Barr / Mainwaring family

My dad, Donald Sidney Mainwaring, was adopted and raised by Daniel and Ethel Barr at Partridge Croft in Bell Green - the house is the one right at the top of the cul de sac. He lived there until he joined the Royal Marines early in WWII. Up till then he was known as Don Barr. The only connection I remember is Norman Smith, my dad's cousin, who lived not far away from the Barr's home. I think Norman's wife was called Freda but I don't know their children's names. I think there were aunts called Florence and Phoebe and a daughter Josie. Here's hoping, thank you.

What do you want to know Linda? If you know his date of birth, that might help. Potentially there might be a record of a man called Smith marrying a woman called Mainwaring and having a child Norman. Were Florence and Phoebe born Mainwarings? You could have a quick look on Google and list the older streets in the locality of Partridge Croft. This means that if a search for Smith or Mainwaring is made in the directories, a street name might appear in your list.

Thank you for the reminders, Helen. My dad was born on Jan 24th 1923 but I don't know where as he was adopted, a fact he didn't know until he was about 17/18 and tried to join the Royal Marines who turned him away because he was too young. He managed to join up as soon as he could and served in the Med and the far East. We don't have any documentation so it could have been an in-family adoption. I think this is something we'd love to know more about. Also we don't know the maiden names of Florence and the other lady whom I wrongly named Phoebe - that was the name of his ship! Partridge Croft is off Proffitt Avenue. I'll see what else I can dig up.

A couple of people have Donald in their trees on Ancestry. Daniel and Ethel appear on the 1939 census in Partridge Croft but there is another name redacted, presumably Donald's. Living right next door to the Barrs in 1939 were the Smith family, including Norman Smith, born 1924. There is an entry in the GRO birth index for a Donald Sidney Manwaring (sp), mother's maiden name Taylor, born in Birmingham 1st quarter of 1923, Volume 06D Page 422. It is possible you can obtain a pdf of the birth certificate (or an actual copy but a PDF is cheaper and will be faster). Hope this helps! Quick edit: it seems that Norman Smith's mother, Gertrude, was Ethel Barr's sister. Their maiden name was Roberts and they were born in Derbyshire.

There is a Don Barr, centre manager, advertising for a Mechanic at a Nuneaton garage in 1987.

Hello, You are ACE at this Anne. No one needs to give you a colouring book with crayons on a journey. I know someone who ten years ago, went on a sight seeing fourteen day holiday in Switzerland, who did that from dawn to dusk. Oh, they had a puzzle book too.

I think that Primrose pipped Anne to the post this time. Well done to the pair of you

Could this be him, Donald Sidney Mainwaring. I don't know how you get the rest of the information. There is someone called Norman Smith on Ancestry with a family tree naming Barr and Mainwairing. if you are nit on Ancestry I could send him a message.

My dads name was Donald Sydney Mainwaring so this sounds like a fit. I'm not on Ancestry so I'd love you to send Norman Smith a message. Many thanks.

Clicking on that link that Anne posted there is a page about your Dad's application, including his address. Not sure that should be so easily viewed online, especially as it contains details from the 1980s.

Thinking about it, I'm sure Norman Smith is long gone even though he was a few years younger than my dad who would have been 100 last year. Another couple of relatives are Frank and Eileen Morgan and their daughters Jackie and Josie. I think they also lived in Bell Green but I don't remember where. Also, I remember a Grandad Woolley(sp.) who died sometime in the late 50's early 70's.

If you had lived in Bell Green, just off Proffitt Avenue in the late twenties, early/middle thirties what schools would you have attended? My dad wouldn't have gone to a fee paying school. Thanks for any help.

There were two small schools on Old Church Road. One just off the north end of Proffitt Avenue and the other near the west end of Gayer Street that crossed Proffitt Avenue but there were tram lines on Bell Green Road and the Foleshill Road, so he could have gone to school further away. Sorry, not very helpful.

Thank you, Helen. Did these schools have a name or were they called after the streets they were on?

I cannot believe I missed your post. Thank you so much. I am not on Ancestry but my sister is so I'll pass this on to her.