Day 5 London to Manchester

After the terrific theatre performance of Wicked, we made our way back to our hotel and a good night's rest. In the morning, we re-packed for our flight to Manchester, took a final stroll down Regent Street - caught a cab to Paddington Station and then out to the airport on the Heathrow Express.

We arrived in Manchester later than expected (about 6PM) after a delay on the runway in London. Finally got to our hotel and had dinner and an early night.

Next day, we were up bright and early to go to the Manchester Library to look up the parish records for the Tomkinson births and marriages.

David, Richard's great grandfather's birth 1853 -- son of David and Ann Tomkinson


Richard's g-g-grandfather's marriage 1810 David Tomkinson to Sarah Fletcher.

And here is the Altar at the Manchester Cathedral where all Tomkinson's were married and christened up until 1875 since the Cathedral Church was the only placed 'licensed' to perform marriages in the Diocese all the surrounding communities had to have their ceremonies at the Cathedral and not their local parish churches.

Richard at the front door of the Cathedral.

We met Ali Cochran for a great pub lunch and enjoyed getting caught up with all her news. This is her last year at the University of Manchester and she certainly has enjoyed it. She's taken advantage of being close to Europe and regailed us with her back-pack trips trekking over Europe.

We left Ali to return to her studies and walked around Manchester down-town for a bit -- Richard to the Art Gallery and me to the Archives. Back to the hotel and an early night. My feet our killing me! I don't think I've walked so much every day in years. The cobblestones are the trickiest -- but my legs are getting tougher!