Dyer Family

Clara Dyer selling newspapers in the High St. Image courtesy of Ann Popham.
Arthur & Clara Dyer & M.Handel (right) in Cottage Row during George VI Coronation festivities.
Florrie Dyer outside No.13 Adam St. Photos courtesy of Ann Popham.

Arthur & Clara’s second son Albert continued the business after Arthur’s death.

In a later newspaper article he recalled of his father’s time: “In those days Sunday newspapers were only 11/2 d and did not increase in price until 1916 when they went up to 2d. As there was no Sunday morning train from Highbridge to Burnham the newspapers had to be fetched on a pair of trucks.Later a horse and cart were used, and latterly a car. All the family took part in deliveries. The seven children were at an early age, and they walked or cycled. Now most of the roundsmen deliver by car”

In the same article FlorenceĀ Marchent recalledĀ  delivering Sunday newspapers to the two military hospitals in Burnham (Manor Hotel and St Margaret’s School) during World War I. She also recalled posting the patients letters for them.

Below, four generations of the Dyer family pictured in 1959 in the back yard of No 41 High St: seated are Clara Dyer and her second daughter Florence Marchent; standing is Florence’s daughter Ann Popham and on Clara’s lap is Ann’s son Mervyn.

Photo courtesy of Ann Popham.

Ann tells us that the pram in the background is a typical fashion pram of the time with a Morland’s canopy. Below is an advertisement from the Burnham Guide of 1957.

Could this (below, 1904) be Arthur Dyer’s grandfather?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *