionately known as Annie, on the 2nd of December 1901. Soon after, on the 10th of February 1902, their brother John joined their scholarly pursuits. Their previous educational milestone, Balbeggie, left an indelible mark in the annals of their upbringing. Little did they know that their time at Logierait Parish School would be marred by an unexpected twist. Mere days after Alice and Annie enrolled, a heavy outbreak of measles cast its dark shadow, forcing the school’s closure until the 9th of January 1902. In this strange parallel, we find that the concept of pandemic-induced lockdowns is not as novel as we might imagine.
In the ever-evolving tapestry of their lives, the Thom family embarked on yet another chapter in February 1904. Their new home, Tomchulen, nestled near Enochdhu within the parish of Straloch, beckoned them forth. On the 9th of February 1904, Annie began her journey at Straloch School, followed swiftly by Alice the next day. As the pages of time turned, George Thom, their brother, would also join their scholarly ranks on the 10th of March 1904. Straloch School records bear witness to their presence, capturing the cadence of their footsteps as they treaded the halls of knowledge. However, as fate would have it, their journey took a divergent path. Annie was granted an exemption on the 14th of March 1906, while Alice and George bid their farewells to Straloch School on the 25th of November 1907, accompanying their father to Bankfoot. Alice’s sojourn at Bankfoot’s school was fleeting, as her father’s work at a farm in Glenalmond, Perthshire, dictated a change of scenery. Her younger siblings sought knowledge at Buchanty School during their stay in Glenalmond.
At the tender age of thirteen, Alice embarked on a new adventure, her father securing her employment as a live-in dairymaid at Denside Dairy in the village of Methven, nestled between the enchanting realms of Crieff and Perth. In the quiet predawn hours, the world still draped in slumber, Alice would rise at 3 am to prepare the milk churns, diligently readying them for the forthcoming milking. Her nights often lingered, as
the demands of her duties intertwined with the passing hours. Yet, fate played its hand, and a single morning’s slumber, deep and uninterrupted, led to a moment of awakening and a swift departure from her dairy domain. The dairyman’s wife discovered Alice, peacefully asleep upon her bed, her weary frame still adorned in the work clothes and boots of the previous day. Thus, the verdict was delivered—she was deemed unsuitable for the task and sent back to the haven of her family’s embrace.
The winds of change once again beckoned Alice, guiding her into the realm of domestic service. A position as a housemaid awaited her in the household of Doctor Haig, a respected general practitioner residing on Galvelmore Street in Crieff, Perthshire. Within the walls of the doctor’s abode, Alice honed her skills, growing more adept with each passing day. Time wove its intricate tapestry, leading her to a new chapter in the form of Doctor Ross, a man of divinity whose grand residence, Ivyknoll, graced the road to the formidable Knock Hill in Crieff. It was within these hallowed halls that Alice’s path converged with that of John Screen Snowden, her future husband. Their destinies intertwined amidst the backdrop of upheaval, as the Great War of 1914-1918 loomed large on the horizon. On the 12th of September 1914, a month after the outbreak of war, their hearts united in matrimony, forever etching their tale in the annals of history.
John & Alice’s Life Together
Their journey as husband and wife unfolded amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Great War, a time when the world was gripped by chaos and uncertainty. It was September 1914, a mere three months after the war’s eruption, when John and Alice stood before one another, exchanging vows that bound them together in a future teeming with both joy and hardship. The world around them trembled with the weight of conflict, and they, too, would be swept into its currents.
John, with a youthful spirit that belied his age, heeded the call of duty and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps, an integral part of the renowned Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. At the tender age of 22, he embarked on a path of service, leaving behind his beloved Alice, who carried the hope of their union within her—a child nestled within the cradle of her womb. As John ventured into distant battlefields, Alice sought solace on her parents’ farm in Madderty, where she gracefully brought their firstborn, James, into the world. James, a testament to their enduring love, would be the light that guided Alice through the darkest hours of separation.
While John toiled amidst the horrors of war, serving as a stretcher bearer in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Italy, his soul bearing witness to the atrocities of conflict, Alice nurtured their growing family from the shelter of their homeland. In 1917, amidst the trials of separation, John’s return on home leave brought the joyous arrival of their second son, George Thom Snowden. But the cruelty of fate cast its shadow once again, snatching George from their embrace just four months before John’s honorable discharge in May 1919. Life, with its ceaseless ebb and flow, pressed onward.
