Page 120 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

Primary School, Henham, Essex, followed by St. Edmund’s College, Old
Hall Green, Ware, Hertfordshire. St. Edmund’s is an independent Catholic
day and boarding school, which transferred from Douai, France to
England in 1793. It was originally founded by Cardinal William Allen in
1568, and is the oldest Catholic school in England. Its alumni includes 20
canonised saints and 133 martyrs – neither of which were criteria for
selecting it for Jonathan’s education! When the family moved to
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, Jonathan was admitted to the Sixth Form
College of John Hampden Grammar School, Marlow Hill, High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire.

Jonathan Blaker: Dad’s Office in Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex; 1991

After completing his ‘A’ Level examinations, Jonathan studied Industrial
Design Engineering at Brunel University, Runnymede Campus, Coopers
Lane, Egham, Surrey. After obtaining his BSc degree, he started work with
Dyson Ltd. at their Research and Development Centre, in Malmesbury,
Wiltshire, before taking an MSc course at Imperial College, London. After
completing that course, Jonathan took a PhD in Materials Science, and has
continued with Post Doctoral research in the Materials Department.
Whilst working for Dyson Ltd., Jonathan lived in a rented property at 3
Canal Side Cottage, High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire. In London,
Jonathan lived in various shared rental flats.

Jonathan became interested in ‘Capoeira’ (a Brasilian martial art that
combines elements of dance, ritual, gravity-defying acrobatics and music;
it was developed in Brasil by descendants of African slaves) and has
maintained this dance activity ever since. He also studied, and became
fluent in, the Portuguese language of Brasil.

Jonathan Blaker: Capoeira Exercise, Grand Canyon, Arizona: August 2004

Whilst undertaking his PhD studies at Imperial College, Jonathan met
Thiana Berthier da Cuhna, to whom he became engaged and married in
2007.

6.33.1.2 Thiana Berthier da Cunha (1978- )
Born: 22 June 1978, Curitiba, Parana, Brasil
Married: 17 November 2007, aged 29 years, married Jonathan James
Blaker; Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Salete, Rua Longe de Morretes,
Curitiba, Parana, Brasil

Thiana was one of 3 children born to Danilo Marcos da Cunha and
Carmelita Maria Berthier Silveira. She was educated in Curitiba, and the
University of Sao Paulo, and held BSc, MSc and PhD degrees. She met
Jonathan during a 6-month Research Internship in the Materials
Department, Imperial College, University of London.