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Frank Rees of Clearwell and Fetter Hill stone quarry near Coleford, Gloucestershire.

A photo taken at Fetter Hill Quarry with Frank Rees of Clearwell.

Above: "Fetter Hill" quarry near Coleford - in 1904, Frank Rees is third from the right.

Nick added: "Please find attached 2 photos of my maternal grandfather, Frank Balch Rees, 1883 - 1972. He lived in "Porch House", Clearwell, from 1904 until his death. He married Ethel Harper (1883 - 1954) of Coleford, in 1909 and they had 3 daughters, Marjorie, Edna Grace (my mother), Joan and 1 son, John.
Frank served in the "Royal Field Artillery" during the Great War and was a very well known and liked character in and around Clearwell (Tom ..., who lives near the "Cross", still remembers him). Frank was a quarryman & manager and a stonemason, had a wonderful old house, orchard and walled garden and liked a pint in "The Lamb" and the "Wyndham".
The 2 photos were taken at "Fetter Hill" quarry near Coleford - the first in 1904, Frank is third from the right and the second in1908 and he's the right hand man.
I hope this is of interest to you and others in the "Forest".

Maurice Oliver added: "... The gentleman to the left of Frank Rees is my Great Grandfather William York. His Father was a Blacksmith in Clearwell. His Father- in -law lived next door to Porch house (Called the Tannery) although the tanning was done at Porch House I believe".

Frank Rees of Clearwell Gloucestershire with other men at Fetter Hill stone quarry.
Above
: Fetter Hill stone quarry in 1908, Frank Rees of Clearwell is the man standing at the far right.

Marjorie Rees added (August 2019): "... My Great Grandfather was Frank`s father Alfred George Rees, who owned the quarry at the time these photos were taken. My great grandfather was an important figure in the Clearwell area during the mid 1800s .If you go on the British Newspaper Association site you can look up how he was involved with the setting up the Old Severn Bridge crossing. Some of the foundation stones also came from the quarry! As you can see, I am named after one of the daughters!! Frank was left the quarry when Alfred died. There were 10 children in total and all the surviving children were left property in and around Clearwell by Alfred. This was impressive because Alfred`s father was a bankrupt in the 1830s and died in 1841 leaving their mother to bring them up and educate them".

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