News Letter 12 Final - The Binns Family

Rev. Alwyn Binnscont’d…By the end of 1947 two of hisbrothers, Leslie and Angus, werealready settled in England; andCecil, together with his wifeMollie, Keith and myself, were inCanada. I’m not really surprisedhe made the decision to leave; butI have the strong feeling he musthave regretted his choice duringthe 15 or so years which followed.Initially he headed for Australia.Why? I haven’t a clue. He musthave been shell shocked ‘downunder’. Then, in the early 1950s,came a move to England – asteacher and chaplain to a truly,truly minor boarding school at adot on the map called Lucton,north-west of Leominster in Herefordshire.By this time my mother,Keith and I were living in thenearby West Midlands, just a fewhundred yards from Uncle Leslieand his young gang at Sedgley.Alwyn remained at LuctonSchool throughout the first half ofthe 1950s. The late 1950s/early1960s saw him recovering someprofessional dignity and using hisacademic talents at a better-knownpublic school, Bancroft’s, atWoodford Green in Essex. Oncemore, he was both a teacher andchaplain.Following one of the bad Londonsmogs in the early 1960s Alwynsuffered a very nasty dose ofbronchitis. This, and another‘secret’ and different dose fromone of Eros’ seductive arrow tips,more about that later, must havebeen the reasons he applied for theposition of Rector of St. Philippede Torteval Parish Church atTorteval in sunny, benevolentGuernsey. (The church has a unusualround tower topped by aspire – a glorious creation whichfeatured on a Guernsey stampsome 20 years or so ago!)His 20 years in Guernsey sawhim restored to his old self: happy,full of energy and purpose andwith increasing wells of spirit,faith and self-respect, He had alsoacquired a new trait: he had, atlast, mellowed! My family and Isaw quite a lot of him during thelate 1960s and in the 1970s. I alsokept in touch by both letter andphone. Alwyn was managing successfullyto ‘exist without his belovedSherwood’.I’m leaving the biggest‘surprise’ – for most of you, that’sfor sure – to the last. On the 12thMarch 1966 he married HélèneBatiste, a Guernsey-born lady, athis parish church, a hop-step-andjump-awayfrom his rectory home.He had first met Hélène in theearly 1950s, as my mother, Keithand I had also done, on a RaymondCook European tour. Alwynacted as tour leader on many of theon-a-shoestring train and coachholidays organised by the Folkestonecompany during the 1950s.His last letter to me, dated 28thJune 1982, was written in that instantlyrecognizable handwritingof his: always sure, steady andsmall (remember your half-termreports?). The contents were optimistic.He wrote: ‘How good toknow that you are preparing a newbook on “your” France! It promisesto be a good book and I shallbe counting the days till next December,when the new book isdue.’Sadly Alwyn, the best of Christiansto the very end, never sawmy finished work; he died on 21stSeptember 1982. (Both he andHélène are buried below one of thewindows of Torteval church – onthe nave’s south side facing therectory which had been such awell-deserved home of peace andcontentment during their lastyears.) However, with a sad heart,I was able to dedicate HiddenFrance to Alwyn with these heartfeltwords:ToRevd Alwyn BinnsMuch more than just an uncle –who, by personal example,Inspired so many throughout hislong and remarkable life,I dedicate this book to his memoryRichard Alwyn Binns3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

Richard Alwyn BinnsEditor’s note:Richard Binns, author of the previous pieceabout his Uncle has been in poor health formany years. His latest message on thesubject and a note from his brother Keith arereproduced below. We wish them both well.“Dictated By Richard to Keith,his brother at the beginning ofSeptember.'I am at home now and neverhave I been more appreciativeof being surrounded by somany hundreds of friends andreaders. The feeling is overwhelming. I promise to sendyou more news in due course,but now that I am out of hospitalI have huge problems, sheerlack of sleep being the majorconcern. .I beg your indulgence for themoment if I do not pick up andrespond to your phone calls, e-mails or letters.As at 20th September 2006Richard was released from hospitalon the 30th August and is atCarol’s. He is paralysed as a resultof one of the cancers causing compressionof his spinal cord, and,consequent to this, is unlikely tohave any further treatment for thec a n c e r s .We have now had Richard in awheelchair several times and he cancope with a few hours at a time,which allows him to go out into thegarden. Because of the drugs he ison Richard is