Sunday 10 November 2013

David Roger Ivall (1973-2009), victim of car crash

David Roger Ivall is descended from David Ivall (1795-1850) via James Ivall (1832-96), Henry Thomas Ivall (1874-1956), Percy David Ivall (1912-47) and Graham Roger Ivall (1944-93).

He was born on 27 August 1973 in the Truro Registration District, the second of two children born to Graham Roger Ivall (1944-93) and his wife Janet. According to telephone directories, Graham lived at 23 Berry Rd, Newquay from 1980 to 1987.

David had two children, both of whom were born in the Truro Registration District. He moved to Barnsley in Yorkshire and worked as a milkman. He was listed in the 2004/5 Electoral Register as living at 40 Spring Street, Barnsley.

David moved back to Cornwall. He was a very good golfer (2 handicap) and played at the Perranporth Golf Club. He took part in the Cornwall Amateur Championships in April 2008.

The following item appeared in the online newspaper “This is Cornwall” on 19 January 2009.
“Police are appealing for witnesses, after a 35 year-old man died following a road crash in the early hours of Saturday morning. The Fraddon man, who has been named locally as David Ivall, was the sole occupant of a silver Peugeot 406, which overturned on the A30 eastbound carriageway near Summercourt. Emergency services were called to the scene and the man was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, where he later died. No other vehicle was involved in the crash, which took place around 1.50am.”

Tributes left on the website included
“Top lad and golfer, he will be missed greatly”
“Dave was such an incredible guy, there's none like him! He was like a dad to me AND a best friend, he became a part of our family. He had so much planned with us that he was really looking forward to. We'll miss Dave soo much, he'll always be in our hearts.”

This item appeared on the Lasting Tribute web site :
IVALL. Tragically on Saturday, January 17th, 2009. David aged 35 years of Fraddon. Much loved Father of Ellie and Byron, beloved Son of Janet and the late Graham, Step-Son of Alan and dear Brother of Darren. Funeral service at the Trelawny Chapel, Penmount Crematorium on Friday, February 6th at 11.00 a.m. Family flowers only but donations in lieu for F.L.E.E.T. may be sent c/o The Funeral Director Andrew Henwood, 74 Edgcumbe Ave., Newquay. TR7 2NN.

The London Gazette dated 12 March 2009 contained a notice inviting anyone who had a claim against David’s estate to register it. David’s address is given as 34 Pedna Carne, Higher Fraddon, St Columb Major, Cornwall, TR9 6LF, his occupation as cleaning manager and date of death 17 January 2009.

An inquest was held in November 2009. The following report appeared in “This is Cornwall” : 

Death crash golfer was over limit


A PROMINENT golfer died after crashing his car while more than twice the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard. David Ivall, 35, from St Columb Major, was killed when his silver Peugeot 406 coupe overturned on the eastbound carriageway of the A30, near Summercourt. He was a well-known member of Perranporth Golf Club and a former member of Newquay Golf Club.

The court heard from Mr Ivalls' mother Janet Letcher, and his girlfriend Yasmin Carrol. Ms Letcher told the court: "10 years ago David moved to Barnsley with his partner and two children but the relationship did not last: He had to visit his children when he could. "David had been told he was going to lose his job at Tesco; but the only time I saw David down was when he wasn't able to see his children, and he was looking forward to seeing them at the time."

The victim's GP told the court David had no health problems but had requested a vasectomy fairly recently. His girlfriend of eight months said Mr Ivall had been due to meet her on the night of his death, but then made other plans. She last had contact with him at around 9.30pm.

Pal Russell Withers, a childhood friend, told how on the night of the tragedy the pair of them had been out drinking, first in Perranporth then later at Truro's L2 nightclub. He said Mr Ivall was expecting to lose his Tesco job as a cleaning manager but was 'upbeat' about events as he did not get on with his boss. Mr Withers told police his friend parked his coupe outside his home at around 10.15pm in anticipation of staying over after the night on the town. In the event he lost touch with him in L2 and found out on his return home from another friend staying at the house that Mr Ivall had apparently left in the early hours, sending him a text reading: 'Hey mate, see you soon, x.' He recalled: "I found this strange as he would not normally text me at the end of the night."

Delivery driver Craig Crosbie came across Mr Ivalls' overturned car in the left hand lane of the A30, just before Summercourt, in the early hours of January 17. Seeing Mr Ivall's body thrown clean of the car, he rang 999 and later helped paramedics lift the victim onto a stretcher. A group of friends from RNAS Culdrose also stopped and tried their best to help Mr Ivall.

Although apparently breathing when found, Mr Ivall died later at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske of multiple injuries. A post-mortem examination found his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. Crash investigator Nick Bloomfield said the car's front brakes were worn, the driver's seatbelt was not attached, and Mr Ivall had sent texts from his phone at 1:43 and 1:45am. He explained: "The most probable cause of the collision is that he fell asleep at the wheel due to his inebriated state."

Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon recorded a verdict of accidental death. She said: "The pathologist concluded the drink-drive level would have significantly impaired cognitive function. Lack of sleep and intoxication and the use of a mobile phone are possible causes of loss of control. This was a tragic accident."

Mr Ivall's family chose not to comment after the hearing. In a statement they said: "David will be sadly missed by his two children, Ellie, 12, and Byron, 10, his mother Janet and brother Darren."

Monday 21 October 2013

Westminster Ivells / Ivalls

This is an expanded version of the item that I posted in March 2013.

Ivell and Ivall are both uncommon surnames. There are some cases of the name Ivell being misrecorded as Ivall and vice versa. However, there is also a family whose name changed from Ivell to Ivall. This item is about them.

George Ivall (b 1809, a farrier) married Mary Ann Jopling (b 1815) about 1837. As far as I know, George Ivell is not related to the Ivalls in my family tree. George and Mary Ann had ten children, all of which were born in the St George’s Hanover Square registration district (in Westminster) and were registered with the surname Ivell. The family appear in the 1851 and 1861 census as Ivell. However, they appear in the 1871 and 1881 census as Ivall. George’s death in 1866 was registered as George Ivall. A birth (in 1879) and two deaths (in 1878 and 1879) in the family were registered as Ivells. Thereafter the surname Ivall was used in birth, marriage and death registrations for the surviving members of the family.

The names and dates of George’s descendants can be found on   http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=sghs-ivells&id=I01. None of George and Mary Ann’s ten children lived beyond the age of 40.

