Woman in search of her long-lost family

A WOMAN from Australia is trying to find family members in Melksham after the death of her parents has left her wanting to connect with long-lost cousins, who she believes still live in the area.

Jane Searle (nee Simpkins/Simons), who has lived in Australia since the age of six, is looking to be reunited with family members, who she believes to still live in the Melksham/Chippenham/ Lea area.

Her grandparents, Edward and Emily Simpkins (nee Haines) had 11 children, which she has knowledge of, and her father, Herbert Lewis Simpkins, being the youngest, born on 24th October 1919. Her grandmother Emily died in 1944 and her grandfather Edward  in 1966; and both were interred in Chippenham cemetery, to her knowledge.

Jane said, “From memory, his brothers and sisters were called George, Edith, Charlie, Albert, Jesrick, Fred, Florence, and then my father Herbert.

“Herbert was born ‘Simpkins’ but later changed his name to ‘Simons’ when he married my mother, Kathleen Irene. In 1960, they decided to emigrate to Australia and had two children, my sister, Mary, and myself.”

Jane knows little about her uncles and aunts only that George married Betty; Edith married Charlie Sparrow and they lived in Lea; Charlie married Kit, Albert married Bella; Jesrick married Lil – it was both their second marriages and they each had children from their previous relationships and lived in Melksham; Fred died in 1931 and Florence married Fred Carey.

Jane continued, “Since my mum and dad have gone, I am missing the family connection. I was only six when we moved to Australia from a village called Idlecote in Warwickshire, so I am not able to remember any of our family.”

If you have any information regarding Jane’s family then you can contact her on jsearle2104@gmail.com.

Above: Jane’s parents, Herbert and Kathleen Simons.