There was great excitement in the Timpson household in Cheltenham. The tickets were booked on the Great Western Railroad to London then from London by ship to New Zealand and it was time to leave.
Their plans to travel to the colony resulted from letters written by Ann Timpson’s brother, William Wheelband.
The final decision was made after William had promised Henry work in his flourishing nursery business in Temuka until he found what he wanted to do.
William had been elected to the Temuka Licencing Committee in February 1886 and had contacts in the hotel industry. Henry & Ann had discussed and decided that this was something they were more interested in.
Son Harry William who had an established gardening business in Cheltenham was not intending to go with them as he had met Lois Johnson his future wife.