Alice (23), Mary Ann (19) and Annie (1) Ivall all appear in the 1881 census as daughters of Mary Ann Ivall (aged 65). Annie is listed as a daughter of Mary Ann senior, which cannot be true because she would have been too old to have children when Annie was born. Annie’s baptism record shows that she was actually Alice’s child. In 1881, when Annie was aged 2, Alice Ivall married Frederick Killon. They had five children (including a daughter called Minnie).

Annie Ivall married Alfred David Higginbottom in 1899. He was soldier in the Middlesex Regiment from 1890 to 1898 and was a porter at the time of his marriage, but was recalled to the army later that year to fight in the Boer War. He was discharged in 1902. The 1901 census shows Annie Higginbottom (21) living with Minnie Killon (17), who is listed as her sister. This confirms that Annie was a daughter of Alice Ivall. Annie’s marriage certificate has a blank space where her father’s name should be. Annie and Alfred had four sons (Joseph, Frederick, George and Henry) and two daughters (Winifred and Maidie).

The 1911 census records that Annie was deaf.  Apparently when she was 13, her family was hop picking and she developed severe earache. Someone suggested liquid paraffin might help, but as there was none to hand they used fuel paraffin instead. Not surprisingly Annie was left profoundly deaf, but she did learn to lip read. Alfred and Annie lived in a flat at 178 Drury Lane, Central London from 1906 onwards. This only had two rooms, meaning that it was very crowded for eight people!

Annie Ivall with her children (l to r) George, Henry and Winifred in 1918

The 1939 register shows Alfred (a wire worker Japanner) and Annie, still living in Drury Lane. Annie died in 1954 aged 75 and Alfred in 1959 aged 86.

Annie’s son Henry Arthur Higginbottom (b 8 Dec 1915) married Maud Florence Prudhoe in 1938 in Holborn. In 1939 they were living at 133 Grays Inn Buildings, Holborn. Henry was a diamond mounter (jeweller). He didn’t like his surname and changed it to Ivall (his mother’s maiden name). He divorced his first wife and later married Nellie (known as Helen) Ringsell nee Hales in 1954 in Kensington Register Office. Henry was aged 38, a Leading Fireman with the London Fire Brigade. Helen was aged 31, a mannequin (a model). Both had been married before and divorced. Henry was the Red Watch Station Officer at Soho Fire Station until he retired in 1968. 
Henry and Helen Ivall on their wedding day (in 1954).


Henry and Helen later had two daughters, whose births were both registered as Ivalls. They have supplied information and photos for this expanded item. Henry and Helen were devoted to each other and both died in 1992.

Monday 17 June 2013

Robert Daniel Ivall (1902-1992), fireman

Robert Daniel Ivall was a great grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-1865), the elder brother of David Ivall (1816-1867), my great great grandfather. This profile of Robert’s life contains information from his son.

Robert was born on 19th June 1902 in Catford, SE London, the eldest of three children born to Robert Thomas Owen Ivall (1876-1953) and Florence Sarah Ivall nee Durnford (1876-1974). Parish records for the baptism of Robert Daniel Ivall in 1902 at St Thomas’s, Charlton, give the family’s address as 12 Springfield Park Crescent, Catford. Robert’s father was a fireman who was based at Rushey Green (1901-3), Dulwich (1903-7), Eltham (1907-8), Greenwich (1908-9), Charlton (1909-10) and Perry Vale (1910-14) fire stations. The 1911 census shows Robert Ivall (aged 35, a fireman) his wife Florence (35) and children Robert (8), Florence (7) and Daniel (5) living at 199 Perry Vale, Forest Hill in SE London.

Robert joined the Merchant Navy when aged 16. His service record shows that he joined as a deck boy, was 5 foot 8 inches tall, with fair hair and green-grey eyes. He was in the Navy for 2 years, until 1920. 
Photo of Robert from his Merchant Navy record

Robert applied to join the London Fire Brigade in 1921, when aged 19. His father had followed the same career path, as would his brother Daniel. Robert started work as a probationary fireman on 24th November 1921, on 68s 6d per week, based at 60 Waterloo Road, London.

In 1928, Robert married Cecilia Rosina Merriott in Lambeth. He was aged 26, she was 24. They had a daughter (Marie Cecilia) in 1930 and a son (Daniel Robert) in 1931. The 1932 electoral register shows Robert and Cecilia’s address as the Fire Station, Eltham High Street. Soon afterwards, they moved to 39 Montrose Avenue, Welling (where Robert was still living in 1984). 


Robert’s service record shows that he transferred to Shooter’s Hill fire station in 1935, then to Dockhead, Bermondsey (in 1936), Lewisham (in 1937), Plumstead (in 1938) and Deptford (later in 1938). In 1938 he was promoted to become a Sub Officer (on 95s per week) at Pageant’s Wharf fire station in Rotherhithe. Robert was transferred back to Dockhead in 1939 and during “The Blitz” he had a very tough time fighting the dockland fires. He was promoted to Company Officer (on £350 pa) in 1942. A Company Officer is in charge of a crew of firefighters and their apparatus. He was later in charge of a temporary fire station at Lombard Wall School in Charlton. After that Robert was in charge of another temporary station at Rangers House on Blackheath. In 1948 he was appointed as Station Officer in charge of Plumstead fire station. Robert left the fire brigade on 31st January 1950 after serving for 28 years. He then worked as a Clerical Assistant in the Pay Office at Woolwich Barracks and subsequently at the Civil Service Pay Office in Foots Cray.
Robert and Cecilia Ivall

Robert was a well-liked, even tempered and hard-working family man.  He was an avid reader of non-fiction works and loved recounting stories of his own experiences in life. He took a keen interest in growing vegetables and tending his greenhouse. His main outside interest was walking which he did at every opportunity. In later life he gained many friendships with members of his local church.

Cecilia Ivall died in 1979 aged 75. Robert died on 13 February 1992 at St Vincent’s Orthopaedic Hospital, Hillingdon aged 89. He was buried in Plumstead Cemetery in the same grave as his wife. His parents are buried nearby.
Gravestone of Cecilia and Robert Ivall

Saturday 20 April 2013

Wedding of Albert David Ivall (1889-1960) and Grace Nettleton (1903-76)

Albert Ivall’s first wife Florence died in February 1945. He married Florence Nettleton on April 8th 1946 at St John’s Church, Palmers Green in North London. Grace had been the Sunday School teacher to Albert’s two daughters.


