Lingering Doubts returns to Regatta Hotel

Winterford descendants meet at the Regatta Hotel

Today the Westside News ran an article on the Winterford family reunion held in the Winterford Room at the Regatta Hotel on Coronation Drive, Toowong. 

As many people now know, Lingering Doubts has a strong connection to this gracious and iconic Brisbane landmark. Firstly, we are great-great-granddaughters of William and Margaret Winterford. Secondly, we were kindly given access to private rooms at the Regatta for interview and research purposes during the book writing process. And last, but not least, the Winterford Room swelled when over 200 guests gathered for the launch of Lingering Doubts in March 2014. 

Our launch was a celebration on so many levels - the culmination of years of work, respected veteran investigative reporter Bob Bottom travelling from NSW as guest speaker and the presence of Ian (Deb's Dad) and Valerie (Jan's Mum), both Winterford great-grandchildren. Ian and Valerie braced themselves as their father's story once again entered the public arena. It was a miracle that Ian witnessed the book's release as only four months later he suffered a major stroke during surgery. Valerie's health too has declined but, as has been proven throughout their lives, this courageous brother and sister have inherited William Winterford's indomitable spirit.

It's extraordinary that descendants of our grandfather's wife's family are now reading about his questionable 1947 murder conviction. Some had heard rumours but generally older family members would not speak of it. In fact they knew very little. Lingering Doubts has given our grandfather a voice - although this was our sole aim we never dreamed it would reach so many. 

A sincere thank you to all our readers.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts available at Rosetta Books, Maleny

Thank you to Anne for agreeing to carry Lingering Doubts. 

Rosetta Books, a warm and inviting book store, is located on Maple Street, in beautiful Maleny. 

( image courtesy Salt Magazine / Claire Push ) 

Visit Salt Magazine to read their review on Rosetta Books!

Rosetta Books

30 Maple St, Maleny

ph: 07 5435 2134

Deb and Jan

Photos from Winterford Family Reunion - Regatta Hotel

Reunion organiser, Sharon Racine (left) and Deb sharing UK family member Stephen Winterford's words

Jan's Mum, Valerie (Brown) Herbertson, signing Lingering Doubts for Sue Winterford

Deb's sister, Faye (Brown) Gibson, looking elegant in Victorian dress

A splendid day at the lovely Regatta Hotel. Winterford descendants came from all parts of Australia and our UK and Canadian relations were there in spirit also. Unfortunately my Dad, Ian Brown, was unable to attend due to the stroke he suffered last year. Jan couldn't join us either as husband, John, is scheduled for surgery this week. Lots of love and best wishes are being sent his way.

Deb

Winterford Family Reunion - Winterford Room, Regatta Hotel

Winterford's Far & Wide - Facebook group

The above Facebook group, compliments of Stephen Winterford from the UK, welcomes all descendants of our amazing great-great-grandparents, William and Margaret Winterford, who built and owned the iconic Regatta Hotel on Coronation Drive, Toowong.

In March 2014 Lingering Doubts was launched in the Regatta's Winterford Room  and on Saturday 27 June 2015 a Winterford family reunion will be held in the same room. This will be the first Winterford family gathering with many members meeting for the very first time. Our thanks to Sharon Racine who single-handedly organised this gathering of the Winterford clan.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts now available at Wynnum's Little Gnome Bookshop

Deb delivering Lingering Doubts to Little Gnome

Little Gnome bookshop, which also serves great coffee, is located in Florence Street, Wynnum - two streets away from where Jan grew up.

Find Little Gnome at 5/66 Florence St
ph: 07 3161 9931

Many thanks Bel and Jack,
Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder soon in Audio Format

Later this year an audio version of Lingering Doubts will be available for the vision impaired and print-disabled community! Needless to say we were thrilled to receive this extraordinary offer from Jo Booth, Queensland Narrating Service - a non-profit community organisation currently funded by Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.   

For many years QNS has had a close relationship with University of Queensland Press, among other publishers, and has produced many of their titles in audio format for the libraries. Jo advised that QNS tends to focus on Australian and in particular local Queensland content. 

Our story was kindly recommended to QNS by Matthew Condon (Three Crooked Kings) and Breanda Cross, a volunteer narrator. Our grandfather's voice will now be heard by many more people. Many thanks Matt, Breanda and Jo.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - Going inside Brisbane's Arcade Murder - Where to buy?

Available at the following outlets:

• Annie's Books on Peregian, Peregian Beach

• Avid Reader, West End

• Books of Buderim, 82 Burnett Street, Buderim

• Caboolture Park News, King Street, Caboolture

• Copyright Publishing, National Trust House, William Street, Brisbane

• Little Gnome, Florence Street, Wynnum

• Mary Ryan's, Park Road, Milton

• Nook and Cranny, Goondiwindi                                                               
• Paddington Antique Centre, Stall 12

• Pulp Fiction Books, 144 Adelaide Street, Brisbane

• Riverbend Books, Bulimba

• St. George Newsagency, St George

• State Library Bookshop, SLQ, South Bank

• The River Read, Noosaville

Or to buy now click 'Buy the Book' to the top right of the screen 

Lingering Doubts 
Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - 68 years ago - Coronial Inquest - Part 10

27 May, 1947

Our grandfather's body was found in a Boggo Road Gaol cell just 9 days into his life sentence. Five weeks later -  68 years ago today - an inquest was held in Brisbane. City Coroner, Thomas Elite, heard evidence from Dr John Tonge - State Pathologist, one police constable, four prison officers and Reg Brown's 20 year-old son, Ian.

