He was a farmer at Bishop Wilton near York. Born in Scarborough in 1913 and was twin to Beatrice and his birth certificate says he was living at 19 Hibernia Street, Scarborough, his father Herbert is recorded as a printer (journeyman). He was a keen sportsman and played for Scalby town football team and won many trophies.

The almost unbeatable Scalby football team of 1937-38 and officials with their trophies. Left to Right, back row, D.Daniels, T. Allan, Harry Lazenby, J. Troy, T. Flinton; middle row, George Waterhouse, R. Southwick, G. Duck, E. Rawson, E. Pepple; front row, Raymond 'Paddy' Waterhouse, Walter Sefton and Walter Megginson.
(Walter Megginson was in the 5th btn. Green Howards and was killed in the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. George Waterhouse was in the RAF in the war - mostly based in Italy and Austria. His brother Paddy Waterhouse went on to play for Scarborough and had a trial with Sheffield Wednesday. Tommy Flinton was Secretary of Scalby Football Club.)

He married Dorothy Rivis "Dot" on the 11th Sept 1937 in St.Marys Church Scarborough (see wedding photo), when he was living at 34 Oxford Street, Scarborough. They bought a house at 17 Morgan Street in Scarborough, where they took in visitors to supplement income. Dad worked for Tonks & son as a French polisher until called up in into the Green Howards for WW2. He was badly injured in Cyprus in 1941 and came home and decided to go farming. In 1947 he took a farm in Bishop Wilton. He later became a local councilor and did many things for the community such as helping to obtain the local playing field where Tennis, Soccer and Cricket is played and also was instrumental in obtaining village street lights. He had three children, Robert, Richard and Andrew. He died Feb 1983 aged 70.


Children: Robert, Richard & Andrew in 1956

Walt in the Middle East just prior to getting injured

My father was injured in Cyprus in WW2 pictured here in his dressing gown and walking sticks. In hospital in Pietermaritzburg South Africa. Took him 18 months to get home. Sailed up S.America to USA and joined the convoys home & avoided the U-boats attacking the convoys.

Born in Cardiff in 1875 and married in Scarborough to Mary Jane Todd in 1896. He is seen in the photograph above holding his first born son Herbert in 1897. In the 1891 census he was age 16 and his occupation was 'printing (machine)' and was living at home in 20, St. Pauls Avenue, Balsall Heath, Birmingham (very close to the Edgbasten Cricket ground) along with 10 siblings and his father Herbert an Assistant Grocer who died in July. His mother Matilda (nee Fear) was from a family of printers from the Bristol area. In the mid-1890's he moved to Scarborough to become a colour printer for ETW Dennis Printers in Scarborough who printed the first postcard in the world in 1894 at the Scarborough works (at the time that Herbert was working there). In the 1911 census, his widowed mother Matilda was living at 319, Simmaids Terrace, in Newcastle upon Tyne with 2 of Herbert's brothers Edward (25) and Albert (24). Edward was a salesman for typewriters and Albert was an Electrical Engineer. Herbert joined the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade in 1914 and saw out the war as a reserve. He had eight children which included 2 sets of twins but left Mary in the 1920s and moved to Leeds.

Married: Mary Jane Todd - 19 Dec 1896 in Wesleyan Centenary Chapel, Scarborough

Children: Herbert (b. May 1897), Norah, Gertrude, Edward, Ronald, (William & Grace) twin , (Walter & Beatrice) Twin


In 1928*, was employed as the Foreman in charge of the Platten, Single Colour, Letterpress Machines at Storey Evans Ltd of Rawdon. After that it is believed he moved to Hunter’s Letterpress Printing Works at Armley, where he possibly became a Manager.