The wedding photo above contains the following people

Front row: unknown man, Daisy Nettleton ? (aged 43, Grace’s sister), Kathleen Edith Keenan nee Ivall (aged 29, Albert’s daughter), Albert David Ivall (57), Grace Ivall nee Nettleton (42), unknown man, unknown woman.

Second row: unknown woman, Marjorie Joan Cossey nee Ivall (25, Albert’s daughter), Charles Bernard Keenan (35, Albert’s son-in-law), Rose Lily Kebbell nee Ivall (60, Albert’s sister), Florrie Davis, unknown woman.

Third row: Ernest Alfred Cossey (25, Albert’s son-in-law), Emma Laughton, formerly Ivall nee Armitage (62, Albert’s sister-in-law), Walter Edwin Kebbell (60, Albert’s brother-in-law), Fred Davis, unknown woman.

Albert’s sister Alice Elizabeth Luxford nee Ivall (1877-1939) and brother George William Ivall (1880-1934) are not in the photo as both had died by then. Grace had two sisters (Edith and Daisy) and two brothers (James and Henry) who were all older than her. Edith died in 1938, but the others are probably in the photo, although I can’t definitely identify them. Fred and his wife Florrie Davis were friends of Albert.

Sunday 7 April 2013

Kathleen Edith Keenan nee Ivall (1916-99)

Kathleen was born on 17th April 1916 at 8 Mapledene Road, Dalston in North London, the elder daughter of Albert David Ivall (1889-1960) and his wife Florence Edith Ivall nee Armitage (1887-1945). My mother was Kathleen’s cousin twice over - my mother’s parents, George William Ivall (1880-1934) and Emma Ivall nee Armitage (1883-1970) were both siblings of Kathleen’s parents.

Albert and Florence had a second daughter, Marjorie Joan Ivall, in 1921. Kathleen attended Queen’s Road School and then Dalston County Secondary School where she obtained Matriculation. After she left school, Kathleen worked for an insurance company near London Bridge. In 1937, she moved with her parents to 75 Osidge Lane, Southgate, North London.
Albert, Kathleen, Marjorie and Florence Ivall on holiday in 1933

Kathleen met Charles Bernard Keenan in the mid 1930’s and they married on 17 September 1938 at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, New Southgate. He was aged 27, a director of a building firm, she was 22. 
Kathleen’s marriage in 1938. From left : Peter Keenan (father of Charles), Grace Ivall (my mother), Hilda Keenan (sister of Charles), Marjorie Ivall, Charles Keenan, Kathleen, Peter Keenan (brother of Charles), Florence Ivall, Stella Keenan (sister of Charles) and Albert Ivall.

The 1939 Register shows them living at 7 Bexley Lane in Sidcup. Charles's occupation is given as "Housing manager and buyer, public works contractor."  They later had two sons and a daughter. The house at 7 Bexley Lane was severely damaged by a doodlebug in 1944 during the Second World War and so Kathleen and her family had to move out. They lived in Derby, Bexleyheath then 240 Bexley Lane and moved back into 7 Bexley Lane (by then rebuilt) in 1950. One of Kathleen’s son’s describes her as a loving wife and mother, also as neat, tidy and organised.

Sadly, Charles died in 1968, aged 57. Kathleen moved into a smaller house in nearby Charles Close and became a Registrar of Births and Marriages based in Sidcup, by then part of the London Borough of Bexley. However, she found it hard to cope with life without her husband. Kathleen’s family did their best to help. My parents often invited her to our house and maintained her garden. I have memories of a holiday on the Isle of Wight with Kathleen, my parents and myself in about 1970. I remember her as a kind, pleasant lady, easy to talk to, always smartly dressed.
 From left : Grace (my mother), Kathleen, Eric (my father) and Marjorie in my parents garden on Kathleen’s 72nd birthday (in 1988).

In 1988 Kathleen moved to a warden controlled flat in The Cloisters, King’s Langley, Hertfordshire, which was close to where her daughter lived. In 1996 Kathleen had the first of a succession of falls, breaking bones. She then went into various care homes until the end of 1998 when she suffered early signs of heart failure and was taken into hospital where she died on 7th January 1999 aged 82. Her funeral was held at St Lawrence’s Roman Catholic Church, Sidcup and she was buried in Chislehurst Cemetery, in the same grave as her husband.
The grave of Charles and Kathleen Keenan.

Sunday 31 March 2013

William David Ivall (1898-1927), photographer.

William David Ivall was a great grandson of David Ivall (1795-1850), the highly successful coach maker who was a brother and business partner of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835). David left £5,000 (a substantial sum of money then) to each of his six children when he died. The youngest was Albert Ivall (1839-97), who lost most of his inheritance between 1861 and 1871, when he was a farmer. He was declared bankrupt in 1875 following a court case brought against him by the Mayor and Corporation of Hastings (see my item on Albert’s life for more details). Albert’s youngest son was Harry Ivall (1869-1935), who married Emily Ann Carpenter (1862-1942) in 1896 in Hemel Hempstead, where Emily was born. They moved to Upton Park, West Ham where they had three children, Hilda Maria (born 1897), William David (born 1898) and Harry Robert Ivall (b1905).

The 1901 census shows Harry (32, a draper’s assistant), Emily (36), Hilda (3) and William (2) Ivall on a visit to the house of Emily’s parents William (62) and Rosina (68) in Hemel Hempstead. In 1911, William Ivall (aged 12) is listed as living at 35 Selsdon Road, Upton Park, West Ham (a property of 6 rooms) with his parents Harry (41, a draper’s assistant) and Emily (45), siblings Hilda (13) and Harry (6) plus grandmother Maria Ivall (70).

William was too young to join the army in 1914, when war was declared. The Military Service act came into force in March 1916. This introduced conscription for single men aged 18 to 41. William’s army record can be viewed on the Ancestry website. It shows that he completed his Attestation Form on 11 September 1916, aged 17 years 11 months. He was unmarried, a photographer, living at 35 Selsdon Road, Upton Park. His height was 5 foot 6¾ inches, chest 33½ inches. He was mobilised into the 19th Training Reserve Battalion on 12 March 1917 and posted to France on 17 October 1917, where he was allotted to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. On 3 May 1918 he was admitted to Sutton Veny Hospital, near Warminster in Wiltshire. He was granted a furlough (leave of absence) from 19 to 29 June, returning to his unit on 30 June 1918.

