Emily the latest in a long family line

When Emily Murphy joined Colston’s this term she renewed a family link that spans over a century and at least seven relations.

Emily (11), who was formerly at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Downend, is a Year 7 pupil and a member of Aldington House.

The link can be traced back to the late 19th century when the late Albert King, her great great grandfather, was a boarder at Colston’s. Born in 1886, he had gone on to be a carpenter and joiner.

	Emily’s great great grandfather Albert King, who is seen in this picture with seven of his children, was a boarder at Colston’s in the 1890s.

There was only one thing preventing her mother Elissa Murphy and grandmother Veronica Clark from joining Colston’s when they needed it. It was boys only, and did not become co-educational until 1991.

Mrs Clark went to Colston’s Girls School from 1958-65 and Mrs Murphy went to Redland High School for Girls from 1980-87.

“I used to go to Colston’s Girls for Spanish,” said Mrs Murphy, “so as far as I am concerned I am partly a Colston’s girl.”

Emily’s uncle Andrew Nuttall is wholly a Colston’s boy – he attended from 1979-84.

The same applies to three cousins. Andrew Palmer attended in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Matthew Harris from 1981 to 1986 and Callum Clark from 1983 to 1988).

And Callum met his wife Karin at Colston’s when she joined the Sixth Form in 1991.

	Headmaster Peter Fraser and Year 7 pupil Emily Murphy welcome Emily’s family for a visit to Colston’s - (left to right) her mother Elissa, uncle Andrew Nuttall and grandmother Veronica Clark. The Colston’s link spans over 100 years, and Mr Fraser presented Mrs Murphy with a copy of “Mr Colston’s Hospital”, John Wroughton’s history of the school.

We have reported earlier on the Colston's Colston's Connected website on Colstonian marriages between Kevin Sharp and Rebecca (née Wegner), Lee Mears and Danielle (née England), Chris Taylor and Sarah (née Burton), Stean Williams and Joanne (née Sexstone).

News of other Colstonian marriages and long family links will be welcomed by the webmaster. Please email the webmaster.