having great difficultycarrying out a conversationwith anybody, so regretfully at themoment we are restricting visitorsto the closefamily.I am keeping the web site up todate with regular updates on hiscondition.Please note that I am dealingwith all Richard's emails, etc atthe moment and would appreciateif contacts can be kept tomatters of importance as Caroland I have problems dealingwith a lot of correspondence.Keith Binns”I owe an apology to this Richard in suggesting that he is the author of books oncricket. The author of books on cricket, also Richard Binns is, I believe, a Hampshireman and, as far as I am aware, has not been in contact with the Binns familygroup. David Binns3DJH %,116&211(&7,216

Poetry Cornerby Wilkinson BinnsJuly 1854LOVEOh gentlest feeling what art thou hast thou a form a faceTo smile so winningly on man and charm him by thygraceWhich brighter every moment grows in sorrowsdark’ning nightThat fills the troubled soul with peace a holy serene quietThat mingles with the dreams of man a gleam a taste ofheavenA never failing balm it is by natures framer givenRefreshing more the human heart than April’s verdantshowersExciting Timesfrom The Rotterdam MercuryMr. E. Binns, late mate of thebrig Louisa Anne belonging toBoston, has arrived in town fromHolland. The brig was bound toGottenburgh; but being driven intoLe Havre by the late gales was detainedthere under the pretence ofher being Swedish property and ofthere being some informality inher papers: both hull and cargohave been condemned; and theMaster with difficulty obtainedpermission to go to Paris, to remonstrateon the occasion. MrBinns was to go to Rouen, wherehe has connections, and fromthence he proceeded along thecoast to Catwyck. During his residencein France he collected variousmatters of information, whichform a striking contrast with thestatements of Mr Champagny[Minister of the Interior for Napoleon1804-1807] in his recent expose.Mr Binns states that thepeople are almost unanimous intheir personal hostility to their Tyrant.A considerable degree of discontentpervades the Armies on thecoast, chiefly on their arrears ofpay, and partly in consequence of aprevalent opinion that the favourableperiod for invasion had beensuffered to elapse and that the maturedstate of our defence deprivedthem of every legitimate hope ofsuccess, in the event of the enterprisebeing undertaken. Bonapartehas lost much of his popularitysince his coronation.The troops constituting what iscalled the Army of England wereat Christmas 14 weeks in arrears;the soldiers were in consequencereduced to the necessity of levyingcontributions on the countrypeople for their support; and inone of the many contests whichthis expedient gave occasion to,several lives were lost. Thetroops in general are very badlyclothed and appear to be in everyrespect more neglected than weshould have expected under amilitary despotism which wasraised and is maintained by theiragency. [Rotterdam Mercury of12 Jan 1805 as published in Gentleman’sMagazine 75, 166]3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

Rapid DemotionSgt. W. BinnsMark Sharp, a gunner of the Ctroop of the Royal Horse Artillery,who was admitted to thehospital about ten days ago sufferingfrom the loss of his thumband other injuries, sustained bythe premature explosion of a fieldpiece during manoeuvres whichtook place on Woolwich Commonon the occasion of the visitof Lord Bloomfield, is progressingfavourably, although incapacitatedfor further service.A detachment court-martial, composedof one captain and two lieutenantsof the corps, last week assembledto investigate the accusationbrought against Sergeant W.Binns who directed the firingparty at the gun. The charge waspreferred against the accused, asneglect of duty in giving the word“Ready” before No. 2 gunner wasclear of the gun wheel.The case having been clearlyproved was nevertheless acknowledgedto be one of ordinaryoccurrence in cases of speedy firing.By sentence of the courtmartial,which was confirmed bythe commanding officer, the prisonerwas ordered to be reducedfrom the grade and pay of sergeantto the station of gunner inthe ranks.An Attempt to Confuse Family Historians ?Another John Binns !At Leeds, yesterday, before thestipendiary magistrate. JohnBinns, 42, stated to have been atailor, of Burrey Road, and tohave been a local preacher, wascharged, in custody, with bigamy.The prisoner as alleged wasmarried on Dec 7 th at St Jude’sChurch, Eldon, Sheffield to MissAnnie Ramsbottom, 26, his presentwife Harriet Binnns being atthat time alive. Annie Ramsbottom,of Goole, said she made theacquaintance of the prisonerthree years