Frederick Dan Gillingham^{6 7}

Male

Gilly

Albert Charles Gillingham (1866-1928)

Rosetta Boulter (1865-1936)

was a sailor in the Royal Navy becoming an electrician at Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries by 1953. Fred had a beautiful head of silver hair and liked to drink beer, being called 'hollow legs' when he was younger drinking 12 pints in an evening

son of Albert Charles Gillingham (farm labourer) and Rosetta Gillingham formerly Boulter

son of Albert (labourer) and Rosetta Gillingham of Felixstowe

son living in five rooms with his parents Albert and Rosetta, sisters Alice, Agnes, Doris, Violet and Eddie, and brothers Arthur, Charles, Harry and George. Born in Felixstowe Suffolk

unmarried son working as a farm labourer for Col. Ross Johnson of Mettingham Castle and living five rooms with his parents Albert and Rosetta, brothers Arthur, Charles, Harry, George and Alfred, and sisters Doris and Edith. Born in Felixstowe Suffolk

in the Royal Navy as a boy signing for 12 years when he turned 18 on 21 September 1921 at 2s 6d per week. He was a farm labourer 5' 5" tall with a 36" chest, brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. His service number being J104025

serving as a Boy I until he turned 18 becoming a Cadet

served aboard this light cruiser in Weymouth

attended the training school at HMS Pembroke I at Chatham

to HMS Cyclops, a submarine supply and service vessel on 2nd January 1923. Whilst on board HMS Cyclops he became an Able Seaman on 4th April 1923

attended the training school at HMS Pembroke I at Chatham

the good conduct badge G1

served on HMS Delphinium, a sloop

attended the training school at HMS Pembroke I at Chatham

served on HMS Vernon, a shore base covering aspects of maritime warfare, such as mining, torpedoes and electrical equipment

attended the training school at HMS Pembroke I at Chatham

Pembroke II, Pembroke 1.3 25th April 1931, Pembroke 2.4 (Dr Mee Res?) 2 May 1931, Pembroke I 15 October 1931

a battleship

not sure when they moved here to run the boarding house which continued until 1970s, or it started later. The house was purchased at auction from a Mr. Symonds and their telephone number was Ipswich 53681

a cruiser

completing his twelve years service

he joned the Royal Fleet reserve (RFR)

as an electrician charging batteries for fork lift trucks

mobilised

called up

posted to HMS Royal Arthur, a training and reception base in an old Butlins holiday camp

posted to HMS Transylvania, an armed merchant cruiser just after her conversion was completed on 5th October 1939. Sadly this ship was sunk by a torpedo on 10th August 1940, three months after Fred had left it, 36 lives were lost,~ 300 saved

HMS Pembroke I

being invalided out B.N.P.S. (below naval physical standard) with a duodenal ulcer

awarded the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, service No. 22621

belonged to the Ipswich Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes and the Oddfellows and he was reputed to know every public house within 20 miles of Ipswich

of a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and general debility, of 179 Highfield Road Ipswich, father of Theodore, Gloria and Sylvia, friend of Roy and Doris

at 3:45pm

Violet Olive Blanche Edwards^{25 7 26}

Female

Nana or Vi

Stanley Augustus Edwards (1875-1945)

Maud Florence Payne (1880-1923)

daughter of Stanley Augustus Edwards (stockman on farm) and Maud Florence Edwards formerly Payne. Birth place given as Haughley in 1911 census

daughter living in four rooms with her parents Stanley and Maud, and brother Sidney. Born in Hintlesham Suffolk

daughter of Stanley Augustus Edwards (labourer) and Maud Florence

daughter living in seven rooms with her parents Stanley and Florence, brothers, Stanley, Reggie and Herbert, sisters Winnie, Sybil, Gwendoline and Florence, and a servant. Born in Haughley Suffolk

an unmarried servant working as a housemaid and living in sixteen rooms with Hastings and Albertine Ross-Johnson, three other servants, and a boarder. Born in Hintlesham Suffolk

married and born 25th February 1901 carrying out unpaid domestic duties, living with daughter Gloria and two closed records, presumably Theodore and Sylvia, and three lodgers