Their footsteps led them to Tomaknock Farm, a tranquil sanctuary nestled between the vibrant towns of Crieff and Perth, where John and Alice cultivated the growth of their family. In the embrace of this idyllic setting, three more sons—Jack, Bill, and Allan—were born, filling their home with the rambunctious symphony of youthful energy. While John plied his trade as a tailor in a Crieff clothing shop, Alice, renowned for her tireless work ethic, upheld her role as a dedicated housekeeper, tirelessly tending to the needs of their growing brood.
In 1928, a new chapter beckoned, and the family settled in Addison Avenue, Crieff, where the laughter of their youngest son, Walter, reverberated within the walls of their abode. Time, ever unyielding, unfurled its wings, and the promise of a burgeoning estate called Leadenflower Place lured them forth. Within its embrace, a new council home brimming with hope awaited them. It was there, in 1932, that Moira, their youngest daughter, graced their lives with her presence. Alice’s commitment to her family extended beyond the confines of their home, as she took on various jobs, including cooking at her sister Daisy’s café, etching her indelible mark on the hearts of those she served.
The dark shadow of war loomed once more, as World War II called their sons to the battlefield. While John worked at the RAF Uniform factory in Cumbria, Alice held the fort at 29 Hill Street, their sanctuary in Crieff, nurturing their children with unwavering love and strength. The anxieties of a mother with two sons in active service abroad and a husband far from home etched worry lines upon her face.
As the tumult of war subsided and their children embarked on paths of their own, a new chapter beckoned. The allure of a quieter existence drew them
southward, across the border into England, with York as their destination. Their daughter Moira had secured a home for them at 26 Hawthorn Grove in Heworth, a place where they could bask in the warmth of family ties, living in proximity to their eldest son Jim.
In 1970, John’s earthly journey reached its conclusion, his spirit finding solace in the embrace of eternity. His ashes found their resting place at Jesus Well in Crieff, forever intertwined with the landscape of their shared memories. Alice carried on, her resolve unyielding, until her own final chapter was written in 1980. In the loving embrace of her daughter Rose’s home in Ripon, Alice Thom Snowden departed this world, her legacy one of strength, hard work, and unwavering dedication to her family. As her earthly vessel transformed into ashes, they found their final resting place beside her beloved husband’s, forever united in the annals of their enduring love.
John & Alice’s Family
James “Jim” Snowden (1915-1985) & Helen McLeish (1920-2016)
James was named “James Brodie Scott” after his father John Screen Snowden’s step-father, the husband of Mary Screen.
Jim was a sickly child and had poor health throughout his life. Some sort of leg issue, we used to say it was gout, that turned septic. Like Moira, he was a bright child and attended Morrisons Academy, though the family could not afford to keep him there beyond 15 years old. Subsequent children, until Moira, did not attend and instead used the local school.
His poor health precluded him from active war service and instead he took a job in the civil service, related to the armed forces. This led to a civil service career that took the family to various locations including the western isles, perhaps Rothesay or Arran, close to Glasgow. It also culminated in a job in York, where the family relocated.
Despite lifelong poor health, Jim had a passion for motorbikes, owning and riding one in his younger years, and visiting Isle of Man every year to watch the TT races. This is no doubt where his son Robbie gets his passion for motorbikes.
When Papa (John) and Granny (Alice) Snowden were relocating south to be near family, they were originally looking to be close to John & Moira, but after visiting West Acres, Granny was worried that it was just too posh and that she would not fit in. They therefore decided to move close to Jim & Helen. In fact, less than 100 yars away, where John & Moira bought a house, 26 Hawthorn Grove, for them to live in, free of rent.
When Papa Snowden died, Granny Snowden stayed in the house for the rest of her life. The garage at the back of the house was used by Jim’s family, and when Granny died, Jim & Helen asked if they could buy the house and live there instead of their own one.
Moira felt it wrong to profit from it and so sold the house to Jim & Helen for the same price they’d paid for it many years before. Jim died within 5 years of his mother, and Helen then sold the house not long afterwards, moved to a council property and distributed the proceed of the house to her children, so they could buy their own houses. I went to Helen’s funeral in 2016 at York cemetery and met many of my Scottish cousins who I’d not seen for 40 years or more, and I’ve subsequently kept in loose touch with several of them. All clouds have a silver lining!
George Snowden (1917-1919)
To be researched.
Rosemary Snowden (1920-2001) & Frederick Keillor (1918-1992)
Middle named “Allison” after Alison Miller Thom, a sister of her maternal grandfather George Thom. Her name was incorrectly spelled with two l’s at the time her birth was registered.