William was not demobilised from the Army until October 1919, after 2 years 227 days service. He was assessed as 30% disabled from the effects of trench fever and granted a payment of 12s 0d per week for 26 weeks. Trench fever was first reported on the Western Front in December 1914. Incidences of trench fever continued to grow throughout the war. It attacked all armies and until the final year of the war, baffled doctors and researchers.  Chief symptoms of the disease were headaches, skin rashes, inflamed eyes and leg pains. Despite such wide-ranging symptoms, the condition was not itself particularly serious, with patients recovering after five or six days although prolonged hospitalisation amounting to several weeks was common. In military terms, however, it proved one of the most significant causes of sickness. In 1918 the cause was identified as excretions from lice. The disease was transmitted via the bites of body lice.

Records at The Wellcome Library indicate that William was employed as a photographer at The Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research (WBSR) in London, before the war. His job was to take photos for scientific purposes in connection with the museum of tropical medicine and hygiene for a salary of 30 shillings per week. In March 1919, the WBSR wanted to re-employ William in this role at 50 shillings per week. However, he was not released from the Army in time and the post was filled by someone else. Rifleman W Ivall 204142 was then in 5th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, R.G.A. Barracks, Sheerness.

The 1921 census shows William living with his family at 35 Selsdon Road, Upton Park. The household consisted of Harry Ivall (aged 52, a draper's assistant with McKay and Ryland Drapers, 243 Whitechapel Road), Emily (54), William (22), Harry (16) as well as Maria Ivall (81, Harry's mother) and a boarder. William's occupation was as a photographer with Burroughs Wellcome, Chemists at Snow Hill Buildings, London E6.

A 1925 London directory lists William Ivall, photographer, at 35 Selsdon Road, Upton Park. 

In the second quarter of 1927, William married Dorothy Frances Henderson in West Ham. He was aged 28, she was 21.
William and Dorothy
(photo kindly supplied by Dorothy's great grandson Mark)

William died in September that year, in Romford, Essex of a throat tumour and was buried in grave 76/319 in Manor Park Cemetery, East London. His tombstone is inscribed :
In loving memory of my dear husband William David Ivall, who passed away 23rd September 1927 aged 28 years. If my love could have saved thee, thou wouldst not have died, but God knows best.

Photos of William's grave
(kindly supplied by Shelley Williams)

The cemetery records give William's last address as 64 Glenham Drive, Ilford. There is no record of probate being granted on his estate.

Dorothy married Edward A Gaston in 1944 and died in 1962.

Friday 8 March 2013

Robert George Ivall DFM (1923-2011), RAF Pilot in WW2

Robert George Ivall (known as Bob) was a great grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), who was a brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-67). This profile contains information from Robert’s son, his niece and nephew.

Robert was born on 6th January 1923, the eldest of three children born to Walter George Ivall (1868-1953) and his second wife Alice Ivall nee Cumber (1884-1959), who married in 1921. Walter previously had six children (of which two died soon after birth) with his first wife Lily, who passed away in 1915. When Robert was born, his father was aged 55 and his mother was 38. Walter was deputy headmaster of Slough National School in the 1920s. Robert was born and grew up in Chalvey, a suburb of Slough. He nearly died from a perforated appendix aged 9 and was sent to convalesce at a farm near Dallington, Sussex, the home of Jack Croft, a tenant farmer married to Kate Hobden, who was Walter's first cousin.

The 1939 Register shows Robert, a motor mechanic, living at 11 Whiteford Road, Slough with his parents. Robert joined the RAF during the Second World War. He was too young to take part in the Battle of Britain (in 1940) but underwent flight training near Liverpool in 1942. He was then shipped to Cape Town in South Africa. From there he traveled by train to East Africa and by flying boat from Lake Victoria to Egypt. He thought he would drown when the flying boat almost sunk on landing. Robert then saw action in Malta and Italy, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, which was given to non-commissioned officers and men for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy. A total of 6,637 DFMs were awarded during the Second World War. Robert didn’t talk about his war time experiences much and his son doesn’t know the reason why he was given a DFM. Of the intake of pilots with whom he trained in the UK, Robert believed he was the only one to survive the war.

Robert in his RAF uniform

After the war, Robert got a job working for a business called Car Electricals in Slough. His role was to find and supply electrical components to customers, who included the nearby Pinewood Studios.

In 1951 he married Barbara Eileen Dunford at St Laurence’s Church, Upton (on the edge of Slough). He was aged 28, she was 25, a daughter of the manager of the Slough Co-op (the biggest shop in town). They had a son who was born in 1953 and moved into 50 Alpha Street in Slough, a house that was owned by Barbara’s parents. Robert lived here for the rest of his life. Robert and Barbara adopted many cats that found their way to their door. After their dog Candy died they had up to six cats at a time.

Sadly, Barbara died of cancer in 1981 aged 55. This was a loss that Robert never got over. In 1988, when he reached the age of 65, he retired from full time work at Car Electricals and then worked there part time for several years.

Robert was often kind and generous. In 1942, whilst he was stationed near Liverpool, he responded to an advert for a second hand Hornby train set on sale in Manchester. Robert travelled there, bought the train set and gave it to his two nephews as a Christmas present. This was a huge gift at that time. He was a good artist and drew pictures of Hurricanes or Spitfires in pencil. Robert’s son describes his father as a character, who would say things to get a reaction from other people. He was rather shy and had to be cajoled into taking part in social events, although once there, he would normally take part enthusiastically. Robert was a pipe smoker, like his father.

In 2011, Robert had a stroke in the night and was admitted to Wexham Park Hospital. He died there a few weeks later on 16th September 2011 aged 88. A funeral service for him was held at St Laurence’s Church, which he had attended. After his cremation, his ashes were placed with those of his wife in the churchyard.

Monday 4 March 2013

Rose Lily Kebbell nee Ivall (1885-1965) and her children


Rose was a sister of my grandfather George William Ivall. She was born on 14th September 1885 in Somers Town, an area of London west of St Pancras Station. Her parents were George Ivall and his wife Alice. They had five children, Rose was their fourth. She was born the year after their third child (called Rosa) had died aged 5 months.

