Thursday, June 13, 2013

Thames (NZ): Fireman Alfred WINDER

An often overlooked source for family memorabilia are online auction sites. It pays to have searches saved at sites to alert you to items sold relating to your main line families...especially if you can narrow the surname to the less common names.

Today on Trademe is the Long Service medal belonging to ALFRED WINDER, given for five years of service on 21/12/1930. In the 1928 Electoral Rolls, there is an Alfred WINDER who is living in Pollen Street, Thames and occupation given as motor-driver. There are several other Winders' living in the Thames area. This is likely to be the Alfred Winder who with Mr Corbett ran motor services in Thames during the 1920-30s - company names include Corbett and Winder White Star Service Motors Limited.

 
In the days before cars were readily available and bus services regular, many Thamesites travelled to Auckland via 'service car' as they were known, rather than as may be called taxi today. The Treasury's oral history collection has many examples of people using service cars belonging to proprietors such as Corbett and White.