OWEN OHARE says

Hello to all you Kelty Folk who are now settled in Countries all over the World,I thought I would start this Group and see how many of you would respond and give your reason for leaving Kelty and how you have found life in your new choice of Country and if you would ever consider returning to live in Kelty.

It would also be interesting to find out if perhaps you have been living a stones throw away from someone you went to School with or even used to live near when you lived in Kelty.Myself and my Wife Rita (nee Mcdonald) live in Port Kennedy in Western Australia and are about a Five Minute drive from Gerald and Ann Grey who are both from Kelty and who we met in Sept.1999 when we moved here from Melbourne in Victoria and almost straight away we were invited to bring in the Millenium at a Hogmanay Party at their House which turned out to be a Terrific Night.Ann`s Mum Nan Young (nee Macdonald) was out on Holiday from Kelty and Ann`s Sister Helen who we had met up with when we lived in Melbourne was Also there having came over from Melbourne for the Party along with her Husband Robert Swan.We had another great Hogmany party at their House and have attached Photo of same.So if there is anyone from Kelty in the Area get in touch I would like to hear from you or from anyone else no matter where you are overseas or in the Uk.

All the Best

OWEN OHARE says

Hello Again,We just found out two weeks ago that just like I said in my last comment,we ourselves have been living just ten minutes away from Kelty Folk who have lived here for four years and who are actually related to my Wife Rita Ohare (nee Mcdonald) They are Billy Lowe and his Wife Karen Lowe(nee Atkinson) Billy`s Dad Archie is Rita`s Cousin.It was Karen`s Aunty Isabel Abbott(nee Garvie) who was Rita`s School Pal and who we recently contacted through a message on this site that told us her Neice lived in Baldivis so I looked them up in the phone book and gave them a call and we then discovered that Rita and Billy were related.

We arranged to meet up for Dinner and It was a really good night and a good Blether,we are looking forward to the next night out with them as they are a very nice couple,I have a attached a few photos taken that night

OWEN OHARE says

I obviously did something wrong that last message,I thought I had Attached three Photos of that night out at Dinner,On second thoughts,I think I am only allowed one Photo for each comment

David Diamond says

I am a relatively new visitor to the Kelty website and was pleasantly surprised when I read your notes as I went to school with a Wullie O'Hare but I reckon he must have been named after your father as he should be just 50 years old now.  My family (the Diamonds) lived in Blair Street and I went to both primary and high schools with Wullie.  We both left in 1976/77 and he went into the RAF as I recall.  I haven't seen him since although I remember someone telling me that he married a German girl.  It would be great if you have any details.

You mentioned Jim Manderson in your notes and I'd like to say that that I married his niece Marion Harley in 1982. I regret to say that Jim passed away shortly after his 70th birthday a few years ago.  He was a grand big man full of the joys of life and spent a happy life with his wife Shona travelling and working all over the world. In fact it was Jim Manderson who enthused me with the desire to work overseas.

My wife and I both moved overseas to live and work in Gibraltar in 1990 returning to Bath England in 1993.  I've since spent a lot of time working in the USA, Sweden, France, Italy and Canada but we still reside in Bath.

I lost both my mother Mary and my father Jimmy in 2001 and 2004 respectively but my wife's parents Tom and Mary Harley are still in fine fettle and living in Kelty.  We both still have brothers and a sister living in Kelty as well but only manage to get up north to visit just once or twice each year given our busy lives working down south. 

As an aside we were in Australia late September 2010 and experienced some of the bad weather you've been getting.  Most unusual and most regretable as it was Marion's first visit to Oz.

Anyhow I found your memories interesting albeit that you are a generation before me but your surname rings many bells for me.  Best regards to you and yours, David James Diamond.

OWEN OHARE says

Hello David,nice to have a responce and yes I knew your Mum and Dad and William O`Hare is my Nephew who is still in the RAF presently seconded to American Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base in the USA he is a Warrant Officer and Is married to a Welsh Girl called Tricia,they were stationed at Gibraltar till about November last year, he is on Facebook if you want to contact him,they were home in Kelty to celebrate Exmas and New Year with his Mum an Dad and the rest of his Family,his Dad is my older Brother Jack O`Hare who still lives in Beechbank Crescent.I also had a Nephew William O`Sullivan who was in your Brother Simon`s Class, unfortunately he has recently Died from Cancer he was well known for his works for the Disabled People of Fife,Ex PM Gordon Brown attended the Funeral Service.

As for Jim Manderson ,he was in my class at Oakfield and a nicer chap you would be lucky to find,I am in touch with a Kelty Lass Cathy Malcolm who lives out here in Woorilla in NSW who was very good friends with JIm and Shona and she kept me informed of Jim`s state of health.I actually had a drink in Kelty Exservicemens Club with your Wife Marion`s Mum and Dad when I was Home on a visit from Oz in 1989 as they were very friendly with my Wife`s Brother Jimmy Macdonald who I was with that night As for Marion`s first trip to Oz you should have came to Western Australia we have more Sunshine than any other State here Terrific Beaches and a good Drop of Red Wine and temperatures over the Forties

Anyway I will finish at that as I am a bit tired,I only got out of Hospital on the 23rd Dec after having my Gall Bladder removed if you are on Facebook you will see some Photos taken at our House on Exmas Morning.

All the Best to you and your Family and a Happy New Year

Owen and Rita.