agowhen he lodged with her father.She knew he was a married manbefore he came to lodge withthem. She first saw him at heraunt’s. He stayed with them fromSaturday to Monday on variousoccasions. She went through theform of marriage with the prisoneron December 7 th . He married herbecause of her condition of whichhe was the cause. She had seen hiswife. She did not know that hewas separated from her andthought that he was living withher all the time.The prisoner went to Sheffield andthe witness accompanied him. Sheleft no letter to say what had becomeof her. The prisoner, who said“I have nothing to say at present”,was committed for trial at the nextassizes, bail being refused. [TheTimes 16 Sep 1908]3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

Descendants of Robinson BinnsJulia Scott who lives in Tasmaniahas very kindly passed on this informationabout a prominent Wilsdenfamily.Robinson Binns was born inThornton in 1828 and died inWilsden in 1898. His sonsPriestley, Aethelbert, and theirwives and children, and Zerubbabelwho was not married emigratedto Tasmania in the first decadeof the 20 th Century where theyquickly established themselvesand became respected pillars oftheir new community.Of course the First World Warsoon had an impact on their livesand sadly Aethelbert’s second son,Percy, who was also born in Wilsdenwas killed in France.The report of Percy's death reads:“The above named Officer[Lieutenant] was killed in actionwhilst on patrol at 'Creepy Wood',east of Harbonnieres at about 2.30.p.m. on 13th August last [1918].Whilst on patrol with an N.C.O.and a couple of men he encounteredan enemy strong-post heavilymanned. He immediately gave theorder to charge, and when abouttwo yards from the Strong Post hewas hit in the face by a revolverbullet, death being instantaneous.Owing to extremely intense rifleand machine gun fire, also heavyshelling, the party was unable torecover his body. About fifteenminutes later another party wentout in search of his body, but wereunsuccessful. Lieut. Binns was notburied by this unit. The unit wasrelieved on night of 14th August,by the 15th and 49th Battalions.”He is commemorated on theVillers-BretonneuxMemorial,Somme, France.Fortunately Ethelbert, only son ofPriestley Binns, returned homesafely as reported in The WeeklyCourier of July 1919,“The many Bruny friends of Mr.and Mrs. Priestley Binns, of"Bingleymere", Lunawannah willrejoice to learn that they expect thereturn of their brave soldier sonPrivate Ethelbert (Bert) Binns, 7thArmy Service Corps. PrivateBinns, who is their only son, leftLunawannah on February 22,1915, and entered ClaremontCamp the following day. Saw servicein Egypt 1915 and at the beginningof 1916. Afterwardsserved in Belgium and France”.It is interesting to note howPriestley had named their propertyafter a familiar place in the oldcountry.It seems that Zerubbabel Binns didnot travel with his brothers andtheir families but followed onabout a year later. His nephewsand nieces have recorded the followingrecollections of him,“Little Taylor's Bay extended in aseries of shallow sandbars, at thefar end of which, and up the hillsideof Quarry (Ventenant) Point,lived Subbell (“Uncle”) Binns inan old hut. He was quite a musicianwith his button accordion, andof a quiet summer evening wewould listen to the music half akilometer away over the water.””Subbell Binns bought a 200-acreproperty in the southwest corner ofLittle Taylors Bay in 1909. Helived in an old hut and had a smallarea cleared for a garden and orchard.Living a lonely life, hemade up for this by entertainingthe residents of Lunawanna oneach occasion that the steamercalled at the Lunawanna jetty.Both he and his brother PriestleyBinns, a precision instrument andwatchmaker by trade, who arrivedlater, were very musically inclined.”“Uncle Binns always made a pointof arriving at the jetty before asteamer was due, and played tuneson a button concertina for thosewaiting at the jetty. He would takehis concertina to play at dancesheld at the old school house andwas a favourite figure to the childrenof the district; prepared to entertainthem at every opportunity.He had one glass eye which was aconstant attraction to the children.”All the available data on this familyhas been added to the BinnsFamily web site.3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

