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Wedding of Frank Flaherty from Paroa and Hilda Hansen from Greymouth .December 29th 1945.
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DescriptionCan anyone in this group help me by identifying the gentleman on the left please. The photo is of my late parents wedding on December 29th 1945. Dad was Frank Flaherty from Paroa and Mum Hilda Hansen from Greymouth. Her attendant was Grace Alderton and I know the photo was taken in Christchurch where they were married. It's going thru my mind that the man in question may have had the nick name "Snow""Date of PhotoDecember 29th 1945Map[1] ContributorPaula Vercoe
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Location (city or town)GreymouthParoaPersonFrank FlahertyHilda HansenEventFrank Flaherty from Paroa and Mum Hilda Hansen from Greymouth wedding.December 29th 1945.
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Category TagWedding
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Date Created25th January 2021CommentsAnne Miller Mcmillan
wouldnt have been Snow Rochford by any chance would it ?
Richard Leach
There was a bloke at Paroa when I was a kid ( born 1945 ) was our neighbour
Called Snow Sonjen
That photo if memory serves me right after all these years strongly resembles him
Heather Newby
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Author
Richard Leach sounds like a Scandinavian surname.
Dulcie Symmers
Richard Leach,that's correct they lived across the road from my Nana Nailer.
Ken Campbell
Wasn’t there a Snowy Thomson from out Paroa way
Richard Leach
Ken Campbell snow Thomson was my cousin not old enough to fit this role
Cheryl Pinn
mum just said coco[snow]thomson [cousin] not old enough
Paula Vercoe
Dad was an engine Driver for the Railways so I wondered if the gentleman was a Fireman on the steam trains
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Paula Vercoe what a really neat photo, and no I don't know who the best man is. Do you have their marriage licence at all??
Paula Vercoe
No Ann I don't
Anne Miller Mcmillan
lovely to see suggestions coming forward. im sure it will be solved .
Janet Tillman
Which church was it? All Christchurch church records are in the Christchurch City Library family history section. Attendants and ministers are usually listed.
Paula Vercoe
Im not sure Janet. It was either the one in Latimer Square or one in Papanui Road near Bealey ave that was damaged in the earthquake. Dad was a Catholic and Mum a Proddy so they never had any family members at the wedding. They told them 3 moths later. At the time Dad was working in Westport driving Railcars/trains and Mum worked for Richmond & Renyolds the dentist in Greymouth as a Dental Assistant
Heather Newby
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Paula Vercoe yes.. it was a big thing in those days for a catholic to marry a protestant.. it was frowned upon, I never did get it.
Heather Gaulter
Looking so smart
·
Roger Howell
When I was young (say 1957) we used to bike from Karoro out to “Flarty’s” pool at Paroa.
It would seem that the pool may have been named after the groom’s family Flaherty?
Paula Vercoe
Yes, that's right it was
Marilyn O'Donnell
Looks abit like my uncle Joe Rodger
Paula Vercoe
Marilyn O'Donnell I think you may be right I've heard that name spoken when they were both alive. I wonder if he served overseas with Dad in Egypt
Doris Blanchard
I believe I knew Grace Alderton if it was she who was married to Arthur who had the nick name Shorty.
Paula Vercoe
Doris Blanchard Yes Doris that's who she is. She was Mum's best friend. Her and Üncle Arthur" were family friends for years and years until they both passed on. Many happy memories there.
Doris Blanchard
Paula Vercoe thank you. Arthur, who we knew as Shorty was a good friend of my father’s in Greymouth. Grace was a McIvor from a family whom we knew well also. My father, Jack Osmers had worked on the railways until 1939 and my mother, Hazel, née Hopgood was brought up in Paroa.
Deborah Taylor
Love the hats and gloves
Cynthia McCaughan
It will be on their marriage certificate if he was best manMarie V K
Patricia Ellen Johnston ???
Patricia Ellen Johnston
Not known by me... we were Buller end of Coast ..sorry
Ken Lavender
Yes that was my dad Joe Rodger. I know that he was your dads best man.from Andrea Rodger
en Lavender
My dad worked at the railway too. I met up with your parents in 1970. I have seen that photo. May even have a copy. Andrea
Paula Vercoe
thank you Andrea, The marvels of the internet eh !! I have always wanted to look into my family history on Dads side, but im a
Paula Vercoe
afraid I may have left it too late . Dad died in 1976 (67) and mum in 2011 (92). This branch of the Flaherty's are a dying breed !!
