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NETLEY ABBEY MATTERS!
SHARED VILLAGE STORIES lll
This Page is dedicated to the Families, past and present, of Netley Abbey Village.
The stories reproduced here are
their
family stories, told in their own words.
If you have a story to tell and are happy to share it here, then please
let me know via Contact Me.
Index of Family Surnames
The featured surnames appear below in this order -
McIsaac Miles Morris/Lowbridge Osborne. Parker Peckham
Perry Phipps Robertson/Salter Rogers/Baptie
Ross/Dunnings/Ruthen Sainsbury Sellwood Sharpe Strain Wilson Wright
Shared Village Stories has expanded into 3 pages - see left!
In December 2020, Robin McIsaac got in touch with me to share not only his own personal memories of growing up in Netley Abbey but also the story of his Grandfather, John Francis Collins who was at Netley Hospital from 1919 to 1930.
Let's first meet Grand-dad John -
John Francis Collins
Clerk of Works
He was born in Cork in 1878.
He was an electrician, gas fitter and a plumber. In 1908 at Cork, he married Frances Mary Lawless.
They had a daughter, Bridget Mary, born in 1913.
John enlisted with 10th Division, Royal Engineers in October 1915.
It is believed that he served in the Salonika Campaign, perhaps in the Signals and saw little action.
He returned to Cork in 1917 but with the rising Irish nationalist sentiment, his service
with the British Army and his name (he was a distant cousin of Michael Collins),
the family faced strong hostility from all sides.
When my Mother was enrolled at Netley Infants School, such was the anti-Irish sentiment in 1919,
my Grandmother enrolled her as "Brenda" rather than "Bridget"
and she kept that name for the rest of her life.
Early in 1919, my Grandfather was fortunate to secure the appointment of Clerk of Works at Netley Hospital and the family moved into one of the row of cottages in the Hospital grounds close to
Hound Road.
My Mother, then 5, remembers seeing the chestnut trees in bloom. Three years later there were changes in the Netley Hospital regulations regarding civilian housing and the family moved
to no. 10 (today it's no. 20) Denzil Avenue.
A few years later, my Grandfather was discharged from the post at the Hospital and he
worked for years on the wiring of Winchester Cathedral and as an electrical engineer in the
Woolston dockyards. He was also much in demand by Netley Abbey residents, looking after
electric and gas appliances.
My Grandfather died suddenly at home on 25 June 1955, at the age of 76 and is buried at Hound Church.
My Grandmother continued to live at 10 Denzil Avenue for many years. She died in 1961.
Here are Robin's memories -
I was born on 12 July 1945 at a nursing home in Swanwick by the Hamble River.
My Mother (Brenda McIsaac, nee Collins) was a "Sister" at Coldeast Hospital at
nearby Sarisbury Green.
My Mother had grown up in Netley Abbey at 10 Denzil Avenue and after she had married my Father,
Michael in 1944, they lived for a short time on Abbey Hill, I think possibly "Redmile" - No 6?
My Dad was working in Hamble at Air Service Training after his medical discharge
from the Navy in 1944.
In 1947, shortly after my brother, Frank was born, we moved to 26 Hound Road Gardens, a new "Prefab" (Arcon, I think) with asbestos panels and roof,
My Dad was at AST for the Berlin Airlift in 1948 - 49.
This is me on the left, my brother Frank on the right and Jeremy Hobbs in the middle.
This is me on the right, Frank on the left and our sister Lesley in the middle.
I used to mispronounce Jeremy as "Germy" which my mother thought was hilarious,
Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs not so much!
Two years after my sister, Lesley was born, we moved away to Bitterne in October 1952. I lived in Netley Abbey for only five years but I continued to visit my Grandparents - John Francis and Frances Mary Collins - at 10 Denzil Avenue, Netley Abbey.
I remember as a youngster gladly helping my Grandfather by carrying anything I could manage
or holding a pair of pliers as he worked. There was always a biscuit or two at the end or something from the shop on the corner of Denzil Avenue and Station Road!
