Famous family, but no mention......

[KarenMG]

I have just confirmed one of my nans stories (a few have turned out false bless her) that my grandads cousin married into the Whitaker family. (Yep, the olympic Whitakers!) He was the brother of the 'original' Donald Whitaker.
Yet, sadly I can see to find very little about the family outside of John, Michael and the current children in the spotlight.
Any ideas where to go?

[WendyP]

HI Karen


Please excuse my ignorance but would you be talking about the Showjumping family of Whitakers?

[KarenMG]

Hi Wendy,
I am, yes.

[Jessbowbag]

where & when was the original Donald born?

[KarenMG]

They are all from Huddersfield.
Donald was born 1923.
My cousins husband was Joseph Henry, born 1922 I believe.

[WendyP]

HI Karen

his mum was Louise Bowers and his father was John Whitaker who married in 1921 Hudds.


Will take a look and see wht if anything can be found

[KarenMG]

Thank you.

[Uncle John]

My only connection is that (if I remember correctly all that time ago) the Whitakers rode/jumped for the Massarella stable, as did Harvey Smith. Massarella made his pile from selling ice-cream in the Rotherham area and lived in a big house at Morthern.

They jumped every year at Wickersley agricultural show in the 1950s.