*Source Michael Nellis who married his granddaughter Kathy (daughter of his son Herbert (Bert)) (an email 2005)

His family was left in Scarborough and he became separated from Mary Jane. Mary Jane died in first QTR 1939 and Herbert Married Ellen Baker (his housekeeper in the 1939 register aged 46) in Leeds in June 1940. Herbert died in Leeds in June 1941 aged 66 of Cerebral Thrombosis after a lifetime of working in the printing industry. Ellen went on to marry George Potter on 21st Sept 1945 and died in Leeds in 1950. Her daughter Joyce Baker b. 3.1.20 was living with Ellen & Herbert in 1939 (occupation :- card boxmaker), she later married Thomas Jarvis in Jan-Mar 1940 in Leeds, a few months before her mother married Herbert in the following June.

Family stories told us his brother was Ernest Sefton, a famous Music Hall comedian who starred in many 1930's and 1940's movies appearing with George Formby and Old Mother Riley. His catch phrase was "eh what a to do!". However, I have since learned that Ernest Sefton was a stage name and he was really called Ernest Henry Tipton who was born on 15th January 1883, South Hackney and married Elizabeth Jane Hearne on 10th February 1906 at Swindon, Wilts and died 5th December 1954 at Kingston, Surrey aged 71. His sister was Violet Loraine the famous music hall singer who sang with George Robey.

Herbert Sefton in his Northumbrian Brigade Reserves Uniform about the time of WW1.

Married: Matilda Sophia Fear - 24 May 1870 in Bethany Chapel, Cardiff

Children: Beatrice Matilda, Blanche, Herbert, Ernest, Robert, Edward, Reginald, Jessie*, Albert, William

*Jessie married Thomas Andrew Walker 19 Feb 1899 in Birmingham. He was an acrobatic cyclist in the famous Selbini troupe. See below.

Married: Jane Mayers- 24 May 1870 in Bethany Chapel, Cardiff

Children: Beatrice Matilda, Blanche, Herbert, Ernest, Robert, Edward, Reginald, Jessie, Albert, William

Above: Jessie with her mother in law and her husband Thomas Andrew Walker

Lalla Selbini top right on her trick cycle.
Below: The Selbini Troupe in 1894 - Names provided from the book "Kate Chatters. the great Selbinis, and Lalla Selbini" by Brian Chatters. (back row), William, Fred Etoile, Jack, Lily; (front row) Leola, Victor, Lalla

My Great Great Great Grandfather:
John Sifton (1786 - 1856)

In every record John's surname was recorded as Sifton except on his death certificate. John married Sarah Pumphrey on 28th August 1808 and had ten children. He was a Leather Dyer and Glover. Gloves were commonly made in Worcester. He died aged 70 on 16th Dec 1856 in St Michael's parish, Worcester South, of Apoplexy. His occupation was recorded as Leather Stainer.

Married: Sarah Pumphrey - 28 Aug 1808 in St. Helens, Worcester

Children: Benjamin, Richard Brook, John, Phoebe, Sarah, Elizabeth, Martha, William Pumphrey, James, Mary Ann

My Great Great Great Great Grandfather:
Benjamin Sifton (1763 - ?)

He was baptised in 20 Mar 1763 in St. John's Worcester. He married Phoebe Freeth on 27th March 1785 in St. Clements, Worcester and had seven children.

Married: Phoebe Freeth- 27 Mar 1785 in St. Clements, Worcester

Children: John, Benjamin, Sarah, Thomas, Eli, Phoebe, James

From the Worcester area (I have not found his birth record). There were various Sifton names in the villages like Stoke Bliss to the North West of Worcester. I can find no record of a marriage of any Francis Sifton and an Elizabeth for around 1750. All the birth records for the children say the father and mother is Francis Sifton and Elizabeth. He lived to 85-90 years of age and was buried on 23rd Feb 1810 in St. John Bedwardine.

Married: - The only possible one so far found is a marriage on 14th Jun 1747 in St. John's Bedwardine, Worcester of Francis Sifton and Sarah Turner (Sarah did have a sister Elizabeth). It is possible that Sarah was also known as Elizabeth. But it is a mystery why the marriage was recorded as Francis Sifton and Sarah Turner and all the children were baptised with parents of Francis Sifton and Elizabeth. The only girl born was named Sarah.

Children: Francis (b.1750), James(b.1753), Sarah (b.1756), John (b.1759), Benjamin (b.1763)