Re: WATTS MEMORIAL WINDOWS -- WATTS NAVAL SCHOOL

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Date Posted: 10:51:49 05/30/08 Fri
Author: Pat Liddiard
Subject: Re: WATTS MEMORIAL WINDOWS
In reply to: Ron Sherlock 's message, "Re: WATTS MEMORIAL WINDOWS" on 08:48:37 08/05/06 Sat

>
>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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Replies:

Re: WATTS MEMORIAL WINDOWS -- Peter Cox, 05:41:36 02/16/13 Sat