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David Tyler extracted an article from the Weston Mercury yesterday which I will send to you separately.   Other people are mentioned including Miss Ida MILLARD (38) who was injured jumping from the Hotel and Sister BROOKFIELD of the Church Army Home in Clevedon Road who took in the five guests from the burning Hotel as well as the manager, W SLADDIN, his wife and 18 month old baby. When Miss LEWIS was discharged from hospital she also went to this Home. Leading Fireman MARSH effected her rescue and in charge of the fire-fighting operations were Division Officer D A HARRIS and Station Officer LAYTON.

Was there a Catholic connection with your family?  

Yesterday we had some spare time at Weston Library (more helpers than people coming in with queries) and Andrew Crossley, one of our volunteers, found a Miss Louisa SPROD living at 38 Hill Road, Clevedon in the Kelly's directory of 1939.  Her address was given as The Catholic Repository, 38 Hill Road. On the 1939 Register she was listed as Hannah L SPROD with "Sale of Religious articles" (rather difficult to read). as her occupation.

Also in 1939 there was an Edith BOYS born 16 Jan 1920 living at a St Joseph's Home, The Croft, Sudbury, Suffolk - which I think mught be connected with the Catholic Church.  Is this just a coincidence?

I put "Preston" in the last name box and "Peru" in the country box on FamilySearch and it came up with a birth of Harry Hernann Preston Wendorff in Lima on 7 November 1747. If you click on the original image you will see that the father is Harry Preston from Preston, England. My Spanish is a bit rusty but it is definitely your man. The document appears to contain some information which might be of use to you.

Dave Erasmus

A google search brought up a book published in 1940 by Harry Preston Director of Agriculture in Peru. I could not understand the title my linguistic skills are poor to say the least.

Hi Brian.

If I have the right man he sailed on the SS Orbita with Mary aged 27 (his wife?) and Mary aged 4 (his daughter?). According to the Passenger List they were contracted to land in Mollendo, Peru. Is that right?

It's a long shot but is it worth contacting the Mollendo Port Authority to see if any records exist? The contact details appear to be:

The Harbour Master, Pasaje Zela 100, Mollendo, Peru, Tel: +51 54 532963, Fax: +51 54 533714, Email: capumole@marina.mil.pe

By the way there is one tree on Ancestry suggesting he died in Peru in 1971 but no source is quoted. If you are a subscriber you could try contacting the tree owner. The tree is Lamont Family Tree and the owner is Lizzykip. She is active having last logged on yesterday.

Dave Erasmus

I think I've found someone who was at St John's at about that time - am awaiting a reply from him.