Thomas Henry HOBSON, BAR Lightship, 'kenberks'

[lancsman]

Back in 2012 I submitted a topic to this Forum requesting help with my research into my great-Uncle - Thomas Henry HOBSON - who's entry in the 1911 Census had been annotated with 'enumerated on lightship in River Mersey'.

This resulted in several useful pieces of advice from Forum members - pointing to the Mersey Maritime Museum (MMM), as holders of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) archives.

Due to various circumstances and commitments I was unable to make the journey from Hampshire since then - until a few weeks ago.

I spent a very rewarding day in the MMM and with the help of various staff was able to access the employment history of Thomas HOBSON from his first appointment in 1893 to his retirement in 1930. I also gathered material from the house magazine of the MDHB - 'Mersey' about lightships and in particular the BAR lightship, plus as it was a Monday morning, some additional assistance and information from the members of the Liverpool Nautical Research Society present that day.

To all involved my most sincere thanks.

My second day 'on the case' took me to the Liverpool Central Library Archive Room, where I gleaned more information.
This archive holds a longer 'run' of the MDHB magazine - and in the December 1930 issue I struck 'gold'.
This issue not only carries an article written by Thomas HOBSON regarding his life on the lightships, but also an article by the company honouring his 37 years service, with a photograph of him in his MDHB uniform.

The photograph is the exact one we have had in an old family album for many, many years - undated and un-named.

Now for the missing piece of the jigsaw.

Whilst finalising my plans for the trip to Liverpool I was searching again for any latest items that may help - and came across my old forum entry dated 2012 - with, to my surprise, an additional entry dated 2014 - from a submitted under the forum name of 'kenberks' - who had picked up on my original entry - but it seems may no longer be active on the forum.

'Kenberks' stated that he was related to one Elsie Doris Victoria Gertrude GILLMOT - a daughter of Thomas Henry HOBSON.

I would really like to get in touch with 'kenberks'
So if anybody out there can link any of these connections together, or knows how I could get in touch with 'kenberks' I would very much appreciate news of how I may be able to contact him.

Any help or pointers much appreciated

Regards

John

[MaryA]

"kenberks", like yourself, did not become a member of the Society. Please see this post which would also apply to yourself. https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... =2&t=12841

The previous post referred to is https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... nry+HOBSON

[Kenberks]

Missed this update, but only by 5 months this time around!

I am still actively researching my great grandfather Thomas Henry Hobson and have re-activated my account with a view to joining the society soon and thus enabling private messages for others with similar interests.

Ken
Reading, Berks

[MaryA]

Welcome back Ken, good luck with your research and I would remind you that membership renewal for the Society is 1st January.

[Kenberks]

Thanks Mary - I paid up my membership earlier today

Regards
Ken