ONCE again the reach of the Daily Examiner is demonstrated to know no bounds!

Jo Lawrence emailed us from Brisbane, Australia, while in the middle of a bit of research after she came across a piece we carried on October 7 last year regarding the Hirst family of Denby Dale and Upper Cumberworth.

This piece was reader feedback from an All Our Yesteryears feature on the village of Denby Dale which appeared on September 9.

To set the scene, we’ll quote that piece in full.

DENBY DALE (September 9): Jane Williams of Salendine Nook was delighted to spot her grandmother, Lilian Hirst (nee Riding) and her great-aunt Vera in the picture of Denby Dale Old Folks Treat in April 1950.

Jane continues: “Lilian, in the black hat and lightcoloured coat, seated at the front of the table at the right hand side, was married to my grandfather, champion draughts player John Hirst and they lived for many years at Upper Cumberworth.

“They had two children: William Selwyn, also known as Bill, who was my late father, and a daughter, Mavis Frankland. Sadly, Lilian died in 1968 when I was five, but I shall always remember holding on to her hands and with my feet on the pedals enjoying a ride with her on her wheelchair!

“Great Auntie Vera, wearing a pinafore, was one of the helpers in the photograph. She was the third lady standing at the bottom end of the table to the right.

“Vera was married to Lilian’s brother, Harold Riding, and they lived in the adjoining house at Upper Cumberworth.

“They had one daughter, Jean Senior, who still lives at Denby Dale.”

Jo finds it hard to trace living relatives from Australia so she was overjoyed to see a living relation on the web by chance.

“The John Hirst who Jane mentions is most likely the step-brother of my great-grandmother Ellen Hirst,” she says.

“Our family history tells me that John’s father, James Hirst, married a Melinda Wilkinson who died after having three girls, one being Ellen. My research shows that these girls were then taken care of or adopted by other members of their extended family while James appears to have married a Martha Morton of Denby Dale.

We knew of a son called John who was a champion draughts player in Denby Dale with children Selwyn and Mavis from my living grandmother.

“We were led to believe that James left for the US so my trail ran cold until I saw this posting by this reader.

“I would love for them to contact me so I can also let them know what happened to our side of the family and truly find out what happened to their side. ”

Jo Lawrence can be contacted at 9 Crewe St, Mt Gravatt East, QLD Australia 4122 or on email at utinni@optusnet.com.au