Jenny Marshall
They look so lovely. If it was an RC church...the old St Teresa s in riccarton was stone like this
Paula Vercoe
Jenny Marshall I do know it was an Anglican church they were married in. My brother and I were both bought up as Anglicans and dad converted when we were about Standard 5/6
David Rodgers
Yes, that is my uncle - Joe Rodger. A really lovely nan
Gary Reid
David Rodgers I thought it was John Rodgers when I first saw it
Barb Rodway
This is a lovely photo.
Ian Schroder
Frank Flaherty was my boss in Westport 1960s head of locoJenny Marshall
They look so lovely. If it was an RC church...the old St Teresa s in riccarton was stone like this
· Reply · 1d
Paula Vercoe
Jenny Marshall I do know it was an Anglican church they were married in. My brother and I were both bought up as Anglicans and dad converted when we were about Standard 5/6
· Reply · 1d
Jenny Marshall
Try st Peter's anglian church ar church corner...still standing and similar stone work
· Reply · 22h
David Rodgers
Yes, that is my uncle - Joe Rodger. A really lovely nan
· Reply · 1d
Gary Reid
David Rodgers I thought it was John Rodgers when I first saw it
· Reply · 1d
Glenda McMinn-South
That makes him my great Uncle
Nina Faitele
Gary Reid I also thought it was my father at first glance.
Barb Rodway
This is a lovely photo.
Ian Schroder
Frank Flaherty was my boss in Westport 1960s head of loco
Paula Vercoe
Ian Schroder Yes he was that. I can remember often calling in on him on the way home from school. Often a trip down the engine sheds to look for him. Wouldn't be allowd to do that nowdays
Ian Schroder
Jack Fox took over when your dad retire
Robin Gibbens
More interesting history of coast family’s
Brian McIntyre
I havent seen any comment as to if they are any connection to Flaherty's pool
Paula Vercoe
Yes we are . It was named after my Dad's Family. My maiden name was Flaherty.
Brian McIntyre
Paula Vercoe I was pulled out of there as a kid by the hair by Bobby Harrington after I swallowed half of the pool
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Brian McIntyre and Paula's grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister.
wouldnt have been Snow Rochford by any chance would it ?
Richard Leach
There was a bloke at Paroa when I was a kid ( born 1945 ) was our neighbour
Called Snow Sonjen
That photo if memory serves me right after all these years strongly resembles him
Heather Newby
badge icon
Author
Richard Leach sounds like a Scandinavian surname.
Dulcie Symmers
Richard Leach,that's correct they lived across the road from my Nana Nailer.
Ken Campbell
Wasn’t there a Snowy Thomson from out Paroa way
Richard Leach
Ken Campbell snow Thomson was my cousin not old enough to fit this role
Cheryl Pinn
mum just said coco[snow]thomson [cousin] not old enough
Paula Vercoe
Dad was an engine Driver for the Railways so I wondered if the gentleman was a Fireman on the steam trains
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Paula Vercoe what a really neat photo, and no I don't know who the best man is. Do you have their marriage licence at all??
Paula Vercoe
No Ann I don't
Anne Miller Mcmillan
lovely to see suggestions coming forward. im sure it will be solved .
Janet Tillman
Which church was it? All Christchurch church records are in the Christchurch City Library family history section. Attendants and ministers are usually listed.
Paula Vercoe
Im not sure Janet. It was either the one in Latimer Square or one in Papanui Road near Bealey ave that was damaged in the earthquake. Dad was a Catholic and Mum a Proddy so they never had any family members at the wedding. They told them 3 moths later. At the time Dad was working in Westport driving Railcars/trains and Mum worked for Richmond & Renyolds the dentist in Greymouth as a Dental Assistant
Heather Newby
badge icon
Author
Paula Vercoe yes.. it was a big thing in those days for a catholic to marry a protestant.. it was frowned upon, I never did get it.
