(Walter) Mighells Lynde
1st son of Walter Lucus & Alice Rose Lynde. Born
1883, and his wife Grace Adeline Manning, born
1885, went to British East Africa the day after they
were married in January 1910. He was Deputy
Director of Public Works in Nairobi where their two
daughters were born. Doris Grace on 5th February
1911 and Joan Emily on 14th July 1913. Joan died in
Sydney on 3rd July 2002.
Mighells
Grace Adeline Manning
Photo taken on their first trip back to England, Alice Rose with
her first grandchild, Doris sitting on Grace’s lap holding Alice
Edith’s hand (my mother who was Doris’ godmother).
Taken on their second trip back to England, Doris siting on
Walter Lucus’ knee and baby Joan on Alice Rose’s lap.
Mighells and Grace with Doris and Joan in Nairobi 1919
Mighells and family returned from Nairobi to live in
England in 1930 after he was diagnosed with
disseminated sclerosis. In this photo, taken soon after, he
is in a wheelchair with his sister, Bertha and her
daughter, Audrey (aged 10) on his right. Grace is on his
right and Doris (20) and Joan (18) sitting in front.
Trip back to England 1920, Doris and Joan ready to be
left at boarding school are with their mother, Grace,
and Col. Sir John Walter Ottley, a cousin, whose
mother, Elizabeth Rebecca Dobell, was the daughter of
John Dobell. He married his cousin, Emily Martha
Dobell, (Alice Rose’s sister). They had no children.
Doris about 1932
Doris married James Knox on 25th July 1935
Joan married Douglas Alfred Brown on 7th June 1938
Mighells was confined to a wheelchair for 14 years until his death on 31st March 1944 aged 61 years. His health had been
steadily deteriorating over the years and by the time his first grandchild was born to Joan, in 1941, he was very frail. He and
Grace were living on the south coast in Worthing and Joan lived much further north in Norwich, so this, as well as the
difficulties of travelling during wartime meant that he wasn’t able to see his two grandchildren but he was immensely proud of
them. Grace survived Mighells by 32 year, she died on 28th March 1976 aged 90.
Mighells with Grace about 1936
1943 Joan with Anthony Mighells Born June 1941 and
Jill Mary born August 1942
Mighells’ two grandchildren,
Anthony (Tony) and Jill. Photo
taken about 1947
David Mager
Bluetooth’s Apprentice