[Rogers' Grocers - see the Rogers Family story further down this page]
More Memories of Playing with my Friends
The Brickyard (now Hound Ecology Park)
This was the playground for scores of us early baby boomers living in the Prefabs of Hound Road Gardens. It was north of the prefabs, south of Hound cemetery.
Whatever its origins, by the late forties/early fifties, it was a storage area for the rubbish from the prefab building with piles of various materials.
However, the real highlight of the Brickyard for most of us was the stack of anti-tank drums. These were concrete filled 50 gallon oil drums that, in the event of an invasion, would’ve been rolled down across the road to impede the Panzers.
Fortunately, not only were they never used but none of them ever broke loose on to a child clambering over them.
The Bunney
Behind Butlocks Heath school was the Bunney, and a path (still) across the stream to Netley Station (and to my Nana’s on Denzil Avenue). This was another great playground. A large part of it was heath and there actually were rabbits and/or hares then.
The walk was less than a mile but easily took an hour with playing, train watching and general dawdling.
Butlocks Heath School
All my friends went to Butlocks Heath, but my mother wanted me to go to Netley Village Infantsl as it was easier for my “Nana”, living on Denzil Avenue, to pick me up after school.
I knew nobody and I hated it and managed to ‘throw up” enough times after lunch (it was the slimy mashed potatoes) to get to go to Butlocks Heath after a couple of weeks in 1950.
My teacher was “Miss Darby”, I think the headmaster was “Mr. Manley”. I had Miss Darby for the next year too, as a new teacher, “Miss Alexander”, took over the infants which included my brother, Frank.
We used black slates in a wood frame to practice writing with chalk.
I had a number of escapades at school (too many to include here) which required me to be taken to the headmaster, but I don’t recall any particular punishment.
We did a class performance of “Soldier, Soldier Won’t you Marry Me” one year. All the boys wanted to play the soldier as the girl, whose name I don’t recall, was very popular. The soldier was played by Melvin (Grossard?) who lived in the Prefabs - all gone now.
The Reservoir Stream (Spear Pond Gully)
We just called it “The Stream”. There were no houses then on that part of Hound Road so we
could easily cross over and go down to the stream to play all morning or afternoon,
building dams or looking for frogs.
Some of the more daring boys would cross under St Mary’s Road using the concrete pipe
when the water flow was low.
There was a story that the stream was haunted by the ghost of a worker killed by a cave-in while digging the ditch near where it went underneath the railway line.
I’d repeat the story to scare my younger brother and his friend from the Prefabs, Jeremy Hobbs.
Never knew if it was true, but it kept us away from the stream after dark!
I can't obviously confirm whether the stream was haunted by him or not but sadly, Alfred Judd did die
due to a broken spine and neck whilst digging the ditch for the Hound Sewerage Scheme.
Hampshire Telegraph of 12/03/1937
Bluebell Copse and Reservoir (Prior's Hill)
Crossing Woolston Road from the school led to the playing field and the Copse. Can’t remember if the pitch had goalposts then, but it didn’t matter to us budding footballers.
The Copse was popular in the Spring to pick bluebells to take home for our mothers. Unfortunately, by the time we were home, the flowers all hung limply in our hands, dead.
Later in the year there were lots of blackberries to harvest. They didn’t make it home either!
We could also wander further to the reservoir, I couldn’t swim, and I don’t remember any of my friends going in.
We also had to watch out for Gypsies (now
a perjorative), who regularly set up camps there.
The Field
Behind the Prefabs was another playground, an enormous (to us) farmer's field
stretching to Hamble Lane, with a footpath crossing it that saved going over to the railway footpath.
Late in the summer, the crop (wheat or barley) would be tall enough for us make mazes and
hide from each other. I’m sure the farmer was not best pleased!
One of my friends from those days, Stephen Budden lived in Hamble and a gang of
us would meet in The Field.
Miles Family in Netley Abbey
In early September 2020, Bob Miles contacted me to say that Benjamin Parker Miles
mentioned above was his Great Uncle!
Bob has been researching the Miles Family Tree since April (2020) and has kindly forwarded me a
lot of information about his Family who have lived in the South Stoneham, Woolston and Netley Abbey
for a long time.
