+ HAPPY 87th BIRTHDAY +

JOYCE HOUGHTON 

(nee MILDON)

21 AUGUST 2008

+++

JOYCE MILDON - UPDATE

Following report from Sally:

I went to the Summer Fete at Mum's home on Saturday.  I have never seen her so animated.  There was a keyboard player there called Martin and we all had a singsong.  Mum wanted to dance and "twirl" - so we danced for about an hour and a half!  She had a terrific time and was smiling constantly.  She was engaging with the other people at the home, particularly a couple of the men to whom she seems quite attached.
 
The fete was opened by Judi Spiers who only intended to stay a few minutes and ended up staying for 3 hours joining in with the singing - she was terrific.  We had a bit of a chat and she was telling me about the experience she had with her own mother and dementia.  It was quite an afternoon.  Judi spoke about it on her radio programme this morning and how fantastic she thought the home was compared to the one her own mother had been in.
 
Mum definately seems to have settled now.  She is much more in her own little world - is convinced she goes riding once a week.  I have not had any tears for the last 3/4 visits and no references to wanting to leave.  She always thanks me for coming and is ok about saying goodbye and is easily distracted from me.

 The following has been received from Helen Forward, born Bolham near Tiverton, 3 August 1955:

Hi I have just come across your blog was going to place a message but could not - I am the granddaughter of Amelia Mildon daughter of Michael Mildon son of Richard Mildon and Sarah Anne Burnett - his father in turn was called Richard Mildon and he I think on his third marriage married Mary Anne Burnett Sarah Anne's Aunt.

I have been trying to solve a bit of a Mildon mystery - Richard Mildon who married Sarah Anne Burnett my Grt Grt Grandparents seems to have had itchy feet also! When he marries for some reason they get married at St Peter's Church in Tiverton which is odd and he is a Yeoman Farmer he later becomes an agricultural labourer and in 1851 census he is with his wife, and invalid daughter Amelia (whom my grandmother is supposedly named after who then lives with the Oliver's later in life) in Alverstoke in Hampshire in the army, my grt grandfather Michael Mildon and his brother are at Cadeleigh being brought up by the Burnett grandparents.

 

However by 1861 Richard has become a butler to a family in Hertfordshire (who seem to have strong ties with India and the army) and has another "wife" Myrah who is from Norfolk! and needless to say younger! also on this census Mary Anne is living as someone elses wife in Templeton (a Mr Davey) and has ner mother living with her and also her daughter Amelia.  Mr Davey is dead in 1871 and Sarah Anne is living with her sister in Cheriton Fitzpaine as a pauper - this is Mrs Oliver - but I can never find any further trace of Richard Mildon!

 

This sort of fits as my Dad always said that Michael Mildon his grandfather never really knew his proper age as he was made an apprentice to a farmer uncle who kept him a year or two longer as they changed his age!  Also despite being a middle child and his parents being married and indeed living together both before and after his birth Michael Mildon never puts his father's name on any documents ie marriage certificate which of course is a little odd.