The 1891 census shows George Ivall (aged 38, a cabinet maker), Alice (36), Alice (13), George (10), Rose (5) and Albert (2) living at 51 Freeling Street, Islington. Charles Booth did a poverty survey of London in 1891. He classified the inhabitants of Freeling Street as being in the category “Poor. 18s. to 21s. a week for a moderate family.”

By 1901 the family were living at 125a Holly St, Hackney and consisted of George (aged 49, still a cabinet maker), Alice (47), Alice (23, a theatre bar manageress), Rose (15) and Albert (12). The inhabitants of Holly St are classified in the 1898-9 Booth poverty survey as being “Fairly comfortable. Good ordinary earnings.”

The 1911 census shows Rose (25, a restaurant waitress) living at 76 Princess May Rd, Stoke Newington with her father George (57, a general cabinet maker), mother Alice (55) and brother Albert (22, a general cabinet maker). Later that year, Rose married Walter Edwin Kebbell in Edmonton. He was aged 27, a brewer’s clerk, born in Hackney, a son of Edward Rhodes Kebbell (1834-1915), a carpenter and joiner. She was 26.

Rose and Walter moved to Newport, Isle of Wight, where they had two daughters, Joyce (known as Joy) Lillian Kebbell, born on 18th January 1914 and Winifred (known as Wynne) Rose Kebbell, born on 6th May 1915.

 Rose, Wynne, Joy and Walter in 1918

The 1921 census shows the family living at 9 Medina Avenue, Newport. Google Street View shows this to be one of a terrace of Edwardian houses. Walter (aged 37), Rose (35), Joyce (7) and Winifred (6) are listed at the address. Walter's occupation is recorded as "Brewer's manager, bottling dept" working for Whitbread Co Ltd at the Wighthall Brewery, Quay St, Newport. This is about half a mile from 9 Medina Avenue. Also listed are Rose's parents George (aged 67, a retired cabinet maker) and Alice (65). The census was taken in June 1921, so presumably they were visiting their daughter for a summer holiday. 



Clockwise from bottom left : Rose, Charles Alexander Luxford (Rose’s nephew), George Ivall (Rose’s father), Walter, Alice Eliza Ivall (Rose’s mother) and Wynne, c 1929.

Rose’s daughter Joy went to university, which was quite unusual for women at this time. During World War Two, she was a children’s welfare officer, her role being to place evacuees into homes. Phyllis Luxford, the wife of her cousin Charles Luxford, and their two young children were evacuated to live with her in Yeovil.  

Joy in 1933

 Walter and Rose, c 1940

Wynne (aged 30) married Frederick Charles Edwards (aged 34) in February 1946 at St Andrew’s Church, Hove. I have a copy of an item in the Sussex Daily News about the wedding. It says that Fred was recently demobilised from the RAF after nearly four years’ service in the Middle East. Wynne was a school meals organiser for the Brighton Education Committee. The attendants were Wynne’s sister Joy and Gillian Luxford (aged 7), her cousin. The best man was Albert C Gunn, Fred’s brother-in-law. The reception was held at Hove Town Hall and the honeymoon was in Torquay. The article gives Rose and Walter’s address as 46 Langdale Road, Hove and says
“The bride, whose family formerly resided at the Isle of Wight before taking her appointment as school meals organiser for Brighton, established the Yeovil school canteens so satisfactorily that her work drew Ministerial commendation.”

Fred and Wynne on their wedding day

Fred was a wine merchant. Phone books show that he had a shop at 47 Reginald Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in 1950 and 1952. By 1959, his business was located at 6 Collington Mansions, Bexhill-on-Sea.

Rose and Walter had moved to 62 East Street, Brighton by 1950, where they lived until 1962. They then moved to 3 Thornbank, Collington Avenue, Bexhill-on-Sea. I have a vague memory of visiting them there with my parents and noticing that there were several grandfather clocks in the house. Walter died on 19th January 1964 at St Helena Hospital, Hastings aged 79. Rose died on 15th February 1965 at Bexhill Hospital, also aged 79. Probate on Rose’s estate (£1,748) was granted to Wynne.

Joy, Fred and Wynne in 1984

My parents kept in touch with Wynne and Fred. They had no children and lived above the off-licence that Fred ran in Bexhill-on-Sea. I remember being told off by Wynne for climbing on their sofa during a visit to them, when I was a young child ! In 1966 they moved to Heather Bank, Winchelsea Bank, Guestling, northeast of Hastings. The house had a largish garden on different levels, which they found difficult to maintain as they got older. Fred died in 1991 aged 80, Wynne on 29th April 1997 aged 81.

Joy never married. I don’t know much about her life but am told that she was rather a serious person, difficult to relax with. My father commented that Joy was a misnomer for her ! Phone books and/or electoral registers show her living at 128 Wightman Road, South Hornsey, London in 1953. By 1961 she was living at 3 Heathville Road, Islington and by 1966 her address was 48 Barrington Court, Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill. By 1975 she had moved to Bexhill-on-Sea and was living at Lamberley Court, Barnhorn Road. When she died on 21st February 1998 aged 84, her address was Ledsham Court, 314 The Ridge, Hastings.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Katherine Dora Collins nee Ivall (1877-1963)

Katherine Dora Ivall was a grand-daughter of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), who was a brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-67). Her first name was registered at birth (and baptism) as Katherine, although it is spelt variously as Katharine, Catherine and Catharine in other records made during her life. She was known as Dora.

Katherine was born on September 28th 1877 in Chalvey (a village which is now a district of Slough), the sixth of fifteen children (ten boys and five girls) born to Thomas Ivall (1837 - 1908) and his wife Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845 - 1929). Thomas was a baker and ran the Chalvey village bakery. In 1881 the family consisted of Thomas (aged 44, a master baker), Lucy (34), Walter (12), Annie Lucy (7), Harry Alfred (5), Catherine Dora (3), Percy Bertram (1), Reginald Ivall (2 months) and Eliza Hobden (27, Lucy’s sister, a nurse). Their address was Jordan Place Bakers Shop, Chalvey, Buckinghamshire.

In 1891 Thomas Ivall (aged 53, a baker), Lucy (43), Walter (22, an assistant schoolmaster), Annie (17), Harry (15, a baker), Catherine (13), Percy (11), Reginald (10), Charles (8), Margaret (8), Gilbert (6), Jane (4) and Philip (0.75) were living at 6 Jordan Place, Church Street, Chalvey.