3x Great Grandparents
William Miles and Charlotte Parker
Born 1780 and 1781 respectively
married in July 1799
lived in South Stoneham
had 7 children
Died October 1850 + October 1859
2x Great Grandparents
William Miles and Harriet Parker
Born 1826 and 1829 respectively
married in July 1850
lived on Victoria Road, Woolston
had 5 children
Died December 1908 + unknown but post-1908
Great Grandparents
"Topsy" William Miles and Louisa Maria Kent
Born July 1861 and October 1865
married in May 1885
lived at - the Yacht Tavern, Itchen Ferry;
1 Melbourne Terrace, Woodley Road, Woolston;
Sea View Cottages, Victoria Road, Woolston;
on the Houseboat opposite Sophie's Pond, Netley
"Lincolnville", 49 New Road, Netley Abbey
had 13 children
Died September 1940 + unknown but post-1935
Grandparents
George Henry Miles and Ellen May Riches
Born September 1896 and 1895/96
married in July 1916
lived in Yarmouth, Norfolk; then Eastleigh;
at Sea View Cottages, Victoria Road, Woolston;
on the Houseboat opposite Sophie's Pond, Netley
at "Ellerslie", 39 New Road, Netley Abbey
at 12 Winchester Close, Netley Abbey
had 4 children
Died September 1972 and July 1957
Parents
George Robert Miles and Phyllis Jeanette Moore
Born in Yarmouth on 18 October 1919 and in Cowes Isle of Wight 30 October 1927 respectively
married in October 1950 in Southampton/Winchester
lived at 37 The Crescent, Netley Abbey
Died 31 July 1982 and 17 February 1989, both at home.
Bob's Dad was in the Navy for some time after which he worked for Vickers-Armstrong in Swindon but between 1960 - 1980, he was employed by Vosper Thornycroft in Victoria Road, Woolston.
He retired ca 1980-81 as a result of irregular poor health.
His Mum, Phyllis was a fine cook and could "knit for England". In the early days of raising 4 children, she worked part-time as a cook and also knitted jumpers and woollen garments for a local haberdashery at 32 Queens View, Netley Abbey.
"Mum could knit a jumper in 2 days and was always on the hunt for wool.
I recall as a young boy, Mum would send me down to the Jubilee Hall in New Road when
there was a Jumble Sale on.
My job was to get as many hand knitted jumpers, cardigans etc; basically, anything made from wool that could be un-picked. Mum would give me 2 bob or half a crown, to get as much wool items, as I could.
When I got it home, Mum would hand wash everything and leave it to dry.
Once dry, we would start the job of un-picking."
Reading through Bob's family information, it seems to me that Bob and his Auntie Peggy were
particularly close.
Her husband, Private Frederick Phelps, Service No 7260862, 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, RAMC
was killed on 2 June 1940. They had only been married 4 years earlier.
He mentions sensing the sadness in her on his regular visits to her house at
12 Winchester Close, Netley Abbey.
His next port of call would be to visit his Uncle Pat and Auntie Helen who lived at 2 Monks Road, Netley.
He recalls one story told to him by Peggy about his Grandfather, George and his fondness for the
Prince Consort Pub on Victoria Road, Netley Abbey.
"On Christmas Day lunchtime, he could be found in the Prince Consort with his sons, (my Dad) George and (my Uncle) Pat. They would play darts and table board games such as dominoes. It was said that the Landlord would press/mould a type of chicken wire over the top of the bottle collector (bit like a hopper) and stand all the empty spirit bottles upside down to drain the last of the spirit from each bottle. This would be collected for some time prior to Christmas and on Christmas lunchtime, the landlord would then produce a “hot toddy” for all his best customers to enjoy."
Above - Miles Family in September 1969
From left to right at the front -
My Mum (Phyllis Jeanette Miles); My Grandfather (George Henry Miles); My Auntie Marie;
My Dad (George Robert Miles)
Standing behind -
Maureen, my cousin Bob Phelps (with his hand on his new wife Maureen's arm) and
lastly, my Auntie Peggy.
Great Uncle
Bob and Heather undertook research of their Great Uncle Ben Parker Miles.
