From New York to Omaha beach
August 24, 2014
In October 1940, a fresh-faced young American named John Buccellato, just out of his teens, enlisted in the United States Army Infantry. His parents who were middle-class Sicillian immigrants lived in an apartment block facing Central Park in New York City. His mother was a milliner. Within two years ‘Butch’ Buccellato found himself in
Confederate nest in Leamington Spa
August 20, 2014
The photograph to the right, taken in Leamington in 1865, is of former crewmen of the Confederate naval ship, the Shenandoah. What circumstances brought these sailors to Leamington at a time when fellow Americans were celebrating the ending of the Civil War? Four years earlier, the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, sent his representative, James M
Model Citizens
August 20, 2014
Peter and Sally Lee have lived in Leamington for over 45 years, and in retirement from their lives in business, developed a hobby that has led to TV and radio interviews, a DVD of their work, and the visit of a film company all the way from Los Angeles.Peter, born and brought up in Coventry,
Sam Lockhart, Elephant Trainer Extraordinaire
August 2, 2014
The world’s foremost elephant trainer began his working life as a circus acrobat and when he died was described by the Leamington Courier newspaper as a ‘retired giant of the entertainment industry’. The dapper little man with the magnificent white moustache was one of Leamington’s most recognisable residents in the years between the two world
The “King of Clubs” William James Henri Lawton (1871-1964)
July 30, 2014
Born in Warwick in August 1871, small in stature (5ft 4½ in) and slender in build (9st 3lb), Henri Lawton nonetheless became a renowned gymnastic, boxing and fencing instructor, the author of 2 small books on exercise and fitness, and in 1895, World Champion Indian club swinger. To claim the title, which had almost always gone to an American before this, Henri
James Edward Duggins R.B.A (1881-1968)
July 30, 2014
Leamington artist & photographer James Edward Duggins was born on 27th March, 1881, the son of a Cubbington watchmaker. He studied under Algernon Talmage with the Newlyn School. In St Ives, Duggins became friends with John Anthony Park whose marine pictures were a big source of inspiration to him. He met Edward Stott and Sir George Clausen who had a profound
Carol Circuit’s Leamington Mystery
July 30, 2014
A few years ago I made a most extraordinary discovery and Leamington Spa is at the heart of this find. When I accepted a commission to reupholster a Victorian chaise longue, I expected to find the traditional stuffing of horsehair inside. Instead I found a cache of artefacts dating from theVictorian period, including a name
Lyndon F (Toby) Cave
June 9, 2014
Lyndon F (Toby) Cave, Dip Arch. M Phil. FSA. (1923 -2014) The Leamington History Group is saddened to hear that our President, Toby, passed away on 12th May 2014. We are grateful that his son has allowed us to reproduce this tribute to his father. Lyndon F Cave, known to his family and friends as Toby,
Jane Elizabeth Tolson-Shaw
June 5, 2014
Jane Elizabeth Tolson was born in Yorkshire in 1879, and followed her older brother John Edwin into the teaching profession. A qualified teacher, geography specialist, member of the Royal Geographical Society able linguist and inveterate traveller, Miss Tolson held a series of teaching posts, becoming a head teacher for Staffordshire County Council by 1911. It
James Brown
May 26, 2014
James Brown, (1804-1854) Parish Clerk and Builder James Brown was one of the group of builders active in the first half of the nineteenth century who together developed the rapidly growing town of Leamington, shaping the town we know today. Alongside contemporaries in the trade Brown benefitted greatly from the sheer scale of the population