Katherine Dora Ivall, date unknown

By 1901, Thomas, aged 63, a retired baker, was living at 39 The Crescent, Chalvey, Slough with his wife Lucy (52) and their children (Katherine) Dora (23, a milliner), Charles (18, a baker), Margaret (18), Gilbert (15), Jane (14), David (10) and Gerald (8). The house is still there. The 1911 census shows Katherine living as a boarder at 94 Tottenham Court Road, London. She was aged 32 and a milliner.

Katherine married Edwin Alexander Collins on August 2nd 1913 in Chalvey Parish Church. He was aged 32, a joiner, she was aged 35. Edwin came from an old Chalvey family, his father was Robert Gibson Collins, also a joiner. Edwin had been apprenticed to the building trade and quickly became a skilled craftsman.

Soon after their marriage, Edwin and Katherine moved into Tavistock Villa, Ledgers Road, Slough. As far as I know, they had no children. Edwin served in the Army and then the Air Force during World War One. 

The 1921 census shows Edwin (aged 40, a carpenter working for The Slough Trading Company, Salt Hill, Slough) and Katherine (43) at Tavistock Villa. Listed as a visitor was Alice Cumber (36, an unemployed bank clerk), who was a friend of Katherine's and became the second wife of Walter George Ivall (Katherine's eldest brother) 6 days after the census date (19 June 1921).

In about 1925, Edwin decided to set up his own business and received many good contracts. By 1936 he employed 20 men on average.

The following item appeared in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer dated April 24th 1936.

Local Builder’s Tragic Death

Mr E A Collins

Found “Gassed” in Car – Inquest

Deep regret is felt at the death of a well-known Slough master builder and contractor, Mr Edwin Alexander Collins, who was found dead from gas poisoning in his 16 hp Austin saloon motor car on Greenham Common, near Newbury, on Friday evening. He resided at Tavistock Villa, Ledgers Road and was 55 years of age. A piece of rubber hose was fixed from the exhaust pipe through the floor boards of the car, and a pair of overalls had been wound round the two pipes to give a gas-tight joint.

The item went on to quote Katherine at the inquest saying that Greenham Common had been a favourite spot where they had gone for picnics. Her husband had been recently “worried and depressed. I have seen him holding his head. He loved his business and took a pride in it.” There was no suicide note. The coroner concluded that Edwin had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind by inhaling carbon monoxide gas from the exhaust of his car.

The article said that Edwin was “universally liked for his cheery disposition and his kind heartedness. He enjoyed the esteem of all his acquaintances, not only as a conscientious tradesman but as a very good friend.”

Edwin’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church, Slough and he was interred in the churchyard with his father and mother.

Edwin’s wife and family had no doubts that his suicide was entirely due to financial difficulties, resulting from a number of clients not paying their bills. Within a month or two after his death most had paid the money they owed to his widow and she was able to clear any debts of her husband. Probate on his estate (£880) was granted to Katherine.

In the 1939 register, Katherine is shown as living at 4 Hogarth Gardens, Heston, Hounslow with Elizabeth M Loyd, a 78 year old of independent means. Katherine's occupation is described as "domestic duties paid". 

Katherine later lived with her unmarried sisters Margaret Olive Ivall (1883-1976) and Jane Evelyn Ivall (1886-1971, known as Aunt Gin or Ginny) at 2 Hillside, Ledgers Road, Slough, a house that was owned by Margaret.

Katherine died on 14th August 1963 aged 85 in Slough. The probate index gives her address as 2 Hillside, Ledgers Road, Slough. Probate on her estate (£469) was issued in 1965 to her sister, Margaret Olive Ivall, a spinster.

Sunday 17 February 2013

Ivall Ancestor Charts

If you would like me to send you (for free) a scan of a chart showing the names, dates and occupations of your Ivall ancestors, please send an email to me on PhilT42LQS@Yahoo.co.uk.

Phil Taylor

Thursday 7 February 2013

Fred Gregory Bampton (1891-1917), soldier who died in World War One

Fred Gregory Bampton was a great grandson of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), the brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-67). Fred’s grandmother was Jane Ivall (1841-71), who married John Bampton (1839-1908).

Fred was born on 3 March 1891, the third of four children born to John Robert Bampton and his wife Jane Maria nee Gregory who married in 1884. The family appear in the 1891 census living at 1 York Place, Chalvey (which is now a suburb of Slough). Listed were John Bampton (aged 27, hammerman in iron works), his wife Jane (29) and their children Mary (6), Clarence (4) and an unnamed son 1month old (this was Fred). The children were all born in Chalvey.

In 1901 the family consisted of John Bampton (37, a smith), Jane (39), Mary (16), Clarence (14), Fred (10) and Corrie (a son, 8 months old). Their address is given as 5 York Place, Chalvey.

Fred enlisted for the Royal Navy at Chatham on 8 October 1907, giving his age as 18 years old (he was actually only 16 years old). His Naval Service number was 366329. He is listed as having small tattoos on his left arm and a burn mark on his right ankle. He had been employed previously as ‘Houseboy in Brewery’. His naval record showed that :
8 October 1907 – 18 September 1908 he served as ‘Boy Servant’ on HMS Wildfire (this was the name of a shore establishment at Sheerness).
19 September 1908 – 30 September 1909 he served as ‘Officers Boy Servant Third Class’ on HMS Pembroke (the name given to shore barracks at Chatham).
1 October 1909 – 21 September 1910 he served as ‘Officers Cook Third Class’ on HMS Berwick (an armoured cruiser completed in 1903, assigned to the North America and West Indies station in 1909).
The last entry on his record sheet on 21 September 1910 was ‘Shore O.R.’ (on reserve).

The 1911 census shows Jane (49), Clarence (24, a carter in a gravel pit), Fred (20, a naval servant) and Corrie (10) at 5 York Cottages, Church St, Chalvey. The words “husband away” are written on the census return. The family were living in 4 rooms.

When the first world was declared in August 1914, Fred was aged 23. He volunteered to join the army and was sent to France, arriving on 28 April 1915 as part of the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was wounded twice but returned to active service with the 1st/4th Battalion.