An article in the Hull Daily Mail gave the details that Ben had married Miss Cora Thompson
on 6 April 1920 at Hull, Yorkshire. Cora was born on 20 May 1896.
Following their search for family members on Facebook, they were contacted by Mrs Jayne Diffey,
nee Miles. who is the Grand-daughter of Ben and Cora. Jayne filled in some gaps.
When WW1 broke out, Ben joined the Royal Engineers much to Topsy's disgust -
"My father sneered - What's wrong with the Navy?"
Ben was sent home from Gallipoli in August 1915 after being injured.
His Memoir says "I'm not sure what happened, either the Turks blew us up or the
Navy dropped heavy shells short"
He was then put onto a hospital ship, the Alurnia.
He continues - "We managed to get to Southampton, arriving on 28 August.
As we steamed up the Water I could see my home at Netley.
At the docks I was taken ashore on a stretcher and labelled for Bootle, Liverpool.
Along came a St John Officer taking details and I recognised him as a schoolmaster from home
doing voluntary work.
He said "It's young Ben Miles.” You're not going to Bootle".
He brought a horse drawn ambulance and saw me off to Netley Hospital.
When he got home that evening, he told my mother and she and my sisters came to see me."
We can't obviously be sure but it sounds like the St John Officer has been Reginald Miles as
per Hannah's postcard story below.
Ben's back was injured and he lost most of his hearing.
His back injury recovered but his hearing never did.
Jayne remembers - We were always being told to "Speak loudly to Poppy so he can hear you!"
Mind you, I believe he used to keep his hearing aid turned off most of the time!
He was sent to Hull in October 1915 on Home Service and to attend the hospital there for treatment.
It was here he met Cora as she was a St Johns nurse.
In December 1915 he returned home to Netley to re-join his old shipyard as "owing to a shortage of labour", servicemen who were connected with ship or boat work before joining up were requested to return to their civil employment. The firm was building seaplane hulls for Super Marine Aviation where he stayed until 1922 when he took over Topsy's yard. In 1925, he was living at "Heathfield",
Station Road, Netley Abbey.
Bob's Family Tree is very detailed.
There are many more generations of the Miles Family whom I've not included here.
If you are member of the extended Miles family and wish to more but have lost touch with Bob etc,
let me know via this website and with the family's permission, I'll pass on their details.
Thank you, Bob and Heather, for sharing!
Morris, Lowbridge Family
Sue H contacted me in March 2023 to tell me the story of her family's connection to both Netley
Abbey Village and the Hospital -
"My family were Bricklayers who moved from Berkshire to help build the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley.
My Great Great Grandfather was George Arthur Morris. He was born in 1845 at Binley, Berkshire.
He married Miss Ruth Emily Judd, 20, on 8 February 1864 at Hound Parish Church.
Ruth's family were Carpenters by trade and had also come to Netley to work on the Hospital.
Ruth passed away in late July 1874. She was buried on 28 July 1874.
(Burial Note says she was 26 years old).
The 1881 Census shows George, his second wife Emily and their family - Rose Humby 17, Lucy Jane 15, Emily 11, Ruth 9, Eliza 7, Daisy 4 and Louise 1 - living at 21 Victoria Terrace, Netley.
George's only son Walter Jess Morris is a Chimney Sweep Boy on the 1881 Census, living a
few houses along, still in Victoria Road, Netley with the Lee Family, Head of which is a Chimney Sweep.
Fireworks at Netley
Walter Morris, a young man of the labouring class, summoned for having on the 30th October discharged fireworks in Victoria Road, Netley, was fined 1s and 4s 6d costs.
Portsmouth Evening News 12/11/1886
By 1911, the Morris Family were living at 15 Victoria Road (Nos 1 - 15 were known locally as Ellis's Rows).
Walter married Miss Annie Bedford on 2 June 1900 at St Edward's Church, Netley.
Annie's Grandparents, William and Sarah Bedford were in Netley Abbey on the 1841 and 1851 Censuses but moved to Hamble after that.
Their son Thomas, born in 1829, is my Ancestor.
He married Charlotte Spencer on 8 July 1855 at Hound Parish Church.
