The Markovits branch: Edmund, Freddy, Harry and their families·

Dad's Memories: (Johnny writes): Until recently, I only knew fragments of the story of my great-grandfather Rudolf's younger brother, Edmund Markovits. Some of this came through my father Tom Greenwood's memoirs, which recorded that Rudolf had one brother - Edmund - and two sisters: Karoline (known as Lina), who became Karoline Goldschmied, and Franziska (known … Continue reading The Markovits branch: Edmund, Freddy, Harry and their families· →

Family trip to Amsterdam – February 2019

I was commissioned to write this article for the Daily Telegraph after a trip to Amsterdam to trace my family roots. Unfortunately it was never published due to the pandemic... Jonathan Greenwood visits Amsterdam to explore his family’s time in hiding from the Nazis there and trace their connections with Anne Frank. Amsterdam. It’s a … Continue reading Family trip to Amsterdam – February 2019 →

Austrian roots – The Documents

The box of papers my dad left behind contain many documents that illustrate our Austrian links. It's not always entirely easy as most of the documents are either in German or Hebrew and unfortunately I can't speak either. But using google translate I've managed to find out what they are. The vast majority of the … Continue reading Austrian roots – The Documents →

Jimmy Greenwood – 1947 – 1972 A life cut short

(JG) I have been meaning to write about my uncle Jimmy, Tom's younger brother for some time. He has been a haunting presence in my life - for a number of reasons. Firstly, obviously, he died very young, and in tragic circumstances. It always strikes me that while Fritzi lost her son Heinz in the … Continue reading Jimmy Greenwood – 1947 – 1972 A life cut short →

Relics from Austria

There are quite a few items that I have inherited, that came from Vienna, pre World War Two. Incredibly even though they were having to escape in a hurry from the Nazis my immediate family managed to get a shipping container out of Austria. Now my grandfather and father are no longer here I have … Continue reading Relics from Austria →

Rudolf, Helene and Fritzi – on holiday in Abbazia

(Johnny writes) There's a terrific set of photographs of Rudolf, Helene and Fritzi Markovits on holiday in the coastal resort of Abbazia in 1909 (so just a year before my granny Sylvia was born and became the fourth member of the family). They must have been taken by a professional photographer because they are high … Continue reading Rudolf, Helene and Fritzi – on holiday in Abbazia →

Gill Kent-Lemon Memoirs – Part One

Johnny Greenwood writes: During the Coronavirus lock down of spring 2020, I asked my mum to begin her memoirs. She was living at her house in Great Hinton, Wiltshire and unable to go out. She began writing immediately - and quickly delivered around 20 pages. I've begun adding some photographs. I was born in February … Continue reading Gill Kent-Lemon Memoirs – Part One →

Tom Greenwood Memoirs postscript 1 – Favourite Jazz Tracks

James P Johnson: lots of early stuff, even pre-1920 on piano rolls so good sound quality; try Carolina Shout, May 1921, but there's tons more, just wonderful. Boogie Woogie, got going in the 1930s I think: the big early names: Albert Ammons, Jimmy Yancey, Cow Cow Davenport, Pinetop Smith, Pete Johnson, Speckled Red, Mead Lux … Continue reading Tom Greenwood Memoirs postscript 1 – Favourite Jazz Tracks →

Tom Greenwood Memoirs – Chapter 20, Festival of Britain and Peruwelz

Started 03-09-2016 Memories Chapter 20, Peruwelz Not to be confused with Chapter XX, Music, which was done out of order ages ago at Johnny's request. I've already written and lost a good piece of this Chapter 20, so starting again is a big effort. It must be in the computer somewhere, but my attempts are … Continue reading Tom Greenwood Memoirs – Chapter 20, Festival of Britain and Peruwelz →

Tom Greenwood Memoirs – Chapter 19 Holidays 1948 -1950

2016-08-01 Tom Memories, Chapter 19, Holidays, 1948- 1950 So this is meant to be a section on my holidays whilst at Storey House. In fact, I've already covered the summer holidays in 1948 when we, my mother and I, had a week, I think, on a farm in Goosnargh, see Starting secondary school – what … Continue reading Tom Greenwood Memoirs – Chapter 19 Holidays 1948 -1950 →