Heather Gaulter
Looking so smart
·
Roger Howell
When I was young (say 1957) we used to bike from Karoro out to “Flarty’s” pool at Paroa.
It would seem that the pool may have been named after the groom’s family Flaherty?
Paula Vercoe
Yes, that's right it was
Marilyn O'Donnell
Looks abit like my uncle Joe Rodger
Paula Vercoe
Marilyn O'Donnell I think you may be right I've heard that name spoken when they were both alive. I wonder if he served overseas with Dad in Egypt
Doris Blanchard
I believe I knew Grace Alderton if it was she who was married to Arthur who had the nick name Shorty.
Paula Vercoe
Doris Blanchard Yes Doris that's who she is. She was Mum's best friend. Her and Üncle Arthur" were family friends for years and years until they both passed on. Many happy memories there.
Doris Blanchard
Paula Vercoe thank you. Arthur, who we knew as Shorty was a good friend of my father’s in Greymouth. Grace was a McIvor from a family whom we knew well also. My father, Jack Osmers had worked on the railways until 1939 and my mother, Hazel, née Hopgood was brought up in Paroa.
Deborah Taylor
Love the hats and gloves
Cynthia McCaughan
It will be on their marriage certificate if he was best manMarie V K
Patricia Ellen Johnston ???
Patricia Ellen Johnston
Not known by me... we were Buller end of Coast ..sorry
Ken Lavender
Yes that was my dad Joe Rodger. I know that he was your dads best man.from Andrea Rodger
en Lavender
My dad worked at the railway too. I met up with your parents in 1970. I have seen that photo. May even have a copy. Andrea
Paula Vercoe
thank you Andrea, The marvels of the internet eh !! I have always wanted to look into my family history on Dads side, but im a
Paula Vercoe
afraid I may have left it too late . Dad died in 1976 (67) and mum in 2011 (92). This branch of the Flaherty's are a dying breed !!
Jenny Marshall
They look so lovely. If it was an RC church...the old St Teresa s in riccarton was stone like this
Paula Vercoe
Jenny Marshall I do know it was an Anglican church they were married in. My brother and I were both bought up as Anglicans and dad converted when we were about Standard 5/6
David Rodgers
Yes, that is my uncle - Joe Rodger. A really lovely nan
Gary Reid
David Rodgers I thought it was John Rodgers when I first saw it
Barb Rodway
This is a lovely photo.
Ian Schroder
Frank Flaherty was my boss in Westport 1960s head of locoJenny Marshall
They look so lovely. If it was an RC church...the old St Teresa s in riccarton was stone like this
· Reply · 1d
Paula Vercoe
Jenny Marshall I do know it was an Anglican church they were married in. My brother and I were both bought up as Anglicans and dad converted when we were about Standard 5/6
· Reply · 1d
Jenny Marshall
Try st Peter's anglian church ar church corner...still standing and similar stone work
· Reply · 22h
David Rodgers
Yes, that is my uncle - Joe Rodger. A really lovely nan
· Reply · 1d
Gary Reid
David Rodgers I thought it was John Rodgers when I first saw it
· Reply · 1d
Glenda McMinn-South
That makes him my great Uncle
Nina Faitele
Gary Reid I also thought it was my father at first glance.
Barb Rodway
This is a lovely photo.
Ian Schroder
Frank Flaherty was my boss in Westport 1960s head of loco
Paula Vercoe
Ian Schroder Yes he was that. I can remember often calling in on him on the way home from school. Often a trip down the engine sheds to look for him. Wouldn't be allowd to do that nowdays
Ian Schroder
Jack Fox took over when your dad retire
Robin Gibbens
More interesting history of coast family’s
Brian McIntyre
I havent seen any comment as to if they are any connection to Flaherty's pool
Paula Vercoe
Yes we are . It was named after my Dad's Family. My maiden name was Flaherty.
Brian McIntyre
Paula Vercoe I was pulled out of there as a kid by the hair by Bobby Harrington after I swallowed half of the pool
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Brian McIntyre and Paula's grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister.
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West Coast New Zealand History (25th Sep 2021). Wedding of Frank Flaherty from Paroa and Hilda Hansen from Greymouth .December 29th 1945.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 19:18, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28910