Looking up Friends and Family

Way back in 1982 a young Englishman by the name of John turned up in Chinchilla looking for work. He was referred to the Macdonald farm and ended up stayed for the whole wheat harvest that year. John now manages his family's farm in Cambridgeshire which is not far from Hertfordshire where we were. After some phone calls we located John and his family. They were keen for us to visit. We enjoyed a very pleasant day and night with them.

Aunty Lois had done a lot of family history research into the Dawbarns (Bryan's paternal grand mother) however there still remained some missing pieces in the 'jigsaw puzzle'. The Dawbarns came from around the Kings Lyn and Wisbech (pronounced Wis-beech) areas which are just a few kilometres from John's farm. We knew a Thomas was buried at St Peters in Wisbech however all the older head stones were unreadable. Lois's research had informed her that some Dawbarns had practiced in law for many year in this area. There still is a legal practice that operates under the name of Fraser Dawbarn. The helpful people from their Wisbech office put us in contact with a retired legal partner who had worked with a John Dawbarn many years ago. From this contact we were able to speak with his only surviving daughter Ann. She has invited us to stay a night with her on our return from Scotland. Ann has done a lot of family history research herself so it should a very interesting visit.

We continued our journey north to Scotland through Lincolnshire and into Yorkshire where we stayed last night, our progress regularly slowed by tractors and trucks hauling produce. The drive was interesting observing the farming activity and the first signs of the changing autumn colours.

When we arrived in the UK the wheat was still green. The wheat paddocks have now been harvested and are now being prepared for  the next crop.

Sugar Beet is a popular crop here. It is used to make sugar and also bio-fuel.

The lane to John's place

These old buildings on John's farm were used as a granary and for housing cattle in winter. Some were built in the 1600s.

John and Bryan in front of their huge new grain storage buildings.

Their wheat is mainly sold as seed. Their average rainfall here is only 16 inches per year however their dry land yields are much higher than in Australia - it seems to be a more gentle rain that falls at the right time in the growing cycle.  

This area of England is very low and flat. The highest point of John's farm is only 12 feet above sea level and the lowest around 4 feet above sea level. All through this district there are drains like this one along the boundary of John's property.

John's house. It was originally built in 1600s. He has just been through the process of renovating it. As it is listed, this makes it a much more complicated process. He has done a great job.

We stayed with John's parents. The view from one of our upstairs bedroom windows.

And the view from the other bedroom window across towards the farm buildings and the fields beyond.

John with his mum and dad

St Peters in Wisbech. Most of the older head stones were unreadable so we were unable to find where our distant relative is resting.

The approach to the River Humber and its very impressive bridge.

The view from the bridge looking up stream.

The Old Rectory Guest House in Thormanby, Yorkshire where we stayed Thursday night.