John Snowden (1922-2009) & Doris Whybrow (1918-2010)
In 1939, just prior to the outbreak of World War Two, Doris moved with her father and step-mother, and half-sister Lilian from 10 George Street, East Stonehouse, where she had been born on 4 March 1918, to 16 Union Place, Plymouth. Union Place lay between Manor Street and St Mary Street, and ran parallel to Union Street. The Palace Theatre and the Grand Cinema (formerly the Grand Theatre) were situated close to the family home in Union Place. Number 10 George Street and 16 Union Place received structural damage due to enemy air bombardment in World War 2, and were demolished completely later to make way for the post-war development of the Stonehouse area of the city.
Doris’ first school was East Street School, Stonehouse, and she finished her education at Plymouth Central School at Coburg Street, Plymouth in 1932.
Her first job was at Millbay Laundry issuing customers’ clean linen, but after some time working there Doris left to work at Williams’ restaurant in Union Street, training as a waitress. Following a few years in Williams’ service during the early part of the Second World War, Doris went to work as a conductress on the Plymouth City Transport buses. It was a very frightening period of her life, for she was required to be on duty on her bus during the German air blitz on the city, and having to direct passengers to air-raid shelters when bombs began to fall. She probably saw more enemy action at that time than many men in the armed forces did during the whole of their war service.
In 1941 Doris decided to make a more dedicated contribution to the British war effort and enlisted in the Army (ATS) on 9 July 1941. Following basic training at Hereford, she was selected to become a driver, and completed training in that discipline at Reading. On passing her driving examinations, Doris was posted to a military vehicle depot located at Douglas in Lanarkshire, Scotland at the end of 1941, and it was there that she met her future husband, Jack Snowden, who was also serving there in the Army.
After an engagement period of around 12 months, Doris and Jack were married on 29 January 1943, at his hometown Crieff in Perthshire. They were given permission to live together in civilian billets in Douglas village, until Doris became pregnant and had to leave the Army on 25 August 1943, having served 2 years and 48 days. Her ATS number was W/65507. On discharge she went to live with Jack’s sister Rose at her home at Comrie, Perthshire, six miles West of Crieff, and remained there until after her first child, Douglas Francis, was born on 30 January 1944. Douglas was named after the village where Doris and Jack had met in late 1941. Jack was present in the house at the time of his birth, being on embarkation leave prior to being sent overseas, and didn’t see Doris and the baby for another two years. In the interim Doris and Douglas went to live with Jack’s mother at Crieff, while Jack’s father was away from home serving in the Royal Air Force. Jack was demobilised from the Army in October 1946.
Doris’ first home of her own was at 44 Alligan Road, Crieff; she and Jack moved into their new home in November 1947. While living there, Doris obtained part-time work as a waitress in a restaurant owned by Jack’s Aunt Daisy and her husband George Anderson. She also occasionally worked in the kitchen of another restaurant called Green’s, and planted and picked potatoes at several farms around the town, all that work to help with the needs of her household and family. Their second son, Malcolm John, was born on 8 November 1948.
At that time Jack was employed in a naval establishment 14 miles from Crieff, and in 1955 he was asked to transfer to the Admiralty in Whitehall, London. The family moved from Crieff to Carshalton, Surrey, a district of the London Borough of Sutton in November 1955, and remained there until 1968, when they moved to New Malden in Surrey, a district of Kingston upon Thames.
During their period at Carshalton, Doris again worked part-time at various jobs: packing biscuits for Mitcham Maid: light machine work at Hackbridge Engineering: stamping transistors at Phillips Electrical: shop work at British Home Stores and Gerard’s greengroceries: and checking football pool coupons at Copes Pools, Hackbridge. As always, she was dedicated to improving her family’s lot in life. When Douglas and Malcolm grew older, Jack persuaded Doris to seek something more suitable to her intellectual capabilities, and when they reached New Malden she obtained full-time employment with the Department of Inland Revenue, in the Inspectorate of Foreign Dividends assessing tax re-claims from residents overseas. She joined the Inspectorate in 1968, and stayed with it until she retired in 1978.
William Snowden (1923-1992) & Elizabeth Cowan (1922-)
Named “William Sutherland” after his maternal grandmother’s maiden name, Williamina Sutherland.
Andrew Allan Snowden (1925-2009) & Gladys Millar (1926-) / Janette Vallance (1937-)
Named “Andrew Allan” after Andrew Allan, the husband of his mother’s sister, Mary Scott Armstrong Thom Allan, called Annie within the Thom family when she went to school.
Walter Snowden (1929-2007) & Margaret Donaldson (1930-)
Named “Walter Scott” after his father’s half-brother, Walter Lamb Scott.
Moira Snowden (1931-) & John Spence (1928-)
Moira & John are my parents, and as direct ancestors, they have their own section in our family history.