Holiday is family history for the Flitcrofts
Published at 21:37, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
THE family of the former owner of a garage in Canonbie have taken a nostalgic trip to the village.
Keith Flitcroft and his son, Andrew, who is editor of Trout & Salmon magazine, took a family holiday at Byreburnfoot, owned by Bill and Loraine Frew.
They went to Langholm Common Riding and met various family members and friends.
Keith, who lives in Thetford, Norfolk, is the son of Gordon and Iris, who lived at Glencairn, Canonbie from 1951 to 1993 and to 1999 respectively.
Keith said: “My dad and his brother-in-law, Stan Cluley, my mother's brother, bought the Cross Keys Garage in 1948 from Tom Elder of the Bowholm. In 1950 Stan Cluley married Margaret Elder, Tom's youngest daughter. There is a large tombstone on the west perimeter of the old graveyard which refers to the Elders.
“Some years later, the Cluleys moved to West Cumberland and my dad became sole proprietor of the garage. He became a leader of the community and in modern parlance he was the ‘Go to man’.
“For many years he chaired the Canonbie hall committee and was instrumental in providing the bowls green and tennis courts during his tenure. He chaired the parish council and became the Annandale and Eskdale district councillor for Canonbie and Rowanburn.
“Close friends of my parents were Tom and Ella Robertson who lived in Byreburnfoot when Tom was head forester. Tom and Ella's son, also Tom, lives in Edmonton, Canada.
“When my family moved to Canonbie from Carlisle, I continued my schooling in Carlisle, living with my paternal grandparents in the city. Frederick and Lily Flitcroft are buried in the new part of the graveyard in Canonbie. My parents’ remains are scattered in the garden of remembrance at the Carlisle Crematorium.
“My siblings, Barrie and Joan (Mcdowall) attended the Canonbie and Langholm schools. Barrie lives in North Carolina, USA, and Joan in Rosneath, Argyle.
“Andrew is my youngest. During his childhood, he and his sister, Carolyn, enjoyed many holidays in Canonbie and it was there that Andrew, a keen course fisherman from the age of 10, first cast a fly during his early teens.”
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