Lucy Ivall nee Hobden (1845-1929), wife of Thomas Ivall

Lucy Ivall was the wife of Thomas Ivall (1837-1908) who was a son of Robert Thomas Ivall (1812-65), a brother of my ancestor David Ivall (1816-66).

Lucy Hobden was born 19 October 1845 in Ashburnham, Sussex. Her father, Richard Hobden (1812-78), was a farm bailiff. Lucy had 10 siblings and is distantly related to the Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman (1908-2001) via her mother Mary Hobden nee Furner (1816-1878).

Lucy joined the staff of Lord Ashburnham who lived at Ashburnham House in Sussex and also had a house in London. In 1867 she married Thomas Ivall, a baker, in St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London. He was 30 and she 22. They had sixteen children, of which thirteen survived into adulthood.

After her marriage, Lucy lived in Chalvey, now a suburb of Slough. My profile of Thomas Ivall’s life gives information from census returns etc. 

Lucy (in centre) and some of her family taken in about 1902. 

Thomas died in 1908. After his death Lucy lived at 124 Crescent Road, Slough with some of her children and later moved to 11 Ragstone Road, Slough with her unmarried daughters Jane and Margaret. 

Lucy died in 1929 aged 84 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s, Chalvey. In the same grave were her husband Thomas and one of her sons, Harry (1875-1901). I have located the approximate position of the grave, but there seems to be no stonework on it. The following article describing her funeral was printed in the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express dated 20 September 1929.

Death of Mrs Lucy Ivall

Chalvey has lost one of its oldest and best-known residents by the death of Mrs Lucy Ivall, which took place on Saturday last at “The Haye”, 11 Ragstone Road. Mrs Ivall, who was 84 years of age, was the widow of the late Mr Thomas Ivall, who passed away some fifteen years ago. By a strange coincidence she died on the same day as her son Gilbert was killed at the Battle of the Marne (September 14^th, 1914) when serving with the Scots Guards.

Mrs Ivall had resided in Chalvey over sixty years, her husband for many years carrying on the business of a baker in Church Street. She was a woman, who was much respected by all classes, because although the mother of fourteen children (ten of whom are still living) she always found time to do a good turn to her neighbours, and nothing was ever too much trouble for her. Mrs Ivall was an indefatigable worker, and for some years ran the soup kitchen at Chalvey in days when there was real poverty in the district. She had been ailing for some considerable time, having been confined to her bed for the last fifteen months, and the end was not unexpected.

Mrs Ivall was the mother of a real sporting family, and three or four of her boys played for the Slough Football Club at varying periods. They were all good cricketers, and for a quarter of a century, the eldest son, Mr George Ivall, captained the Chalvey club, while Gilbert was as one time captain of the Royal Household Cricket Club.

The funeral took place at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday afternoon, and in accordance with her expressed wish, the arrangements were of the simplest character.  The service was conducted by The Rev. J H Waters, and the mourners included six sons, Messrs. George, Percy, Reginald, Charles, Geoffrey and Gerald Ivall, and two sons-in-law, Mr E.C.Bubb and Mr E. A. Collins. A large number of sympathizing friends gathered at the church and graveside.

About thirty floral tributes were received, including one “With deepest sympathy from the staff of the Boys’ National School, Slough”, with which Mr George Ivall was associated for so many years.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr E. Sergeant.

The floral tributes were as follows:

“In loving and happy memory of our dear Mother”, from Maggie, Jennie and little Geoffrey.

 “Until the day breaks”; “With affectionate remembrance and an abiding love George and Alice (son and daughter in law);

 “In loving memory of our dear mother”, from Dolly and Ted (daughter and son in law)

 “Brave loving Mother” Dora and Alec (daughter and son in law);

 “From Pete and Mary and little Tom, with all their love (son and daughter in law);

 “In loving remembrance of our dear mother – Darkie and Nell (son and daughter in law)

 “To the best of Mothers” – Joe and Flossie (son and daughter in law);

 “To our dear Mother, with love from Gerry and Hilda (son and daughter in law).

 “In affectionate remembrance”- Dorrie and Frank (grand –daughter and husband)

 “In loving remembrance” – Kitty and Reg

 “In affectionate remembrance of our dear Grannie – Margaret and Lily”

 “from her youngest grandchild – Baby Barbara”

 “In loving memory of Grandmum, with dearest love – Marjorie”

 “In loving memory of Grandmum-Lucy”

 “In affectionate memory of an old Friend, and deepest sympathy to the family – George Palmer”

 “With deepest sympathy and remembrance, Mrs Hobden and family”

 “In loving remembrance of a kind Friend from Mr and Mrs G Smith”; also Etty and Ada

 “In loving memory of Grannie Ivall from Nolly”

  “With deepest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs Lawford Jones” ;

 “In kind remembrance, from Mr and Mrs George Severn, Bankside, Ragstone Road, Slough.”

; “With love from Mr and Mrs Chown and family” ;

 “With deepest sympathy from nieces and nephews”

 “With sincerest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs Pusey and Mr F Allen.”

 “In affectionate remembrance, from Mrs G Young, Reigate, Upton Road, Slough”

 “With deepest sympathy, from the staff of the Boys’ National School, Slough”

 “With deepest sympathy, from Mrs King”

 “In loving remembrance, from old Nell.”