My maternal Grandparents

These are my maternal Grandparents, George Frederick Neal and Emma Neal (nee Billingsley). In a very quick search on Google just now, the address for the Hotel in the background is 29 & 31 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, Sussex, England. Need to look up more information on my Grandparents later - will be out all morning.

George Frederick Neal:

- Born on 14th November 1868 at Court 16, Weaman Street, Birmingham, England.
- His parents were Edward and Elizabeth Neal. He was baptized at St. Mary, Whitnall (sp?) Street, on 13th December 1868.
- He married Emma Billingsley on 27th December 1890 at St. James, Edmonton, Middlesex, England.
- He died on 30 December 1945 at 2 South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, England.
- Emma Neal died on 27 February 1946 at 2 South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, England.

They had at least 8 children:

1. George Edward ("Ted"), born 24 November 1891
2. Rowland Arthur ("Arthur"), born 21 July 1898, died 1988
3. Gordon Ernest, born 17 October 1901, in Malaya. He married Jane Gregson in 1938. Died c.1974. Children are Valerie (who married Roderick Taylor) and Stephen (who married Elena)
4. Edna Dorothy ("Dolly"), born 27 March 1904, in Malaya (?) Died 1986
5. Leslie c.1906, in Malaya (?)
6. Beatrice Adelaide ("Billie"), born 14 August 1908, in Malaya (?). She married Frederick William Gregson (my Uncle Mick) in 1931. Died 1995. They had one child, Tony, who died from a hole-in-the-heart when maybe around 21 years of age
7. Clement Roger ("Dick"), born April-September 1913, in Malaya (?). He married Edith M. Wariner (or Warriner?) in 1936.
8. Vera Kathleen, MY MOTHER, born 8 May 1914 at 65, Thornbury Road, Handsworth, and was registered in June 1914. Baptized on 20 November 1915 at St. Mary, Kulala Lumpur, Malaya. She married Tom Carden Bassindale at St. John's Church, Polegate, England on 4 June 1938. Died December 1998

In the early 1920s, the family lived at 67, Bluff Road, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. George Frederick Neal was Master at Arms, Federated Malay States Police Force.

There is a fascinating connection with William Somerset Maugham's short story, "The Letter", which was also made into a movie, starring Bette Davis. My maternal Grandfather was the person who examined the gun that was used in the real life shooting. This shooting incident caused a sensation in Malaya.

viweb.freehosting.net/proudlock.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Proudlock_case