Fred was killed in action on 15 February 1917 aged 25. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website records that he was a Private in the 1st/4th Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry at the time of his death. The War Diary of his unit is held in the National Archives at Kew. It says that the Battalion was providing brigade support 1500 yards East of Flaucourt on 15 February 1917. Flaucourt is a village about 4 miles West of the town of Peronne and was on ground gained by the French Army in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The war diary reads
“9.30am : Several hostile aeroplanes over, which were “strafed” by our Lewis Guns
10.15am : Shelling of neighbourhood of Battalion HQ commenced. This continued, without cessation till 1pm being particularly fierce for about the first ¾ of an hour. Several hundred shells were fired, principally 15cm Hows (Howitzers). Several direct hits scored on dugouts occupied by Bt HQ & C Coy (Company), also on a dump of French bombs on the road close by. Casualties killed 2Lt B.VOKES – from a shell which burst just outside entrance to C Coy’s HQ & 1 O.R.(Other Ranks) Wounded 5 O.R.”
In the margin it says
“2Lt B.VOKES C Coy killed
235012 Pte BAMPTON D Coy killed”
The names of the 5 wounded men are also given.

Fred is buried in the Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, which is about 3 miles North of Flaucourt. The cemetery contains nearly 600 dead from the 1914-18 war. It was enlarged after the armistice by moving dead from small burial grounds nearby. One of these was the Achille British Cemetery, Flaucourt on a trench about 1 kilometres East of Flaucourt. This was in use in February 1917 and was probably where Fred was initially buried. Hem Farm Cemetery is in a peaceful position surrounded by fields, just outside the village of Hem-Monacu and near the River Somme. 

Fred’s gravestone says “235012 Private / F G Bampton / Oxford & Bucks Light Inf / 15th February 1917 Age 24.”

Hem Farm Military Cemetery

The following item appeared in the Deaths section of the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer dated 10 March 1917 :
“BAMPTON. – On February 15th, Fred Gregory Bampton, late Private 2nd Oxford and Bucks L.I., son of Mr and Mrs Bampton of 5 York Place, Chalvey, who was killed in action, aged 25 years.
No mother or father to see him die
No sister or brother to say “Goodbye”,
No friends or relations to grasp his hand,
But we all hope to meet in that better land.”

Fred's mother Jane was sent £5 1s 6d (his effects) by the Army in 1917 and a war gratuity of £9 10s in 1919. 

The medal card of Fred G Bampton records that he was awarded the Victory Medal, British Medal and 1915 Star. The first two of these medals were given to all British soldiers who fought in WW1. The 1915 Star was only awarded to those who fought in 1915 (those who joined when conscription was introduced in 1916 did not receive it).

Fred’s name is recorded on the war memorials at St Peter’s Church in Chalvey, St Mary’s Church in Slough and Kingsway United Reformed Church in Slough.

A further item was printed in Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on the second anniversary of Fred’s death
“BAMPTON. – In ever loving memory of my dear son, Pte. Fred Gregory Bampton, late 2nd Oxford and Bucks L.I., who was killed in action Feb 15th, 1917.
It’s sweet to think we’ll meet again
Where troubles are no more
And that the one we loved so dear
Has just gone on before
Thy purpose, Lord, we cannot see,
But all is well that’s done by Thee.
Two years has passed, we miss his loving smile
Our hearts are aching, yet a little while
And we shall meet within the golden gate
God comfort us – God help us – while we wait
From his loving Mum, Dad, Sister and Brothers”

Monday 14 January 2013

Harold Victor Ivall (1900-85), engineer

Harold Victor Ivall was a great grandson of David Ivall (1795-1850), the highly successful coach maker who was a brother and business partner of my ancestor Thomas Ivall (1781-1835). David left £5,000 (a substantial sum of money then) to each of his six children when he died. The youngest was Albert Ivall (1839-97), who apparently lost most of his inheritance between 1861 to 1871, when he was a farmer. He was declared bankrupt in 1875 following a court case brought against him by the Mayor and Corporation of Hastings (see my item on Albert’s life for more details). His eldest son was Albert Ivall junior (1862-1905), the father of Harold. This profile of Harold’s life contains information and photos supplied by one of his daughters.

In 1891, Albert Ivall junior married Clara Amelia Stock in Poplar, East London. They had six children, namely Mabel Edith (1892-1963), Ethel Clara (1893-1959), Albert Clifford and David William (twins born in 1896 who both died in 1897), Harold Victor (born 7th December 1900) and Albert Edward (1902-1987). Harold was born at 10 White Post Lane, Poplar, the address of a grocer’s shop run by his father. The site of this building (which no longer exists) was near Hackney Wick tube station, just to the west of the Olympic Park. Harold was baptised on January 6th 1901 at St Mark's Church, Victoria Park.

The 1901 census shows Albert Ivall (aged 39, a grocery and provision dealer), his wife Clara (33) and children Mabel (8), Ethel (7) and Harold (4 months) plus a domestic servant living at 10 White Post Lane.

Albert Ivall (Harold’s father) died in 1905 aged 43 of “phthisis”, another name for tuberculosis. His will left his entire estate (£608 net) to his wife, Clara. She managed to get Harold and Albert into an orphanage school at Wanstead, on the edge of Epping Forest. Entry was by election only. These were normally held in a tavern in Fleet Street or Ludgate Hill and at The London Tavern in Bishopsgate Street. The 1911 census shows Harold (aged 10) and Albert (8) at the school. It was renamed Royal Wanstead School in 1939 and closed in 1971. The school building is now Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Harold Victor Ivall in 1919 (aged 18)

Harold’s mother (Clara) moved to Sussex. Trade Directories for 1909, 1911 and 1913 list her under the heading “Apartments” and give her address as 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards, Hastings. In 1916 and 1920 she is listed as a dress maker at 100 Burford Road, Nottingham. 

The 1921 census shows Clara (aged 53), Harold (20), Albert (18) and a boarder living in 6 rooms at 56 Noel Street, Nottingham. The occupation of both Harold and Edward was "Engineer turner", their employment being "Government instructional" at Basford, Nottingham. Harold is shown as out of work, so presumably he had completed his training course but not yet found a job. Electoral registers for 1922 to 1924 show Harold and Clara living at 56 Noel Street.