Ian told the inquiry that only four days before his father's death, he had visited him in Boggo Road Gaol. Although Reg warned his son not to 'get off side with the police, you will never win' and described the prison as 'worse than you could ever imagine', Ian said there were no good-byes, nothing to indicate his father was considering suicide. In the courtroom environment Ian was shown, for the first time, his father's last words; a final and concise statement of innocence written and signed in pencil on a piece of gaol issued toilet paper.

Each prison warden, one of whom we actually met during our research, gave their testimony regarding the prisoner's final days; each concluded with, 'He never said or done anything which might suggest to me that he was going to take his own life.'

Although our grandfather was unwell and had been prescribed Phenobarbital by the prison doctor, the doctor did not appear at the inquest. At the end of one hour and forty minutes the coroner ruled no suspicious circumstances. But as we show in Lingering Doubts, there are  some reasons for suspicion. Unanswered questions remain e.g. was our grandfather in an observation cell? We were told there was some contention over this matter amongst prison staff. Also was Reg assessed by the medical officer after receiving a life sentence? He was distressed, still professing his innocence and subsequently suffered a severe asthma attack. Even so, he wrote a heartfelt letter to his equally distraught wife and family.

Adding to the heartbreak, Bronia Armstrong should have celebrated her 20th birthday on 26 May - the day before the inquest. If things had been different, yesterday in 2015 Bronia might have celebrated her 88th birthday, perhaps surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In a strange twist of fate my (Deb's) gorgeous granddaughter turned 1 year old yesterday - 26 May.

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - Crown witness found!

Some wonderful news!  
We have finally found Rhonda Tasker, long-ago friend of Bronia Armstrong and Crown Witness at our grandfather’s trial. 

For many years we have searched unsuccessfully for Rhonda, the 17 year old girl who, in 1947, worked on the stocking counter at Finney’s, a department store in Queen Street, Brisbane. 

On the Saturday Bronia’s body was discovered at the Wallace Bishop Arcade, the girls were due to leave for a weekend together at bayside Margate. Much anticipated plans that, sadly, were not to be. 

So how did we finally locate Rhonda? We certainly didn’t do it alone. Unexpected help came from Kelyn, recent reader of Lingering Doubts and daughter of Ken Blanch (see post below). Kelyn kindly blessed us with her incredible genealogy tracing skills! Many thanks to you Kelyn – not only for your generous assistance but for your interest in our grandfather’s story.

Thankfully, 68 years after the death of Bronia Armstrong, and our grandfather’s arrest for her murder, a now elderly Rhonda has indicated her willingness to help us if she is able. We are also indebted to Rhonda’s son for his understanding and assistance. 

A special thank you to a family member from Melbourne who alerted us to Ken Blanch's recent publication - which ultimately led us to Rhonda 

Deb and Jan

Lingering Doubts - wise words from Ken Blanch - true crime author and former crime reporter

For Lingering Doubts website from Ken Blanch

Lingering Doubts, going inside Brisbane's Arcade murder provides compelling evidence for the modus operandi of unscrupulous police in mid-20th century Queensland.

What they did in those days was identify a suspect through circumstances and then try to fit the evidence to their suspicions.  This led to false conclusions and to the obfuscation of the real facts.

In the old Queensland police force, advancement was very much as a result of success and those seeking it very often were not concerned with how their achievements came about.

Not only did police actively seek evidence that would damage the suspect, they also actively ignored anything that might be in the suspect's favour.  This sometimes led to vigorous protection of wrongdoers in the interests of the police and/or politicians.

 I have demonstrated this in my recent bookette, Marjorie Norval: the girl a railway station swallowed, about the disappearance of Marjorie Norval in 1938, nine years earlier than Reg Brown's case. 

Frank Bischof was involved in investigating that case too. He often boasted to me privately, when I was chief crime reporter for the old Brisbane Telegraph and he headed the CIB during the 1950s, of how he resorted to trickery to disadvantage suspects and even obtain questionably incriminating admissions from them  (now known more popularly among police as verballing).

Deb Drummond and Janice Teunis' analysis of likely alternatives for the assumptions police made according to circumstance in their investigation of Bronia Armstrong's death has been thorough and enlightening, and well and truly justifies the title. Congratulations.

(Marjorie Norval: The girl a railway station swallowed is available from Seagle Crime Stories at www.seaglecrimestories.com)

++++

Thank you Ken, we value your opinion and truly appreciate your words. 
What a fantastic service you are performing by continuing to put pen to paper, your professionalism and first hand knowledge of how things were in old Brisbane, make your books an invaluable resource.

Deb and Jan