I was able to listen to and watch the clip you included here. Thanks so much for doing that for me. I didn't recognize Ron Oliver at all, but then I probably haven't seen him for over 40 years.
When he showed the photos I recognized Dempsey straight away, but he was the only one. The other three guys look familiar, but I can't put names to the faces. I'm sure they will be recognized by someone at the Family History Day, though.
I don't think you've been able to view the programme over in Canada, sooooo, here's an attempt at helping you have a little taste ... this is probably the most important bit from a pure Oliver perspective.
Ronald Oliver is in the programme and he goes back to the pub for the first time in 40 years.
Click on the image below, and that will hopefully pop up a short clip of the bit where Ronald 'takes to the TV stage' ...
As we see, he takes a number of old photo's with him , possibly including people you might recognise?
I've seen one of the photo's before:
Here it is in better quality - the Oliver they called 'Dempsey' is on the far right, but do we know who the others are I wonder?
And there must be more Olivers in these photo's:
I'm guessing this is William, Millie and Ronald as a baby:
Any other faces recognised?
Hope you managed to the run the short video clip! Thanks Shane
By coincidence!!! I was in the Centre of Oxfordshire Studies yesterday looking at book about Combe. Sorry, I didn't write down the ISBN or note the full title but it's a book of photographs and people's remembrances about Combe. There are several references about Oliver's and some group photo's including Oliver's (may be Irene's family). There is also a reference to Oliver's at the White Horse pub.
Strangely enough I had just logged in to tell you about this Shane when I read your latest message.
Hi Jane, I know, I know; answers, clues, information all finds it way out in the most random of ways sometimes doesn't it, goes to show though that if we turn enough stones we'll get there in the end with some of these genealogical mysteries.
Channel 4 have run a series called Life Begins Agains that 'follows couples and individuals who reinvent themselves in later life and drop everything to pursue their dreams'.
Well, series 1 Episode 23 certainly has some relevance for us as people interested in Stonesfield generally and the Oliver family more specifically.
This episode charts the story of 'Richard Starnowski, fed up with the London rat race, he iis trading his showbiz life at a talent agency to bring a 19th-century Oxfordshire pub back to life and make it a happy family home'.
It also includes some 'living' relavance to the tree diagram above - well worth a watch, I am now!
We've been lucky enough to locate the Army Records of William Oliver b.1896 who the records detail as living at the White Horse Pub in Stonesfield.
Below is an extract from the top page of his records, the full document can be viewed via the 'Oliver Army Records' article in the Facts and Happening's section.
I was quite interested to read that the family lived at and ran the White Horse - which I believe is now the only working pub in Stonesfield.
The army records detail that Williams father was Edward so I thought it might be worthwhile clarifying the wider family tree and where this branch fits in - again, there could be descendants out there.
Here's the tree that show's Williams family a number of generation back and we see that William came from the line of Oliver that originally left Stonesfield for Finstock. His grandfather Thomas b.1839 appears to have returned to Stonesfield when he married Elizabeth Thornett in 1839 - Elizabeth being from Stonesfield herself
Searching the records we can also see that after the war William married Millicent Kearsey and where married at St Mary's Church in Witney. I believe they had one son, Ronald.
William and Millicent were also buried in Stonesfield.
I wonder how long the Oliver's were at the White Horse? I wonder if there is more information on William, perhaps Army photo's?
Hopefully someone will know some more information. Thanks, Shane
