Ted Wilkes

Moneybrook Farm and beyond in 1958

Here's a letter we have received from Jerry Wilkes of Farmborough in Somerset.

Not sure who will pick this up but I felt a note of appreciation was called for, concerning the last meeting, when we had a superb presentation on the Dore & Chinley Railway from Ted Hancock - most professional. It was well worth the journey from Somerset.

Myself, I was born at 329 Baslow Road, Totley, the second son of Edward (aka Ted) and Bertha Wilkes (nee Ward of Lane Head) on the 11th June 1940. I attended the Village Church School in Hillfoot Road following onto Dronfield Grammar School in 1951, leaving in 1956.

I worked the Totley Hall Farm in the days of Geoff Goff and Moneybrook Farm, when it was farmed by Dick Reynolds. I attended the Derbyshire College of Agriculture near Derby.1959 brought about a change of direction, when I joined the Sheffield City Police, and for a time worked the old Dore and Totley motorcycle beats - my local knowledge was put to good use.

I married and transferred to the former Somerset Constabulary in 1965 with my family, where I remained until my retirement in 1993.

With my cousin Brian Ward of Hathersage, I am working on our family history and find your website a superb source of information - thank you

Kindest regards to you all

Jerry Wilkes

All Saints' Parish Magazine, 1936

Thank you for those kind words, Jerry, and good luck with your family history research.