Thomas and Charlotte had 5 children.
My Great Nan Annie returns to Netley when she marries Walter Morris. Her brother, John and 3 sisters,
Sarah Jane, Rosina Harriet and Emma live together in New Road, Netley, the last sister dying in 1935.
Walter and Annie lived at 3 Victoria Terrace, Netley in 1901 and were still there in 1911 except
now the address had become 3 Chamberlayne Road, Netley.
The 1911 Census shows they had 4 children - Thomas 10, Beatrice 5, Ruth 4 and Baby Rosina 2.
Beatrice married William Lowbridge in 1924 and they lived at 13 Denzil Avenue, Netley
(My Nan and Grandad)
My Nan was always upset that after the renumbering of Denzil Avenue they ended up being No 13 which was considered unlucky. I think they had been No 20 before and there had been no Number 13
as no-one liked it.
William Lowbridge was born on 27 March 1903. He was from Wolverhampton and was in the Royal Army Medical Corps working as an Orderly at Netley Hospital which is how he met my Nan.
Grand-Dad William was recorded at the Odiham army camp in 1921.
He served on the hospital ships during the Second World War as an Orderly as he had
no formal medical training or qualifications.
Without Netley Hospital I would never have been born as it featured many times in my family story.
Thank you Sue for sharing!
-oo0oo-
Back in January 2019, Miles Osborne contacted me to share the story of his Great Grand-Dad,
John Charles Osborne and his two families
John served with the 1st Battalion 12th Regiment Light Infantry. The family believe that John was
at Netley Hospital as a result of severe conjunctivitis. He was discharged from there on
28 December 1880 after serving 15 years 176 days.
By this time, John and his wife, Joanna and their two surviving children, Charles and Mary,
had moved to Firgrove Road, Sholing, Hound. One child had sadly died in infancy.
His wife, Joanna, died in 1882 and he married Annie Gardiner in July 1883.
Annie Gardiner is the sister of Julia Gardiner who married George Erwood.
The Erwoods were living at 26 Victoria Road, Netley Abbey.
For more on the Erwood Family, click Shared Village Stories ll
John and Annie had 13 children. They lived at Gas House Cottage.
We have no real understanding on what life must have been like for a military widow in the 1900s.
The 1901 Census has John and Annie and family living in Station Road, Netley Abbey -
Annie and John were back living in one of the cottages on Gashouse Hill when John passed away in 1908.
He is believed to have died falling out of a tree! Miles believes his Grand-dad was 64 years old when he died but Army documents show he was 24 when he enlisted on 11 February 1864 making
his birth date 1840.
Miles knows though that his Grandfather gained a scholarship to the Duke of York Military School,
Guston, Kent in 1909 - a year after his father's death - and even that must have been
a challenge to achieve.
The 1911 Census has Annie still living on Gashouse Hill.
Annie standing, her daughter Frances, sitting with her daughters - Audrey on her lap and Lucilla on her left.
Miles's Grandfather, Robert with his sisters, Christina and Stella
In February 2021, Miles posted details of his family's connections to Netley Abbey Village on Facebook and Yvonne Castino shared the following info about one of John and Annie's sons, Lawrence and his family.
Lawrence (aka Lawrie) Osborne married Miss Marjorie Buckmaster in 1926.
They lived in Hound Road, next door to Marjorie's Parents, Captain Harry and
Mrs Emily Buckmaster at "Orston Villa", no 32.
Lawrie and Marjorie's sons were Leslie, Donald, Bernard and Kenny.
Donald had a daughter called Sheila. Both, according to Yvonne, had red hair. Miles thinks this
must have come through from Buckmaster side as there are no red-haired Osbornes!
David Osborne then entered the Facebook dialogue -
Donald is his Grand-dad and Sheila his Auntie. She still lives in Netley Village (in 2021).
David's Dad, his Uncle and another Auntie, all unnamed and
David and his own family and his sister still live in Netley Village.
A few last words from Yvonne ...
"I used to take Sheila and her brother who I think was either called David or Kevin, out in their prams when I was a little girl. I wonder if Don remembers me?
