Will Beddis (1919 - 2004)

Sad news...Will passed away last month. Will was the patriarch of the Burgham family. He was the oldest living member of the grandchildren of William Burgham (1868-1920) and the Oldest son of Stella (Burgham) and William Albert Beddis.

In 1931 he won a scholarship and went to Sydney Grammar School where he eventually became Captain of the School. He left school in June 1938 to enter the Meteorological Office Air Ministry as an Assistant and later qualified as a Weather Forecaster. He remained in the Met Office until 1947, serving as a weather forecaster with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War in the UK, Singapore Malaysia, and Rangoon Burma. On demobilization in 1947, he went back to college for a couple of years to qualify as a Public Health Inspector in Local Government. He retired at the age of 60 in 1979 and returned to live in the Forest of Dean (after being away for 40 years). Will's first wife, Joy, died in 1963. He married Vera shortly afterwards. In 1987 they moved to Tewksbury.

Will was instrumental in helping us document the Burgham family history. He will be sorely missed.

Barbara (Gentle), Peter John, and Douglas Burgham-Wilson c.1942

Morris Albert Burgham's family in Nanticoke, PA (c. 1940)

Back row - James Webb, James Burgham, Ellen Webb, Edith Webb, Doris (Webb) Burgham, Morris Albert Burgham

In Front - Douglass Burgham (2 yrs old), Donald Burgham Sr. (6 yrs old)

Group photo of unknown relative to Rosetta (Burgham) Isles and Gertrude (Burgham) Virgo c. 1940(?).

If you can identify any other people in this picture, please contact me at donburg@burghamfamilytree.com

Nanticoke Cricket team. This photo was taken about 1930 in Nanticoke, PA. We know the name of three of these men:

If you can identify any other people in this picture, please contact me at donburg@burghamfamilytree.com

L to R: Josephine, Gertrude (Wilkins), Irene and Sydney Burgham c. 1927.

This photo was taken in Nanticoke, PA soon after Gertrude and her children immigrated to the US from the Forest of Dean to meet up with her husband George Burgham (the son of William).

Sadly, Irene passed away on December 26, 2003. This month's photo is a tribute to here and her family. .

(Click on the picture for a larger image)

Louise Burgham, Joyce Watkins, Rex Watkins and Donald Burgham, Sr. - June 17, 2003 on the day of arrival in the beautiful Forest of Dean, England. Rex and Joyce were gracious hosts to their cousins from the U.S.

You can see dozens of beautiful photos from the Trip to England by clicking on this link.

(Click on the picture for a larger image)

The Burgham Family at the Burgham Family Get-together - June 21, 2003

The Get-together was quite successful. It was great seeing all of us together at one time.

David Allen Burgham and Simon Henry Burgham - on the beach in Naples, FL - November 2002

David is the son of Donald William Burgham Sr. and the grandson of Morris Albert Burgham.

Simon is the son of David Burgham and Bette (Miller) Burgham.

This month's photo was submitted by Donald Burgham Jr.

Nanticoke, PA - 1932

Back: Sidney George Burgham, George Edwin Burgham, Thomas Sydney Burgham, Lora (Jones) Burgham, Tom Wilce, Lucy Wilce

Middle: Irene (Burgham) Ashton, Jean (Burgham) Scovell, Marian (Burgham) Gambling, Josie (Burgham) Mitchell

Front: Ken Burgham and Shirley (Burgham) Brook

This month's photo was submitted by Shirley (Burgham) Brook - that's her at the far right in the big overcoat!

James Arthur Burgham - c. 1950's

Margaret (Beddis) Yarworth-Gwynne and her boyfriend - 1957

Margaret, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time while you are at hospital. We hope you get well soon!

Thomas Burgham and family - Sailing from New York to England on the Aquitania - 1935

Back Row: Thomas Sydney Burgham and Lora (Jones) Burgham

Children L to R: Jean (Burgham) Scovell, Kenneth Burgham, Shirley (Burgham) Brook and Marian (Burgham) Gambling.

This month's photo was provided by: Shirley Burgham from the photo album of Morris Albert Burgham (Stella's brother)

Morris Albert Burgham b. Dec. 16, 1904 and Doris (Webb) Burgham b. Dec. 12, 1911 - Photo circa 1929 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania

Morris is the son of William Burgham b. 1868 and Minnie (Birt) Burgham. Moris was born in Yorkley, Glouchester, England and migrated to Nanticoke, PA in 1925 to work in the coal mines.

Doris (Webb) Burgham in the daughter of Jonathan Webb b. 1885 and Ellen (Gilbert) Webb b. 1883. Doris was born in Tarrington, Hereford, England. She migrated to Nanticoke, PA in 1928.

This month's photo was provided by: Don Burgham from the photo album of Morris Albert Burgham (Stella's brother)

Stella (Burgham) Beddis

Daughter of William Burgham

Born: March 1, 1899 in Yorkley, West Dean, England

Died: December 17, 1982 in Bream, England

This month's photo was provided by: Don Burgham from the photo album of Morris Albert Burgham (Stella's brother)

Kenneth Burgham

Son of Thomas Sydney Burgham

Born: November 30, 1930 in Nanticoke, PA

Died: September 16, 1974 in Gloucester, England

This month's photo was provided by: Dave Gambling

Burgham's at Niagara Falls - 1981

[Left to Right] Mary (Milisky) Burgham, Jack Gambling, Jean (Burgham) Scovell, Donald Burgham Sr., Marion (Burgham) Gambling, James Burgham, Louise (Tanterno) Burgham

This month's photo was provided by: Donald Burgham Sr.

Edwin John Burgham - b. May 21, 1869

This month's photo was provided by: Elaine Fish

←This months Photo is actually a video

Linda Burgham in 2001 (Click on the picture to see a video of Linda's first steps)

This month's photo was provided by:

Mary (Milisky) Burgham

The video was taken by Donald Burgham Sr. in 1957 using a 8mm camera

Editing and splicing by Donald Burgham Jr. using Microsoft Media Player

Back: Laura (Burgham) Wilkins and Jim Wilkins

Front: Ann ?? and Gertrude (Wilkins) Burgham

This month's photo was provided by:

 Peter Wilkins and Josephine (Burgham) Mitchell

William Jonathan Burgham c. 1917

This month's photo was provided by:

 Will Beddis by way of Rex and Joyce Watkins through Louise Scovell and Jean Scovell who inherited it from her father, Thomas Burgham.