This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: susanI2dly Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.mccann/1797.3.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello again. My mother's name was Winifred May born 1921 and she and her sister Irene were befriended by Rev. McCann and he was my Godfather also. I have also located another lady called Brenda who lives up north whose mother was also befriended by the Rev. McCann. Her mother is dead and she thinks she may have been adopted. Since talking to her, she has managed to make contact with a sister of her mother so she now has a family of her own. My mother was the 2nd youngest of many children and has the lady who brought her up, down on her birth certificate as mother, there is no father listed although she was brought up by both her mother and mother's husband. It sounds complicated but I have a strong suspicion that all was not as it seemed. Sadly my mother died 16 years ago. My mother went in to an orphanage with her younger sister when her mother died. (I ask myself why did her older siblings not look after them, I didn't think of that when she was alive. The Rev. McCann joined the NSPCC as a young man (you may know this) and was Director for several years before his death in 1954. I have been directed to a book written by Wilfred Pickles in 1953 called "Ne'er forget the people" and its about several people who he felt influenced the 20th century, the Rev. McCann is one of them. He personally helped many many children. There is a nice story about him and a lovely photograph. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, mine was less than £6 including carriage, I can direct you to the book website that I was advised of. My father became an NSPCC inspector in the early 1950's so I grew up with the NSPCC very much in my life. I have many letters that Rev. McCann wrote both to my mother when she was a teenager and to her sister, and I treasure them. I have opened a family tree for the Rev. McCAnn on the Ancestry website but apart from establishing his parents who were involved very much in the YMCA and his younger brother, I have not got very far. I understand your daughter is a member of Ancestry so perhaps she could look it up. If you have any information to add to all this I would be grateful, thank you. Susan Jones Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.