Snippets1)William Binns was elected as a Liberal to be one of the first members of Chadderton Urban District Council whenit was formed in 1894. In 1902 he became the Council Chairman.2) John Binns, butcher of Westbourne Terrace, Bradmore, Hammersmith summoned for furious driving. Speed was12 mph. Fined 40s. with 2s. costs or 1 month in prison. [The Times 13 Oct 1873]3) Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, a commodious brick building, erected in 1852, in Chapel street, conducted on theGlasgow Normal training system; about 100 scholars attend. The charge is from 3d. to 6d. per week for English literature,including a Bible training lesson, and a secular lesson on the Elements of Science, each day—having slates,pencils, pens, and ink, with a copy of the Wesleyan Catechism, furnished to each; the average attendance is 120; Mr.Wm. Binns, master, and Miss Mary Riley, mistress.[White’s Directory of Debyshire 1857.]4) Shackleton and Binns and Co., Leeds, warp tying machine won award at Philadelphia Exhibition. [The Times 11Oct 1876]5) William Binns, a cloth manufacturer, was one of the list of 19 Chartist candidates who swept the board at electionsin 1842 for Leeds Improvement Commissioners.6) 1890 Death reported in The Times "A painful incident occured on Sunday night at the Leyland-road WesleyanChapel, Southport. The Revd. Mr. Binns, a retired Wesleyan minister, with his wife, was attending the service. Duringthe preliminary prayer he was seized with a fit and he died when he was carried into the vestry. He was 82 yearsof age, and highly respected in Southport”. In 1841 Joseph, who was born in Huddersfield, was a Wesleyan Ministerat Sunderland St., Houghton le Spring, and between 1867 and 1869 he was a preacher at Essington Wood, WesleyanMethodist Church.The 1881 Census records him as a married head at 40 Church Hill, Wednesbury, Staffs, age 73, Wesleyan Ministerof Springhead Chapel but his wife is not present.7) Jabez Henry Binns Esquire, late of “Oak Lodge”, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, retired timber merchant, who diedon 28 th September 1809, and whose Will was proved in the Principal Registry on 26 th October 1909, leaves a widowHarriet Ann Binns of the same address.[ The Times 30 th October 1909]. The probate register shows that his estatewas valued at £36,785 and his age, registered on death, was 51.8) One more sporting Binns has come to light. In 1897 the “Peregrine” Cycle Co. Ltd., advertised that The Irish24hrs. Road Record was gained by H. V. Binns on 4 Aug 1894 on one of their cycles.Bishop StortfordMary BinnsMrs. Mary Binns was keeper of the White Horse at Bishops Stortford when in March 1825; an attempt wasmade to burn it down. Considerable damage was caused. In April similar acts of arson involved several otherpremises in the town. Although accused of setting fires, Thomas Rees was found guilty of sending threateningletters for which he was sentenced to transportation for life. Also he was not to hold, inherit, or receive anyproperty for the rest of his life.3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

A Cautionary Tale of Two JosephsMargaret Page writesfrom Kidderminster.Some time ago now I discovered thatthe Society of Friends had disownedmy great great grandfather, ThomasBinns, for “unnecessary frequentingpublic houses and houses of ill fame.”He died of “galloping consumption”(TB) at the early age of fortytwoin 1858, when the youngest of hischildren, my great grandmother wasjust two years old. He was a draper inAshton under Lyne when his other 3daughters and only son were born.His only son, Joseph, (born 1852 inAshton under Lyne) was educated inaccordance with family tradition, atRawden Quaker School. His nephew,David, youngest son of Thomas’sbrother David attended the sameschool. (A fact that seems strange asRawdon School was established, Ithought, for children whose parentswere not members of the Society ofFriends. This was true for Joseph butnot for his cousin David). Could Ihope to find more about the family?Well thanks to Donald Benson Binnslegacy to us all, in the shape of theBindex database, yes I could.The Bindex database collection ofBinns details often fills in those otherwiseelusive Binns facts. One suchexample is the details of the Will ofJoseph’s uncle, David. I wonderwhere Donald found the Will? ThisUncle David (1799-1883) was adraper, a Quaker, and a pillar of Halifaxsociety. I knew from his autobiographythat his children who survivedinfancy were three sons, Joseph,Charles, and David and two daughters,Hannah and Maria.Charles took over the stuff merchantbusiness of George Binns and Co. ofBradford when his Uncle George diedhaving no surviving sons from twomarriages.According to David’s autobiography,it was Joseph (born 1836 in Halifax),his second son, who took on the Halifaxdrapery business, firstly in CornMarket, where his father had previouslyhad his business, and then inLord Street, although