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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 > >I have just gone onto the Internet to research another >subject - when my name came up. Naturally, curious to >find out what it was all about, I have just read about >the location of Watts Memorial Window to Fred Humby. > >I'm Pat Liddiard, retired now from Barnardo's and was >previously their Heritage Centre Co-ordinator. >I am so please to read about the location of the >windows because it became one of the enduring >mysteries for me to attempt to solve. Previously I >had researched stained glass depositories, churches >throughout the country, etc - attempting to leave no >stone unturned. >Thank you for the details given in this >correspondence, it has been so good to have a closure >on one of the memorabilia I was so fascinated by. >Very best wishes to all, >Pat Liddiard

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