In the late 1800's and early 1900's many Welsh people (as well as Irish) came to Liverpool to find work.    One of these was Sidney Dando, probably originally from South Wales. He married Ellen Williams on Tuesday 10th July 1883 at St. Peters Parish Church, Church Street, Liverpool.    Both of their addresses were given as Queen Street with no numbers indicated, in the parish of Liverpool.    It is likely that this was an accommodation address with his future father-in-law Owen Williams's ship being docked at nearby Princes Dock. Sidney's occupation was given as a mariner and so it is also possible that he served on the same ship as his future wife.    The age of both bride and groom was stated to be 22 years, the bride signing the register in the Welsh form "Ellin".     The marriage was witnessed by Elias Williams and Margaret Williams.     There is a photograph of this wedding showing the bride and groom with the bride's parents.

Ellen Williams was born on 27th May 1858 at Portmadoc (Porthmadog), North Wales to Owen Williams, Master Mariner and Margaret nee Williams. Ellen's birthdate is therefore at variance with her age on the marriage certificate.

By 1896 the couple were living at 7 Stockbridge Street, Everton, Liverpool when Sidney Dando purchased a burial plot , Number 428 Section 26, at Everton Cemetery, Fazakerley for £2 on 21st December 1896.    The document is countersigned by John Houlding (Founder of Liverpool F. C.) on behalf of the Burial Board. In this plot was buried Owen R. Dando who died on 16th December 1896 and was said to be three years old. Another son who was also called Sidney was born to the couple in 1889 and on 12th July 1899 they had a daughter who they named Mary Ellen.   In 1905 the family were living at 24 Herschell Street, and Sidney senior was now employed as a dockgateman, an occupation which was considered to be a good position as this uniformed force was responsible for dock security.

Sidney and his family moved again in 1921 to 18, Wylva Road, Anfield but by this time his son Sidney was married to Mary Owen and they were living at 15, Faraday Street, his occupation being listed in the Liverpool Street Directory as a joiner and later in 1937 as a shipwright of 19, Thurnham Street.    Sidney junior and his wife Mary had two children - Gladys, who married a Mr. Gutteridge but had no children and Sidney Owen Dando, born on 17th December 1921.  Sidney Dando junior died in the early years of the second world war and his family had to move from Thurnham Street due to bomb damage.    Mary Dando moved the family home to 12 Edith Road, Anfield and she died aged 62 years on 23rd February 1951 and was buried in Everton cemetery with both her in-laws.    Sidney Dando senior had died on 11th April 1940, age given as 81 years and his wife Ellen on 26th September 1942 age 84 which corresponds with her birth date.    The grandson Sidney Owen Dando continued to live in Edith Road and he later married Florence Little.     They had three children.     A son David, born on 23rd August 1948 and four years later celebrated the birth of twins, a boy Philip and a daughter Glenys on 8th June 1952.

Mary Ellen Dando, called 'Nell' by her family, worked in the office of W. H. Venmore, Estate Agents as a typist and in 1928 was 29 years old when she married 'Jim' Doig.    He was still living three roads away at 18, Miriam Road with his widowed mother Davina.

 
Wedding Pictures of Ted Heron and Eva and Jim Doig and Nell

The marriage took place at the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Chapel, Anfield Road on August 4th 1928, the groom being described as a Poor Law Clerk whilst his wife was given as a stenographer. Sidney Dando, the brides father, was stated to be a retired Dock Gateman.    The 'best' man was 'Jim's' youngest brother Stanley whilst the chief bridesmaid was H. E. Edwards. The couple went to live at Wylva Road with the brides parents who, by then, were in their late 60's.

For the 1928 -29 football season Jim Doig continued to be correspondent for Walton Hospital and was also given in the Annual Report as Football Captain of the First Team.    Both First and Second teams won their leagues, the former gaining promotion from the Third to the Second Division of the I Zingari leagues.     The team also reached the semi-final of the Liverpool Amateur Cup.

League Matches :- P 26; W 23, D 2, L 1; F 149, A 34; Pts. 48.       

Cup Matches :- P 7; W 5, L 2; F 33, A 18;               Totals :- P 33; W 28, D 2, L 3; F 182, A 52.                                                                                                                                    

The top two goalscorers were Jim H. Doig 64 and Bertie Doig 31 whilst Stanley Doig who played in defence also scored 2 goals.    In this report Stanley Doig was listed as a member in his own right whilst T. ('Ted') Doig is given as a 'Relative' Member.    It is not known whether 'Ted', by now nearing 40 years old, was playing as a goalkeeper for one of the three sides.    At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the Officers Guild on Monday 24th June 1929 the medals for the I Zingari League Division Three and the Alliance were presented to the First and Second Eleven players respectively.     The success of the teams was also celebrated by a well attended Dinner.

In the summer of 1928 in a secure job and nearing thirty years old 'Jim' Doig was contemplating marriage to a local Anfield girl who was, however, of Welsh parentage.

Jim & Nell with Eric

The birth of 'Jim' and 'Nell' Doig's first child, a son whom they called James Eric Doig, occurred on 5th October 1930, a day also noted on the world stage by the disastrous crash of the British airship, the R 101.    In 1934 on 2nd February the birth of twins, a girl who they named Dorothy Pamela and a boy called Peter Kenyon was celebrated by the family.    Could it be coincidence or perhaps heredity that 'Nells' nephew Sidney Owen Dando also had a family that mirrored this one with a son followed by a twin boy and girl