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During the year I have received several messages through this blog, all have been interesting. Thank you. Several messages were interested in Dorset Police and these contacts I have passed on to Ian who hopes to be bringing you a history of the Dorset Police force and the Policemen who walked our streets, in 2018. Other messages were members of the Beck or House family, I have loved meeting you on line and hopefully in person in 2018. Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Sylvia Photo of May taken at Blandford Police Station most likely during WW1

A Son and a Daughter born at Lyme Regis Police Station

Grandad Beck and Rebecca Illes married at Buckland Newton on 26 Aug 1896.  Grandad Beck had just been moved to Lyme Regis, Dorset as a 21-year-old police constable.  At 35 years old Rebecca must have been anxious to start a family but it was 2 years later before she announced the happy news.

Lionel Howard Beck


On Tuesday 21 March 1899 Lionel Howard was born at Lyme Regis police station.  Three days later he was baptised by Rev. William Jacob, the church register notes this was a private baptism.  A private baptism suggests that Lionel was unwell and the baptism took place at the police station.  Rebecca would have been 37 years old, which would have been considered old for a first baby.

 

Anouncement of Birth
Bridport News 31 March 1899


Despite a difficult start in life, Lionel continued to thrive.  I believe this is a photograph of Lionel.  It is on the first page of one of the 'best' albums and if you look careful at the photograph I showed at Christmas you will see this photograph on the piano.

Baby photograph
Lionel Howard Beck C1899


Laura May Beck


Two years later May, my grandmother was born on Friday 10th May 1901 also at Lyme Regis police station.

Announcement from Newspaper
Bridport News 24 May 1901


She was baptised Laura May on 14 July at St. Michael's church Lyme Regis by the same vicar who had baptised her brother. This photograph is most likely of Lionel and May, a watering can has featured in a photograph of Lionel before.


Young boy standing besides baby in pram
Lionel and May C1901



In an era that children were often named for relatives or Godparents, I can find no mention of the names chosen by Grandad Beck and Rebecca.  May was most likely chosen for the month she was born in.

Family life


I wonder how much time Grandad Beck had to spend with his children when they were young.  As a police constable, he would have often worked 15-20 hours a day without a break, seven days a week.  If a prisoner needed to go to Dorchester goal then the constable would walk the nine miles to Bridport, catch a train to Dorchester, after handing the prisoner over, he would return the same way.  Often with the prospect of going back on duty when he arrived back at Lyme Regis.  Grandad Beck told the Bridport News, on his retirement, that he had done this duty a number of times during his time at Lyme Regis.  As the family lived in the police station I think that Grandad Beck would have found it possible to at least see his wife and children for a few minutes in-between duties.

All original content by Sylvia Collins is copyright protected.


References
Bridport News: 31 March 1899 p8; 24 May 1901; 19 July 1935

Comments

  1. Wish we still had a police presence in Lyme Regis. Fascinating blog, Sylvia!

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  2. Thank you, Georgia. It was a fascinating blog to write. Before I started I knew very little of my families history, I was an adult when I first heard of Grandad Beck. Having so many photographs really helped. I have caught the writing bug and am now trying my hand at fiction.

    Yes, we miss the policeman of old. I remember when you used to ask a policeman the way to somewhere, now they are more likely to ask us. I think the constables of Grandad Beck's era were more like our PCOs. Times change, for good and bad.

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