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Lady Havelock presented the young couple with a handsome mantle clock in the shape of a
horseshoe, now in the possession of their daughter Alma Whitehead’s family. All was rosy as
Jock and Rebecca rode off together to begin their life in their own little home. I doubt whether
either had been happier.

A

CHAPTER 3: JOHN AND REBECCA HODGKISS

s there are no photos of the wedding, we will have to leave the imagination to supply
us with confetti and happiness. I wonder, however, if Rebecca missed her family at that
time? Did she long for her Mother who had died so long ago, and her sister Sarah? And
what about her Father about whom we know nothing. And Jock’s family and all their
missing relatives? We are inclined to use our intellect to decipher names and dates but only the
imagination can suggest the emotional details as we attempt to put ourselves in their shoes.

This photo is undated but it must surely have been
taken before Rebecca had babies. Just look at that ‘wasp
waist’! After the marriage Jock carried on as coachman
for a while until he branched out further, but I doubt
whether Rebecca worked outside the home again. She
certainly was kept busy inside the home when one after
the other the babies came
First of all was ELLEN BRIDGE, born on 13th September
1889: we will have more to say about Ellen later.
When Ellen was two, at the end of 1891, a little boy
JOHN FREDERICK was born. But 10 months later on the
20th December 1891 their first great loss was
experienced together when the little fellow died.
Exactly two years later on the 20th December 1893,
ALMA TILLY arrived to bring a measure of joy back into
their lives.

JOHN AND REBECCA

There were three sons who followed Alma: ALBERT (1896), SIDNEY (1898) and CYRIL (1904).
Each of these sons died too soon: Albert in 1944 at 48 from a heart attack; Sidney at 25 from
asthma, and Cyril who was killed in an army vehicle accident in 1942 at the age of 38. It is
unbearable to imagine the pain that Rebecca and Jock endured with four sons who died much
too early.
There was still one son to come after Cyril: LESLIE JAMES born in 1908. Leslie, of course, was
to grow up and marry Ruby Anderson and become my Father.
But not content with all these children Rebecca could never turn away a child in need. Although
our Granny was emotionally and physically undemonstrative she had a deep love and
sympathy for children who were abandoned, abused or simply not wanted. Perhaps in healing
hurt children she was able to heal some of the hurt of her own childhood. The result was that
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