Judith Besford (née Dinning) (1947–2023)

Judith Dinning was born on 25th February 1947, the daughter of Ernest Dinning and Emily McGlen.

Father: Ernest (Ernie) Dinning #

Ernest Dinning was the son of John William Dinning and Rebecca.

They had the following children:

• John Dinning (Jack), married Agnes Robinson. Lived Glasgow. Children:

  • Jack Dinning, married Janet. Lived Lockerbie and Uddingston.
  • Joyce Dinning. Lived Fort William.

• Jenny Dinning, married Jock Robinson (sister Agnes lived in Jesmond). Children:

  • Joyce, married Tony Platt. One child, Kathryn Platt, married Brian Rapkin. Children Max Rapkin, Natasha Rapkin. Live South Gosforth.
  • Dennis, married Shirley. Adopted children David and Peter. Lived Chathill.

• Ada Dinning, married Norman Hutchinson. One son, Peter Hutchinson. Ada died in childbirth, and Peter was cared for by Emmie and Ernie until his father could look after him.

• Meg Dinning, married Christie. Children:

  • Molly, married Rock. Children Alan and Michael. “Used to visit us sometimes and departed when given half a crown!”
  • Bobby Christie, married Maude. Child Margaret Anne, lived Bexleyheath.

• George Dinning (no children)

• Jim Dinning, died WW1. Cousin Jack traced his grave in France and visited it.

• Ernest Dinning

• Hilda Dinning

• Robert Dinning, married Frances Doris (no children). Mother Rebecca died in childbirth.

Mother: Emily (Emmie) McGlen #

Emily McGlen was born in Sunderland on 19th August 1908. She lived at 106 Bolingbroke Street, Heaton, Newcastle.

Emily’s father was John Robert McGlen, born 1880, Ryhope. He was police sergeant with responsibility for Newcastle Town Moor, and lived in the Green House, a police house in Cowgate.

Emily’s mother was Emily Burley, born 1884, Seaham Harbour. Emily Burley had two sisters: Isabel, married Norman Thompson, child Kathleen married W. Cook, one child, Graeme. Polly (Mary?) married McDonald, one child Isabel, married Nevin Drinkwater, curator of the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead; they lived in Saltwell Towers and retired to Bradford-on-Avon (no children).

John McGlen and Emily Burley married in 1904 in Sunderland. They had two children:

• Robbie Dinning, married Peggy (no children)

• Emily Dinning (Emmie), married Ernest Dinning, one child (Judith)

John Robert McGlen retired from the police to become manager of a pub in Ebchester. His wife Emily never set foot in it.

Emmie met Ernie there. Ernie used to row up the River Derwent.

Jack Dinning traced ownership of 17 properties and pubs on Scotswood Road to John William Dinning.

Emmie used to collect rent for two properties, one on Nesham Street.

Ernie and Emmie sold their house and bought a smallholding called Beda Hill. This lost a lot of money and so they moved back to what was then Northumberland.

Judith died on 8th November 2023, aged 76. She had been suffering from oesophageal cancer.