October 14th 1919 mary ellen blacker nee brown to hilda brown

shepherd's bush, London to blackpool, Lancashire

243 miles

the message

"My Dear Hilda

Thanks for your nice card. I was glad to receive it. Love to Father and Mother

from Aunty Mollie"

the sender

Mary Ellen Blacker nee Brown (1887-1971) was the daughter of Henry Brown (1857-1933) and Ann Maria Lewis (1851-1934). Henry was a grocer in Blackpool.

Mary Ellen worked in the family business. In 1912 she married Alfred William Blacker (1886-1959) aka Willie who was an electrician by trade.

The card is signed Aunty Mollie. Mollie is used as a pet name for people called Mary. There is no clue as to why Mary Ellen was in Shepherd's Bush in 1919.

Mary Ellen is the middle of these three. The others are her sister Annie Greenhalgh nee Brown (1888-1974) and her husband Alfred William Blacker.

the recipient

Hilda Brown (1910-?) was the daughter of Albert Edward Brown (1884-1951) and Mabel Standring (1885-1951). Albert was the third of five children of which the sender of the card, Mary Ellen, was the fifth. Hilda was Mary Ellen's niece which is shown by the card being signed by Aunty Mollie. Albert was also a grocer in Blackpool.

When Hilda received this card she was 9 years old. In 1934 she appears in records as the householder of the address on the card, 17 Lune Grove and is listed as a music teacher. After that she cannot be traced. She may have married or emigrated or died. Unfortunately Hilda Brown is a surprisingly common name.

These images show Hilda and her family including her sister Doris (1915-2008) and her brother Henry (1918-2000).

the places

Shepherd's Bush, London

Blackpool, Lancashire

what the card says to us

The picture shows the choir stalls at Westminster Abbey in London. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Abbey). There does not seem to be any connection to the family or the message.

The message is straight forward. Mary Ellen's nine year old niece has sent he aunt a card who in return has thanked her for it.

The use of "Father" and "Mother" feels quite formal but maybe those were the terms used in the family.

If only Hilda's fate was known.