was doing her best when food was very scarce and on ration. Nana had quite a number of American service men come to stay, many bought food, and chocolate, and K rations, for us to share to help stop us going hungry. A lady came to stay to help with the house work etc. (Later to be Doris's rooms). She turned out to be an "Ipswich lady of the night" as Nana found out, so she was sent packing. Needless to say she was miffed, and promptly went to the Police and shopped Nana re food etc. as this was illegal during the war. Poor Nana was taken into custody and had to spend the night in the Police cells at Ipswich Police Station. During this time Gilly, Gloria and myself were frantically digging holes in the garden and burying as much of the food as we could, as a house search was imminent. Gloria and I were so frightened, and could not stop crying, seeing Nana taken away like that. Luckily she was released on bail the next morning. Later to appear in court and was heavily fined. It was the worst experience of our lives, even worse than the bombing going on all round. We were told never to talk about this to anyone, and have not till now. This description was by her daughter Sylvia and none of us knew anything about this, Sylvia's sister Gloria never mentioned it either

due to ill health

was visited by her daughter, granddaughter and two great grandchildren, the first time all four generations had met together

of 97 Burrell Road after a very long illness, wife of Fred, mother of Theodore, Gloria and Sylvia

at 1:30pm preceded by a service at St. Mary Stoke Ipswich

Theodore Edwin Leonard Edwards^{37 38 39}

Male

Theo

son of Violet Olive Blanch Edwards a housemaid. It says adopted on right hand side

son of Olive Blanch Violet Edwards of Mettingham

presumably a closed record living with his mother, sister Gloria, another closed record presumably sister Sylvia, and three lodgers

Cause: of sclerosis of the liver

Gloria Brenda Charmian Olive Gillingham^{7 43}

Female

Harold Eric Wilkinson (1930-2010)

began work as a typist for British Railways in 1947, becoming proficient in Gregg shorthand enabling her to become a secretary and personal assistant at E. R. & F. Turner (Bull Motors), Foxhall Road, Ipswich. Gloria then did a number of part-time secretarial roles whilst raising her family. She was an accomplished piano and organ player, being organist at St. Luke's in Beccles c1995 to 2008, active in the Women's Fellowship and other church groups

daughter of Frederick Dan Gillingham (Able Seaman H.M.S. "Tetrarch" of 32 York Road, Battersea) and V.O.B. Gillingham of 32 York Road Battersea

with a good report dated 31 July 1939 and an excellent one dated 31 July 1940

unmarried and born on 9th September 1929 attending school and living with her mother and two siblings, also closed records, and three lodgers. There is a note MED IPS 1.8.34, was this when she had pneumonia which affected her in later years?

gaining good reports

as a typist gaining certificates in Gregg shorthand at 60 words per minute in December 1945 and 80 words per minute in March 1946

a secretary and personal assistant

was active in an amateur dramatic society appearing in "The Duenna" in 1965 and "1066 and All That" in 1966

Cause: of pneumonia, bronchietasis and acute renal failure

Alan was present at Gloria's bedside when she died. David, Harold and Linda returned immediately to the hospital

the service being conducted by Revd. Ian Naylor at 2.00pm. This service was followed by an internment in the Churchyard. She was joined by her husband, Harold, just three months later on 25 July 2010

gross effects under £325,000 and net effects under £63,000 administered by David Eric Wilkinson and Alan Roy Wilkinson

Sylvia Irene Nancy Gillingham^{16 54}

Female

Keith Desmond Philip Symonds (1930-2019)

had a narrow escape suffering just slight abrasions to her leg when knocked down by a motor-van outside her home

presumably a closed record living with her mother, sister Gloria and another closed record presumably brother Theo, and three lodgers

a bridesmaid

was staying with her parents when they received a warning about imminent flooding (the famous 1953 East Coast tidal surge). The basement contained the kitchen and a large store room which held great supplies of bottled fruit and other foods. Whilst helping empty the store room, water burst through the door and Sylvia, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was trapped alone in rising water. She was rescued by "Big Reg" and the water rose to within 5 inches of the ceiling. The next day her father, Fred, sat in the stairs with a tiddler net trying to catch eggs which were bobbing about. This story was told live on Radio Suffolk 31 January 2013 at 16:42.

at 01:00 am

at 11:00