Harold married Lily Elizabeth Richards at Hyson Green parish church, Nottingham on August 2nd 1924. The marriage certificate says that he was aged 23, an engineer’s turner, living at 56 Noel Street, Nottingham. She was aged 22, a daughter of Arthur Richards, a miner. Harold and Lily set up home at 160 Vernon Road, Nottingham and their first daughter, Beryl was born in 1926. In 1927 they moved to 164 Vernon Road, where they lived until 1931, when they moved to 422 Perry Road, Nottingham.
Lily Elizabeth Ivall nee Richards

The depression in the 1930s meant that Harold was out of work.  He and his wife, Lily, moved to Leicester where they ran a fish & chip shop, which was very successful.

Later in the 1930s Harold & Lily returned to Nottingham, where Harold went back into engineering. Their second daughter was born in 1934. Lily opened a millinery business (she was a trained milliner). The business did well and she ran it until they both retired. A 1941 directory has an entry for Mrs Lily Ivall, milliner, 28 Alfreton Road, Nottingham.

The 1939 national register shows Harold (a lathe turner), Lily (a milliner) and Beryl (at school) living at 1 Avondale Road in Carlton, a district of Nottingham. 

Sadly Harold's eldest daughter Beryl died of toxaemia (blood poisoning caused by bacterial toxic substances) in 1942 aged 15. Harold's mother died in 1947 aged 79 in Nottingham.
Lily and Harold Ivall in 1955 at their second daughter's wedding

Harold was keen on sport. In his younger days he was very good at cricket. He also liked football, and on Saturdays went to Nottingham Forest one week and Notts County the next. His other hobby was fishing and he was a member of Nottingham Anglers, where he enjoyed the companionship and competition. According to his son-in-law, Harold had a very cheerful personality. He was a 'people person' with a good sense of humour. He enjoyed 'banter', especially with his brother Albert.

In 1963 Harold and Lily had a bungalow built in Fiskerton, Nottinghamshire in which they enjoyed their retirement. Harold’s wife Lily passed away in 1973 aged 71. After she died, Harold bought a flat at 114 Westdale Lane, Gedling (near Nottingham) to be nearer to his family He died on May 25th 1985 aged 84 in Nottingham. Lily, Harold and their daughter Beryl are buried in a grave in Northern Cemetery (Bulwell), Nottingham.
Harold's grave 

Thursday 3 January 2013

Alice Elizabeth Luxford nee Ivall (1877-1939)

Alice Elizabeth Ivall was the elder sister of my grandfather, George William Ivall. She was born on October 6th 1887 in Somers Town, an area of North London between Euston and St Pancras Stations. Her parents were George (1853-1932, a cabinet maker) and Alice Eliza Ivall (1856-1935, maiden name Newman). They married in 1875 and had five children: Alice Elizabeth (1877-1939), George William (1880-1934), Rosa (1884-1884), Rose Lily (1885-1965) and Albert David (1889-1960). Alice was baptised on 28th October 1877 at Christ Church, Somerstown.

The 1881 census shows George (aged 27), Alice (25), Alice (3) and George (5 months) living at 5 Stebbington Street, St Pancras. The family had moved to 51 Freeling Street, Islington by 1889, when Alice Ivall (aged 11) was admitted to Gifford Street School. In 1891, the family was living at 51 Freeling St and consisted of George (aged 38), Alice (36), Alice (13), George (10), Rose (5) and Albert (2). School admission records for Albert show that the family was living at 33 Boleyn Road, Dalston in 1896 and 61 Spencer Road, Hackney in 1899.

By 1901 the family were living at 125a Holly St, Hackney and consisted of George (aged 49, still a cabinet maker), Alice (47), Alice (23, a theatre bar manageress), Rose (15) and Albert (12). Their son George is not listed as he was in the marines and overseas. The inhabitants of Holly St are classified as category 5 in the 1898-9 Booth poverty survey meaning “Fairly comfortable. Good ordinary earnings.”

Alice married Charles James Luxford on 21st July 1901 at St Peter’s Church, West Hackney. She was aged 23, he was 22. The parish register gives his name as Charles Henry Luxford, but this seems to be an error, as all other records give his middle name as James. Charles was a builder living at 109 Hertford Street and his father was William Luxford, also a builder.

Alice and Charles’s only child was Charles Alexander Luxford, who was born on 21st July 1903 (their second wedding anniversary) in Hackney.

Alice as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her brother George William Ivall to Emma Armitage in 1906.

The 1911 census shows Alice and her family living at 109 Hertford Rd, Kingsland, Hackney. Charles, her husband, was a house decorator aged 30, born in Stoke Newington. He is listed as an employer. Alice was aged 31, Charles was aged 7 and at school. The Post Office London Directory for 1915 lists “William Luxford & Son, builders” at 109 Hertford Road.

Electoral registers from 1920 to 1939 show Charles still listed at 109 Hertford Road (his business address), but say that his abode was 204 Selwyn Avenue, Higham Park, London E4 (near Chingford) from 1920 to 1926 and Collingwood House, St Margaret’s at Cliffe (on the Kent coast near Dover) from 1928 to 1939.

 Collingwood House

The house is still there (in Collingwood Road), but has been substantially altered. My mother, Grace Ivall (who was Alice’s niece) had fond childhood memories of holidays staying with Alice and Charles at Collingwood. Her photo album shows her there in 1932 (aged 10) and 1936 (aged 14).

 Grace Ivall at Collingwood in 1932

Alice and Charles built a bungalow, called Collingwood Close, in the grounds of Collingwood House. The photo below was taken in front of Collingwood Close in 1935.

I believe that the people in this photo are (left to right) Emma Ivall (my grandmother), Charles and Alice Luxford

The national register compiled in September 1939 shows Charles (a master builder and decorator) and Alice at Collingwood Close.

Alice died at Collingwood Close on November 28th 1939 aged 62. The following item appeared in a local newspaper


Mr A Ivall was Alice’s brother Albert. Miss A Gay was Ada Constance Gay, Alice’s housekeeper, who married Charles in 1941. My mother was amongst those who sent a floral tribute to the funeral.

Charles James Luxford in 1949

Charles James Luxford died (from a cerebral haemorrhage) at Collingwood Close on 23rd November 1949 aged 70. He is buried in Westcliffe Churchyard in the same grave as Alice. The Dover Express reported

The Church lost a regular member and a sidesman through the passing, after a brief illness, of Mr. Charles James Luxford, of Collingwood Close, Nelson Park. Mr. Luxford, aged 70, came to St. Margaret’s from London about 23 years ago.