We were the Moorman Family, Richie was my brother. We lived at 38 Hound Road.
Lawrie used to wink at me and taught me how to wink back. I was thrilled with my new skill!
How strange the things you remember - I must have been about 5 or 6 at the time."
Thank you everyone for contributing to this story.
-oo0oo-
Parker Sisters
Philip Parsons contacted me via my website in August 2018 querying whether No 4 Oxford + Cambridge Terrace on Station Road, Netley Abbey was still there?
This created a bit of a mystery!
In 2018, the only houses included in the address of Oxford + Cambridge Terrace are numbered 11 - 15.
However, according to the pre-1914 map below, it looks like there was only Oxford + Cambridge Terrace on that part of Station Road. The large building on the corner of Victoria Road and Station Road belonged to the Cutler family who had a blacksmith forge and later Refreshment Rooms on Station Road, below Oxford + Cambridge Terrace.
Pre-1914 map, reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland via www.maps.nls.uk
Philip’s Family History -
"This is the story of two sisters, one who made Netley her permanent home and the other
who temporarily passed through.
It begins about 100 miles away in the small Somerset village of North Petherton,
midway between Bridgwater and Taunton, where Henry Parker, a baker
and his wife Martha, raised 11 children.
There was a twelfth but sadly she died at one year of age.
They married in 1869 and a year later they had their first child, Mary Ada and following
the birth of 4 sons, they had a second daughter, Ethel Kate, who was born 14 years later in 1882.
A further son followed along with a further 5 daughters.
At the age of thirty, Mary Ada married Frederick Charles Tucker in 1896 at
North Petherton Parish Church.
He was about 5 years older and had previously been working as a stone mason’s labourer.
They initially lived in North Petherton close to members of both families.
Their first two children, Ethel Grace and Hubert Frederick, were born there also.
In about 1901, Frederick became a hospital nurse having by then moved to Hound.
I am by no means certain but assume this was at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
I can only speculate why at the age of 36 years he chose such a career move
but this may have been to improve his earnings as he had by this time a growing family.
He appears to have initially moved to Hound on his own because in the
1901 census, Mary and their two children remained living at North Petherton.
Again I can only speculate the reason for them living apart but it may have been
that he was undergoing training.
She must have joined him by 1903 because their third child Cecil Ernest was born at
Netley on 28 July 1903 and 6 years later, their daughter, Kathleen Ruth, was also born in Netley.
Frederick possibly did not take to nursing because in the 1911 census, then aged 45 years,
he had returned to being a general labourer.
Mary’s sister, Ethel Kate, my paternal Grandmother, continued to live in Somerset.
In the 1911 Census, she was living with my Grandfather’s parents, so it would appear at that time that my Grandparents had begun their courtship. She was approximately 4 years older than him.
My Grandfather, William Thomas Parsons, was a career soldier having joined the
Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in 1904.
He saw service abroad and was stationed on Gibraltar for a time and was serving
in Ireland at the outbreak of the First World War.
He went from Ireland to the Western Front with the British Expeditionary Force in September 1914.
At the outbreak of war, he was a senior NCO but at some point thereafter
he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
In about 1916 or 1917 he was wounded and repatriated, I presume, to the Royal Victoria Hospital.
His treatment would be what we would now call plastic surgery to his face and nose.
He must have been given first class treatment as he never appeared to have any facial disfigurement.
At some point my Grandmother moved to Netley to be near him
and they married here in the summer of 1917.
My Grandmother must have remained there for a time although Grandfather returned
to active service and was posted to the Italian front where he remained for about a year.
In December 1917, he sent a Christmas card to Grandmother at 4 Oxford and Cambridge Terrace,
the address at which her sister Mary and husband Frederick were then living with their four children.
By the following Christmas, Grandmother had returned to Somerset as the card for that year was addressed to her in North Petherton.
Grandfather saw out the war and was posted back to Ireland before being demobbed.
They settled first at Selworthy and after a year of so, at nearby Allerford,
where they remained until their deaths in the 1970s achieving over 50 years of marriage.
They had 2 children, my father born in 1920 and my Aunt, eleven months later in 1921.
