| Abstract | The Michell family originated from Cornwall. George Martin Michell followed his father into the Royal Artillery,
and became a Master Gunner. When he was posted to Boston, Lincolnshire he met and married Edith Green, niece of a local publican. A good move methinks. They had eight children, two of whom died young. On leaving the Army he became a Army Contractor, procuring items for use throughout the Army..
The family, which consisted of George, Edith, Gladys, born 1894, Victor, born 1897 and Francis Reginald, born 1903, then moved from Boston to Colchester in about 1906. They lived in Cambridge Road, eventually moving to Mersea some two years later, by which time Marjorie, born 1907, had arrived. George bought 'Brandons' in Melrose Road and quickly established themselves amongst the local communtity. Ron, born 1913 and Daffy, born 1916 followed.
In later years the children became involved with the local sailing and boating crowd and were active members the Dabchicks, Soc n Sale frequenters.
Vic settled in Mersea and married Mary (Margery) and had one son Ian who was tragically killed, along with his friend Vincent Magson, in a beach mine accident. His mother and father never fully recovered from this.
Gladys moved away and settled in Banstead, Surrey, marrying late in life.
Francis Reginald married and moved to Canada where he became leading figure in the Bell telephone Company. He was also a lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Toronto University.
Marjorie married twice, firstly to Cyril Smith, a leading Colchester tailor, they had one daughter, Patricia. Secondly she married John Hamilton-Peters, an Army officer and moved to Plymouth, where they lived on an old Brixham Schooner. They had one son, Nicholas. They moved back to Mersea in early 1953, buying Fountain Cottages.
Ron married twice, firstly to Doris Oakley and secondly to Fay McBurney. They had no children. Ron was famous for his home brewed beer and Fay for her Sloe gin. They lived in Rowhedge, both working at Paxmans of Colchester.
Daffy married Leonard Edward Neep, known to all as Teddy. They had three boys, one of whom died in infancy, the other two were Peter and David. Teddy owned a garage/showroom in Colchester and Halstead, selling initially Rootes Group cars, then in later years Volvo and BMW. The boys both followed their father into the business. David lives in Suffolk and Peter lives in Mersea.
I, Nicholas, left Mersea in 1962 when I joined the Army and served for 12 years. I married a Scots girl and have two daughters and a son. After leaving the Army I joined the Merchant Navy, retiring in 2009 as a Chief Engineer. We have visited Mersea many times, but not recently I'm afraid. My youngest daughter, Nikki, made friends with other young ones at the Dabchicks when we used to stay in Smugglers Cottage.
We now live in South Queensferry, on the banks of the River Forth, so still close to the sea.
I would love to hear from anyone who might remember me from school days.
Read More:
Nice Family - Winifred Hone Memoirs |
![Harold Victor (Vic) Michell
1945 Harold V. and Marjoria C. Michell were living at Pantile Cottage in Firs Chase. [Register of Electors]. They were the parents of Ian Michell. NHP_009](MMThumbnails30/NHP_009.jpg)
![John Hamilton-Peters and fellow officers at West Mersea. The house is thought to be Cranbrook, now No. 70 Coast Road.
John was stationed in Mersea during WW2 with Army patrol boats [ RASC ]. He is front row, second from the left in the picture. NHP_019](MMThumbnails30/NHP_019.jpg)
![John Hamilton-Peters and fellow officers at West Mersea. The house is thought to be Cranbrook, now No. 70 Coast Road.
John was stationed in Mersea during WW2 with Army patrol boats [RASC]. He is behind the boat, second from the right. NHP_033](MMThumbnails36/NHP_033.jpg)
