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> >Although I'm not an ex Watts lad I am a Barnardo boy, >and I spent some of my formative years at Honingham >Hall, Norfolk, a home situated some 20 miles from >Watts. I have a great interest in the history of both >establishments, and have done a lot of research. > >Some my wish to learn that Barnardo's have been >looking for the memorial windows from the Watts Chapel >for some years now. > >This following text from a Barnardo publication dated >1999 may be of interest. > >Frederick Humby , originally from Southampton, grew up >in Dr Barnardo's care from the age of nine, leaving >Watts Navel Training School in 1910 with his sights >set firmly on a career at sea. And in 1912, aged just >17, he won the prize job of steward on a new liner - >the most luxurious of its kind ever. The ship was to >carry some of the world's richest and most famous >people across the Atlantic to New York. The hype was >tremendous. The massive ship , declared ' unsinkable', >was named Titanic. On 15th April 1912 , as the world >knows, the Titanic did the unthinkable - and sank >taking the lives of passengers and most of the crew, >including Frederick. His loved ones shocked by the >tragic loss of such a young life , joined with former >school friends and staff from Watts, to pay for a >stained glass window in Frederick's memory. But now >comes another twist in the story.Pat Liddiard , >Barnardo's Centre co-ordinator takes up the tale. "The >window was installed in Watts Navel School Chapel >bearing the inscription at its base "To the Glory of >God and in memory of Frederick Humby, a boy hero, who >perished on board SS Titanic - 15th April 1912, aged >17 years." It remained as a reminder of Frederick >until the Chapel was closed . At that time the window >was removed and transferred to Barnardo's Chapel in >Stepney Causeway. In 1968 though, Stepney's Chapel >also closed and the window was removed and put into >storage for safety. It was last known to be at Boys >Garden City, Woodford Bridge, Essex in 1969. Since >then it has disappeared without trace. Pat says "Who >knows what happened. Did it end up in another Church ? >There is no record of any sale or gift. But is this >beautiful piece of stained glass still commemorating a >young life , and am important part of Barnardo's >history ? "We would like to find it" Article first >published in the Barnardo Guild Messenger . 1999. >2005, the search goes on. Do you have any information >? If so, please contact Heritage Centre co-ordinator. >Barnardo's, Tanners Lane, Barkingside, IG6 1QG Tel: >0181 550 8822 > >end of message > > >>I recieved this email today. The windows are being >>well looked after in Houston Texas. >> >>Andy >> >>My son was recently searching the internet for >>information about Frederick Humby, and as we learned >>he was a boy from Watts Naval School who later died >>aboard the Titanic. We did not know the relationship >>between Fred Humby and Watts School until recently. I >>have been contemplating sending you, John 'Tank' >>Wilcox and others an email for about a month now, and >>regrettably, I noticed that John Wilcox recently died. >> >>My friend and I bought the two memorial windows at an >>auction in 1976 in Houston, Texas USA and have owned >>them ever since. I have the window memorializing >>Frederick Humby. I have kept Fred Humby's name alive >>for the past 30 years, and at one time, had a pet >>parrott named for him. The window I own has a nautical >>religious scene with the large Jesus surrounded by >>Angels overlooking two biblical figures in a boat, and >>the inscriptions honoring Frederick Humby. My friend >>has the window of the Knight in shining armor. The >>windows are signed by Leonard Pownall 1913. >>The windows are in excellent condition and well cared >>for. We are proud to be their caretakers. >> >>My wife, Linda, and I have been reading your message >>board for the past 4-6 weeks. >>We are sorry to hear of Tank's passing. I know he >>would liked to have known the status of the 'windows', >>and had searched for them. Maybe you can forward this >>email to his family with our condolences. We also >>regularly read the message board of the County School >>with the messages from BemusedTom Jones and >>Nozzrapproved, plus the message board from Sheila, the >>BananaGirl1, and the Barnardo Family group. >> >>You may forward this email to any of those folks if >>you like. Your and Mr.. Wilcox's email addresses are >>the only ones I had recorded. >> >>I look forward to hearing from you, and some of your >>other Watts boys. >> >>Jim Ellis

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