Left to right:
Anna Tribe, great-great-great granddaughter
of Admiral Lord Nelson
Newport-born Bert Hodson, member of the
Great Britain Ryder Cup Team of 1931
Bill O’Keefe and son, direct descendants of
chartist John Partridge
who do you think you are?
President of Raglan Local History Group,
Anna Tribe, has a story or two to tell.
Now a spry 80 year-old, she continues to Another new resource for budding The Ryder Cup, taking place at the
play an active part in the group which genealogists is housed in the restored Victorian Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, this Autumn,
was founded by her aunt back in 1955. chapel at the entrance to Monmouth Cemetery. is drawing one Peter Hodson all the way from
Anna has had a life-long interest in history Opening in February, it will provide access to America. Not just for the golf but also to
and lectures regularly on subjects dear the computerised burial records, tell the story catch up with the Hodson family in Newport.
to her heart. Her enthusiasm for the past of Monmouth Cemetery and provide His Newport-born father, Bert Hodson, was a
is understandable because her own long information about the wildlife to be found member of the Great Britain team in the 1931
ancestry makes fascinating reading. Anna Tribe across this 7-acre site. In Blaenavon, the Ryder Cup in Ohio. Though largely self-taught,
is the great-great-great granddaughter of Community Heritage Museum and World it appears that Bert initiated a strong golfing
Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton. Heritage Centre hold useful records, too. tradition which crossed the Atlantic when his
And she displays a striking family resemblance. 2010 also sees the 170th anniversary son Peter settled in the States. Both Peter
Going even further back, the family home of the Chartists’ trial in Monmouth and the and his son Andrew make a living from golf,
until 1646 was Raglan Castle. In fact her subsequent transportation of three of the designing courses and clubs. Meanwhile,
cousin, the Duke of Beaufort, head of the leaders to Tasmania, leaving from Chepstow. Bert’s younger brother Tim was the
Somerset family, is still its hereditary keeper. A new exhibition about the Chartists opened professional at Tredegar Park Golf Club in
Unlike Anna Tribe, few people are at Newport Museum late last year to mark the Newport from the 1940s to the 1960s. It’ll be
so closely linked with such high-profile 170th anniversary of the rising itself, when interesting to see which side the Hodsons
individuals and such well-documented events. thousands of men from the South Wales support in this year’s Ryder Cup.
But for the thousands of people interested valleys marched on Newport only to be met An increasing number of visitors to
in researching their family tree, the Gwent by armed soldiers. Twenty-two men were killed the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk are on the hunt
Record Office is a good place to start. and dozens injured, in their fight for democracy. for the significant people and the important
It holds records for much of South East The newly-developed Chartist Trails in Newport places in their past. To unearth the facts.
Wales going back as far as 1250. Currently and Monmouth will undoubtedly attract those To solve a puzzle. Even to find new relatives.
in Cwmbran, it will be relocating next year with Chartist ancestry. Bill O’Keefe for one. For some, it’s going to take quite a bit of
to the Grade II listed offices of the former He’s a direct descendant of John Partridge; it searching. For others, it’s as plain as the
steelworks in Ebbw Vale. While the behind- was in Partridge’s house that Chartist leader nose on their face.
the-scenes preparation for the move takes John Frost was arrested. Interestingly, Bill is a
place, the opening hours are limited to Blue Badge Guide and spends much of his
Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am – 5pm time talking about the events in which his
and Friday 9.30am – 4pm. ancestor played a part.
diary dates more to explore
If you enjoyed this
16 January Trials of the Chartists – 170 years after gwentfhs.info
you may also like...
the death sentence was pronounced on the gwentwildlife.org/livingchurchyards
Chartist leaders, there is a day of talks and walks in monmouthpartnershipforum.org/ big Pit: National Coal Museum,
Monmouth. newport.ac.uk/chartist (map ref D4) cemetery_group.php blaenavon (map ref A5)
24 January –10 October Exhibition about the
newport.gov.uk/museum
museumwales.ac.uk
brief life of Charles Stewart Rolls (1877 – 1910)
raglanvillage.co.uk
at the Nelson Museum, Monmouth
rydercup.com
blaenavon World heritage Site
(map ref A5)
rolls100.com (map ref D4)
world-heritage-blaenavon.org.uk
Throughout September Open Doors – get to
see historic buildings which are usually closed
Chepstow Museum (map ref (D6)
to the public. civictrustwales.org
monmouthshire.gov.uk
1 – 7 November Chartist Week – events at various
venues. newport.ac.uk/chartist
visitwyevalley.com 23
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