By this time my Grandmother would have been over forty years of age.
Mary and Frederick remained at Netley but Frederick passed away in 1923 and Mary
7 years later in 1930.
Their son, Hubert Frederick, was probably conscripted towards the end of the
First World War and joined the Royal Navy.
He survived the War but was lost at sea in 1919, then aged only 19 years.
He was at the time an Able Seaman serving on HMS Nairana off Kem in the
White Sea off Northern Russia.
The Commonwealth War Grave Commission website contains a document that says he was
drowned in a “tragic accident”. The ship’s log for HMS Nairana, however, says that he fell
overboard and was drowned on 4 August 1919.
The log also records that a search was undertaken for his body on a number of days
following but it was never found.
His name is recorded on the Netley War Memorial and on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
As for their other children, Ethel Grace married Ernest Vidler in 1919 and had 2 children -
a son and daughter. The son Ernest Frank emigrated to Australia where he died in 1974.
Their daughter, Valerie Ruth, married and appears to have moved to Essex.
Mary and Frederick’s other son, Cecil Ernest, married Ivy, curiously another Miss Parker
but no relation. They had 3 children, a daughter and 2 sons.
They appear to have moved to the Winchester area.
Their other daughter, Kathleen Ruth, married Edwin Moss, in Eastleigh in 1932, but appears
not to have had children."
UPDATE on the above Article!
A lady has since contacted me via this website to say she recognised one of the names,
Philip mentions in his story. She asked if I could put her in touch with Philip.
He agreed and now their joint family tree has just got bigger!
Connecting people works!
Thomas (Tom) Peckham's Memories of Netley Abbey
("I was ribbed about the 'as' bit at school so dropped it and forever have been just "Tom” - Ha Ha)
I was born in 1935. We were the first residents of 46 Sea View Estate when it was built in 1937.
The houses opposite were still being constructed when we moved into ours.
Neighbours I recall were Mr & Mrs Herring, Mrs Hoar, Mr & Mrs. Potts and Mrs Mills.
Our house was rented from a landlady, by the name of Mrs Green.
I recall being taken to Netley Infants school by my mother, Beatrice Peckham.
A traumatic experience in the lives of all small children I suspect.
I was a member of the 4th Itchen Sea Scouts. Our leader was a man who everyone called "Ricky".
He was a great guy and extremely good to us youngsters.
As sea scouts, we had a sheath knife held in a scabbard on our belts as part of the uniform.
That would be illegal these days. I never knew of any event where the knives were
used against anybody at all. What a different age!
We used the knives to cut ropes etc. Also to cut sticks and make fires when we did “wood-craft”.
We had a huge boat, a whaler which was kept on the foreshore.
I used to get blisters from pulling at the oars. It was great fun though.
The Scout Hut was on the road that led to the main gate of Netley Hospital.
I remember as a child the sight of a very old man dressed in a red uniform who rode up
on a Penny Farthing bicycle to a lamp post situated outside of the Post Office.
He wobbled up to the lamp post and used it as a support while he dismounted.
The Post Office then was integrated with the Chemists shop, I think the Chemists name was a Mr. Kilford. It was on a corner of Victoria Road and Chamberlayne Road.
I was told that this elderly man was one of the Chelsea Pensioners from Netley Castle.
He would collect his pension from the Post Office, re-mount his Penny Farthing and wobble off!
The Netley Library was in a small building in New Road opposite the Police Station.
I used to get books there as a youngster until one day it seems that I kept a book for longer
than the stipulated period. When I returned it the librarian, a large man looked at the book,
then he said in a loud voice. “This book is over-due. You have to pay a fine”.
I was terrified. I had no money. Fines were what criminals paid.
I fled. I avoided the Police Station and I never ever returned to that library again! Ha Ha.
I later went to Butlocks Heath school and then went on to Hamble school.
Possibly a lot of older people who attended the school might recall an embarrassing event
that happened to me.
Dinners were served in the main hall which was also used as an assembly area and a gym. It had “wall bars” and “ropes hanging from the ceiling” for PT.
Dinners were served in relays because the whole school could not be seated at one sitting.
