Voyage Out

Chapter 1

First family Group – New Zealand Bound

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.

The two elder surviving girls Mary Lizzie and Ada Fanny had good jobs, were not living at home, but said they would follow the rest of the family out later. Maybe they needed to give more notice at work, or were just showing their independence, or possibly did not want to be the child minders on the voyage out.

So Henry and Ann and children Charles, George Herbert, John Thomas, Annie Eliza and Lillie Groome arrived at the railway station with all their luggage.

Henry had studied the map and was sure the changing views would keep the children occupied with the different landscapes and then London itself which must be vast compared to Cheltenham.

After an exciting journey the family arrived in London, and had dinner at a modest Inn near the docks.

They were astounded by all the dock activity.

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