by the time ofDavid’s death in 1883 the businesswas at 1 Princess Street, Halifax.3DJHDavid himself had moved on retirementto Akeds Road, Halifax.I was armed with this half forgottendetail when, on eBay, I came acrossand was able to purchase a billheaddated 29 th April 1887, for Jos. Binns& Co., Wholesale Drapers, Hosiers,and Pinafore Manufacturers of 1 PrincessStreet, Halifax. They were agentsfor Brook’s Reels, Cambell’s LinenReels, and Clark’s Crochet Cocoons.The details of items sold in the shopwould have been a reward in itself butthe real beauty, the gem of my purchase,is the etched image of the shopthat I would like to share with you all.In an artistically licensed compositionyou can almost see the goods for salein the shop and the ladies outside intheir bustles and the fine carriages areclearly visible. Also featured proudlyand prominently is the newly erectedTown Hall built in 1869. In case therecould be any doubt about the identityof the building it is clearly labelled.As a bonus another bill, this time for1898, was purchased but either fashionor costs robbed us of an updatedimage. However the text tells us theywere still drapers but had expandedmanufacturing to include “Aprons,Underclothing, Shirts, Hosiery, Etc.”in addition to pinafores. They werestill “Agents for Brook’s Reels,Chadwick’s and Clark’s Crochet BallsPopular Fingerings and Worsteds.”The loyalty of the same particular customerover the years enabled the twobills to come to me together and theirpossession sparked a fuller investigationof the cousins Joseph and theirfamilies. For clarity the elder Joseph,son of David will be referred to asJoseph I and the younger, son of Thomaswill be Joseph II.In 1881 Joseph I was aged 44 and livingat 6, Lord Street, Halifax, with hiswife Hannah aged 50 and their threedaughters Mary Ellen, age 19, Lucyage13, and Louisa age 8. He was alinen draper employing three assistants.At the same time, Joseph II wasaged 28 and living at 42, GrosvenorSquare, Halifax with his wife Mary Aand three year old daughter EthelMary.In 1901 there is no trace of Joseph I inHalifax but Joseph II is there in theindex and he is a draper. My mindlogically determined that he mighthave taken over his cousin’s business.Bindex gave Joseph I as dying in1909, an essential date needing verification.I took advantage of the wider searchesavailable for the 1901 census, lookingnot only nationwide but also doing afuzzy search for the missing Joseph Iwho would be aged 64. I was rewardedwith a Joseph Bines (sic) aged64, who was a retired draper living inAudley Villa, Frodsham, Cheshire.The other family members indexed asBinns were a wife, Jane aged 59, adaughter Lucy, age 33, and a femaleservant Susan, at first an elusive Cinderella.When the census image itselfwas viewed it was clear however, thatSusan did not in fact share the Binnsname. Joseph I was now married to aJane who was born in Audley, Staffordshirewhereas in 1881 his wifewas called Hannah and was born inUnder Winder Sedbergh. In fact othersources had already established thatJoseph I had married Hannah Robinsonat Lancaster Church [Sep Q 1860]so was that the end of his Quakermembership? Presumably Hannah haddied and I did find the marriage of aJoseph Binns to a Jane Bibby registeredin September Quarter 1899 inChester.%,116&211(&7,216

The Two Josephs cont’d……………………..So Joseph I had retired from Halifaxand his cousin Joseph II had takenover the business,.. or had he? I havethe certificate for the marriage of JosephII at St Jude’s Church, Bradford,dated 25 th September 1876. He giveshis age as 24, his occupation as a travellerof Halifax, and his father is Thomasa draper. His wife is Mary AnnHinchliff of Blenheim Road, thedaughter of Benjamin Hinchliff, awarehouseman. Further the 1901 censusimages reveal that Joseph II wasin Halifax just as a visitor to anotherdraper and his only daughter, EthelMary, is in Bradford at the home ofher grandfather Benjamin Hinchliff.There is no sign of her mother. Can Iassume she was dead? The 1901 censusrecords point to Joseph II having adrapery business in Bradford ratherthan Halifax. Sadly it looks as if theBinns name is nearly extinguished inthe family of Joseph II, with just oneillegitimate flicker remaining to thisday descended from Joseph II’s sister,Sarah Frances.Well, what of the fine shop in Halifax?There appears to be three daughtersborn to Joseph I and Hannah, soperhaps no one to carry on the business.Only one daughter, Lucy, aged33, appears on the 1901 census at thesame address as Joseph I and she wasa Deputy Matron in a hospital. I mightnever have known more were it notfor the discovery that a