Marianna Stotesbury
"I am Marianna Stotesbury and Vivian is my sister. Thank you Peter for inviting us .. I connected with Peter through Thomas Stotesbury III who is probably still in Korea ... (We have communicated over several years) by e-mail and he invited me here .. I don't know how long ... Minnesota .... Its been a wonderful experience ... Its wonderful to meet you all ! "

Me
"This is your second visit ?"

Marianna Stotesbury
"Yes"

Kenneth Stotesbury
"I am Kenneth Stotesbury, father of Peter and Sheila, Peter's eldest and only sister is here as well and Barbara on my right who will speak in a minute. And you (Peter) were saying about my father, Charles, he set me off on this when he was at university, I thing, at least at Training College which (was connected) to the Guildhall Library (in London) found references there to Stotesburys going back to the Doomsday Book. And there are other things he found - the family crest and made some note, I have still got them we haven't done a lot about it but we are conscious of this possibly so he started the interest - I haven't ... as diligently as I should but it is coming together slowly. And passing it on ..."

Barbara Stotesbury
"I'll tell you that we met because Kenneth and myself were in the forces we didn't meet until about three months before we were demobbed and then afterwards we started going together and we have now been married for 55 years."

Sheila Gardner
"I am Sheila Stotesbury now Gardner but was Stotesbury one of the (Stotesbury) girls ... But maintains the connection. Sister to Peter of course, tracing the family tree has always been an interest but as other people have said, (we) just don't have enough time to do it."

Beverly Stotesbury
"I am Beverly Stotesbury and the reason I started to come here because I am married to the name sake - I am married to Peter Stotesbury - not the same one ! Its Peter Stotesbury from the Isle of Wight. Peter and I started going out on the Isle of Wight and have been married for 25 years on the 29th of April 1978. We had our silver wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago and we've got two daughters, Sarah who will speak to you in minute and Rebecca and they're 24 and 22 and now we have a little granddaughter Jasmine here but she is asleep. Peter will tell you about his Mum and Dad - won't you !"

Peter Stotesbury
"I am Peter Stotesbury from the Isle of Wight connection, there is another Peter Stotesbury in the Isle of Wight but I've never met him funnily enough. My father is David Stotesbury and mothers name is Louise and a brother John and a sister Margaret and they are still on the Isle of Wight ... We moved to the mainland as we call it from the Isle of Wight 25 year ago funnily enough and Val is still alive but getting crotchety, mother is still alive and there are many members of the Stotesbury family still alive. Got two very interesting maiden aunts who are an institution, they are 90 and 89 I think they are and still look after themselves at home - if you can find them they are worth going to see - it's like going back another 100 years. I will now pass you on to my great nephew, Edward, who lives with us."

Edward Cotton
"I am Edward Cotton, my mum is Holly, dad's Martin Cotton and grandma is Margaret Stotesbury Dads sister."

Chris(topher) Stotesbury
"I an Chris Stotesbury and I am here because I live down the road - believe it or not - I'm related with Kenneth who spoke earlier, father of Peter and Sheila, who is my uncle and talk of his father and wars reminds me that my Grandfather Stotesbury was in Baghdad in the First World War and we were talking about that 'Messpot' (see footnote) as it was then known. My daughter (Claire) is here as well - we have also got Vivian and Marianna staying with me and we are hoping next Saturday to go to Stuchbury and Sulgrave which they have never visited before, we have found it in the maps - it will be an interesting adventure."

Clare Stotesbury
"I am Clare Stotesbury. I am 18 years old. I was born in Kingston (Surrey) and I live in Kingston !!"

Maria Stotesbury
"I am Maria Stotesbury, Peter's wife, we have been married for 30 years and I'll pass you on .."

Sarah White
"Hello my name is Sarah White I unfortunately lost the (Stotesbury) name last year when I got married to Simon, who's not here year on the Isle of Wight. My parents are Peter and Beverly Stotesbury and I am mother to Jasmine White - who has just woken up."

Peter Stotesbury
"Since the tape recorder isn't going to work very well in the middle (of the group)I will turn it off ... "
(It had been my intention to collect general discussion but not possible with the 'automatic level' mentioned earlier !!)

Footnote
The spelling of Mesopotamia as 'Messpot' is possibly incorrect. It is likely that the word was never written down since it was the colloquial, slang description for what was Mesopotamia and is now known as Iraq. When I was at school in the late 1950's and 1960's the word 'Messpot' was still in use - did I hear of the word from my father at home or was I introduced to the word through a history or geography lesson at school, I'll never know ! Additionally to what was said by Chris and an interesting link between the past and the world of 2003 is that my grandfather Charles, during the First World War spent some time being trained in Kent in the construction and operation of water treatment plant before being moved out, to what is now present day Iraq, to provide assistance to our allies. (How the World turns !!)