Barrie and Shirley helped found the Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group in 2008, which is based on the East Suffolk Coast. The aim is to promote the study and research of family history, be it in Suffolk or elsewhere.  He was also their Chairman for many years, and Shirley the Treasurer. The group is still going strong. 

What follows is a summary of his research into the Skelcher and Naylon families.

SKELCHER FAMILY:  

Barrie was the only child of Frank William 9/6/1905-20/04/1984 and Florence Ivy (known as Ivy, nee Naylon - see Naylon page).

Frank was born in Birmingham, an only son but with two sisters, Dora and Rose. His father, Albert Thomas Skelcher (1877-1941) and mother, Rose Hanna Wright (1879-1951) - after whom Barrie named Roseanna, one of his boats - could not afford to send Frank to Grammar School. [Albert is listed as a Tin Plate Worker in the 1911 Census - Angela].  Instead Frank went out to work, and studied engineering part time at Technical College. 

In 1942 he became Assistant Power Station Superintendent at Hams Hall B, and in 1946 Deputy Generating Stations Engineer.  During World War II and the Blitz, he was responsible for the maintenance of all the Birmingham power stations.

After the industry was nationalised, he finished his career as Regional Director of the South East Region, appointed in 1966, and retiring in June 1970.  He was awarded the OBE for services to the Electrical Supply Industry in 1969.  

Frank and Ivy were passionate about ballroom dancing in their later years, winning competitions.  He was also very practical, building bomb shelters during the war, and enjoying working in his workshop - a skill Barrie inherited.  He also enjoyed swimming, cricket, badminton and tennis.

Richard Skelcher, b 9/3/1855, d?  Occupation journeyman and carpenter. Married Catherine Ward 12/2/1877 in Warwick.  They had five children:  Fred, Winifred, Albert Thomas, Ada and Alice. 

His parents were Thomas Cox Skelcher (baptised 23/5/1831, Mollington Oxfordshire) and Sarah Hannah Shakespeare, who were married in Warwick on 10/2/1852.

Thomas's occupation is listed as Stonemason and his father was William Skelcher, b 12/5/1803, Cubbington, on the border of Warwickshire.  William had 5 children:  Elizabeth, Thomas Cox, Hannah, Emma and Amilia.  His parents were Daniel Skelcher and Rachel.  

Daniel Skelcher, baptised 25/7/1773, Hornton, d 2/7/1854, Mollington.  Occupation: village labourer.  Married Rachel, who died 8/1/1858.  Five children:  William, Elizabeth, Patience, Mary, Daniel. Parents (believed to be) William and Elizabeth.  Daniel and his family were forcibly removed from Hornton, to Mollington, Oxfordshire.  Before this, the trail grows faint.