Joseph Binnsdied in Frodsham in 1909 and his Willis available through the CheshireFamily History Society website. Acopy of the full Will revealed that itwas made in Saltburn where, I think,he and his new wife Jane must havegone on ‘Honeymoon’. The Will confirmsthat Jane is his wife, his daughterLucy was a hospital nurse inDerby, and Louisa was living in Halifax.There is mention made of a sonin-law,William Sutcliffe Ingham butnot of his elder daughter Mary Ellen.Sure enough, I found a marriage registeredin September Quarter 1885, inHalifax, between Mary Ellen Binnsand William Sutcliffe Ingham, so itseems probable that Mary Ellen haddied before the Will was made in1899.My tale reinforces the fundamentallesson to check original records whereverpossible. You will have seen howmisleading transcription and abbreviatedsearch indexes can be.I am indebted to Bindex for the elusivefacts that enabled my tale to betold. With grateful thanks to Donaldand to those who continued his work,Leslie, Alan, and David and his sonIan Binns.Addendum: Four relevant snippets1902 March 22 The Nursing Recordand Hospital World; LADY SUPER-INTENDENT Miss Lucy Binns hasbeen appointed Matron of the RoyalInfirmary, Hull. She was trained forthree years at the General Infirmary,Leeds, where she subsequently wasappointed Theatre Sister. She has alsobeen Night Superintendent at theRoyal Infirmary, Derby, in which institutionshe has for the last two yearsand a half held the position of AssistantMatron.1908 July 20 The Times; Lucy Binnssignatory to letter on nurses registrationas Matron at Royal InfirmaryHull.1918 June 18 London Gazette; MissLucy Binns, Lady Superintendant Matronat Hull Royal Infirmary awardedRoyal Red Cross Second Class.1918 July 20 The British Journal ofNursing; The King conferred TheRoyal Red Cross, Second Class, onLady Superintendent Lucy Binns, ofthe Civil Nursing Service.AND FINALLYI wonder if Lucy was advocated of theuse of the Binns ‘nit comb’ as mentionedin The British Journal of Nursingof 24 November 1917.3DJH%,116&211(&7,216

The Hallelujah SweepBartholomew BinnsWe thank Doreen Ross for contributing this item.She says about her family; -“Among them is a drunkard turned Salvation ArmyCorps Sergeant Major and a Chief Executioner(Public Hangman), among mill workers and chimneysweeps”.The Drunken SweepEXCERPTS FROM AN ARTICLE IN THESALVATION ARMY NEWSPAPER "THE WARCRY" DATED MAY 12 1891The Sgt.-Major of WakefieldWhen interviewed BartholomewBinns, the Corps Sergeant Majorsaid:-He was 10 yrs old when he started inhis father's business as a chimneysweep. He had good parents who triedto teach him good from bad but hestill fell in with bad people and starteddrinking. This habit got worse as hegot older till eventually he becameknown as the town drunk. He said "Iwould go into a public house at 6amand still be there at 11pm.In thattime I would have drunk myself drunkand sober seven times." He got marriedto Maria and they had 22 children.At one point he was so hard uphe took the Queen's shilling andenlisted in the Militia. He was sent toScarborough. This is where he firstmet the Salvation Army.Though it was a few years beforethat experience bore any fruit. Inthe meantime, his wife and childrenwere left destitute and had to relyon handouts from the workhouseunder the poor law. (I have the entryin my files of how much Mariareceived at that time). There weresome horrific things happened tohim during this time, whilst drunk.One time he fell off a ladder into ablazing fire, only being pulled outin the nick of time but with hisclothes on fire. Another time he fellasleep in a kiln that he was supposedto be tending. No one realised.The kindling was all ready forlighting next morning and this wasduly done. Bartholomew woke upfeeling very warm indeed as onceagain his clothes were on fire. Hethought he had died and gone tohell and made a very quickexit from the kiln once he realisedthat when dead you cant feelanything as far as we know andhe was very much aware of hisbody being burnt. (Perhaps hewas being given a foretaste ofwhat was to come if he didn’tmend his ways?)Eventually he met up with theSalvation Army once again andthis time he took note and hegave up the drink. He went 8 yrsliving on bread and water untilhe had paid his debts off. He becamea model citizen of histown, Wakefield and for the firsttime he, his wife and childrenwas able to have holidays at thecoast.Maria must have had a very difficulttime of it with all thosechildren and a delinquent husbandFind us on the web at:-www.thebinnsfamily.org.ukWe are grateful toIan A. BinnsandPeach Digital Ltd .for their continuing support ofPage 12