The Blake/Hastings/Rivers/Strange Family Tree

I am Leonard Roy Blake, born on 28th January, 1934 at Charlton, London, England. I have always held an interest in knowing who my ancestors have been, but not necessarily only those of many years ago. It seems to me that those more immediate ancestors, grandparents or great grandparents, lived such totally different lives from my own in so many respects, yet have been so close to my own life. Not just, for instance, how they earned a living, but also how they were housed, how they cooked, ate, socialised. Were they generally liked at their places of work? Were they good at their jobs? What sort of person was my paternal great grandfather; if I could meet him in a public house would I know him as part of me, or, more correctly, me of him? Would we get on?



Written social history tells us how the masses lived, but what about ‘Gran’dad Hastings’ my mother’s father. I knew him only slightly, although well enough to know not to sit in his armchair, but nothing about the man. He was a bricklayer, by all accounts regarded by his family, including daughters and sons-in law, as a ‘good man’ a ‘gentleman’. This sort of thing is not in recorded in books! Now I am a granddad, children no longer use the formality of a grandparents surname as in my time; the more intimate use of my forename, Gran’dad Len, by my own grandchildren pleases me. But what would Gran’dad Hastings thought if I had tried this on him? By the way, his forename was Emmanuel. Not many of those about in the year 2004!



One should really take the opportunity to ask the older members of family about their lives, and other relations, whilst it is possible so to do. Now, for me, it is too late. I am the granddad! All I have left, in this October, 2004, of those adults who watched me grow up, is my uncle Ern, my late father’s brother. No matter that I thought that they would always be there. They’re gone! Ernest Sexton Blake is now ninety two years old, living alone and finding it increasingly difficult to cope. To him I dedicate my efforts to pass on something of our shared family history, on behalf of my parents, my siblings, and the vast web of Blake/Hastings/Strange etc., family out there somewhere. If you are one of them, not mentioned hereafter, or with additional material to contribute, please, please do so!



To Jamie Evelyn Rouse and Alice Louise Howes, my two dear granddaughters, and the more recent addition, Harrison William Blake, all this is really for you. I hope your grand children give you as much pleasure and affection as you do me!

God Bless you all!

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals


• InterneTree


• Sources

GEDCOM Trees (viewing trees requires 4.0 or later)

• The Blake/Hastings/Rivers/Strange Family Tree (62 KB)
  There are over two hundred people on this web site and as many of their details we have been able to gather. Feel free to get in touch to edit or add any of your own work relevant to these families. Jackie King & Len Blake

Family Photos

• Photograph of Harrison William Blake (352 KB)
  Shortly after birth in Pembury Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
• Photograph of Alice Louise Howes (22 KB)
  Alice in 2003.
• Photograph of Jamie Evelyn Rouse (155 KB)
  Jamie in 2001

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Nicholas George King (View PDF)


• Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Harrison William Blake (View PDF)


• Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Alice Louise Howes (View PDF)

Related Links

• This link takes you to my own design family tree web site