I had eaten my meal. A friend and I went to the woodwork room which had an annex to it. We saw a trap door in the ceiling of the annex which we decided to investigate.
The trap door led up to the roof area over the main hall. It was great fun to explore it. However, it was dark. We walked on the beams that supported the ceiling, but my foot slipped and went through the ceiling making quite a large hole.
I looked down and saw a sea of startled faces all looking up at my foot hanging through the hole. I am sure that the dust and bits of tile contaminated many a dinner.
Of course, I was terrified and my friend and I scampered down to the woodwork room again.
I decided that a large hole in the hall ceiling was bound to cause some trouble and so I decided that the only thing that I could do was to own up.
I went to the Head Master's office, his name was Mr Newbold or possibly Newbolt.
I timidly knocked on the door. Strangely the news of the hole in the roof had not got to the headmaster at the time.
The Head opened his office door. I said, “I’m sorry, sir but I have come through the roof.”
The man had a fit of laughter. At that point another member of staff arrived and stated that somebody had made a hole in the roof of the hall.
To my relief no further action was taken!
The Prince Consort public house I remember as a youngster had a morgue in it, which was used to house corpses of occasional drownings.
I also recall a little tobacconist shop in Victoria road which was close to the fish and chip shop there. It was operated by a little old lady with white hair set in a bun.
The shop had the old large glass jars on shelves behind the counter displaying
the boiled sweets, liquorice and so on.
On the counter the lady had a wine glass in which she put Wild Woodbine cigarettes.
She would sell us children a single cigarette for, I think. one penny!
[Chris Meikle emailed me to say that this "little old lady" was his Great Grand-Aunt,
Grace Ellen "Nell" Baldwin, sister of Elsie, wife of George Cosier.
Read all about her and much more in Shared Village Stories l
I remember the hairdresser Cosier. I used to have my hair cut there.
The hair dresser had a length of wood that he used for “tithes” like me which he placed
across the arms of the barber's chair so that when I sat on the wood,
my head was at a suitable height for him to cut the hair without having to bend.
Further along that road was the Post Office and Chemist.
The Chemist was a delightful old world one with the many glass jars containing the ingredients
for the medications, which the dispenser, I think his name was Mr Kilford, used to make up
in accordance with the doctor's prescriptions.
Liquids medications came in glass bottles with an old fashioned cork.
The sides of the bottles had the dose levels marked on the side by raised marks in the glass.
I could buy chemicals of all sorts there in packets. That is impossible these days.
Opposite the General Store Lankester and Crook was a garage.
One could buy sulphuric acid at that garage.
It was delivered in large glass carboys which were cradled in a metal basket with
straw at the bottom.
The acid was, of course, for use in batteries. Many people had battery accumulators then to run
their radio receivers. I remember that the garage offered a charging service for such accumulators.
When I left school I was apprenticed to the Fairey Aviation Aircraft factory at Hamble.
After the war, the Hamble airfield was used as a training airfield for Volunteer Reserve pilots
to keep their flying hours up. They flew Tiger Moth aircraft.
I was a member of the Air Training Corps (ATC) and we lads were allowed to go for flights with
the VR pilots. That was a great experience and I learned a lot about the rudiments of flight.
I attach a picture of me all togged up and ready for a flight.
I left Netley at around the age of 20 years to work in Rampisham, Dorset.
My father, Herbert Morris Peckham, was a tool maker and he worked at the Supermarine factory
in Woolston until it was bombed. He was fortunate in that he was ill at that time.
He did start off for work on his bicycle but hit a pot hole and was thrown off injuring himself,
so he abandoned the trip and returned home.
The factory was bombed and the shelter that was allocated to him took a direct hit.
His mates all died.
After that he worked at Air Service Training at Hamble.
My father was a keen model engineer who made model steam ships, model trains and such like.
Here are photos of 3 of his models
My parents remained in the Sea View Estate house until my mother died.
My Dad continued to live there until about 1984.
Then when he was in his late 90s, my father was moved to a small nursing home
near where the road forks, one fork going to Netley Railway Station, the other towards Hamble.
He stayed there until he died, aged 99."
Tom, thank you so much for sharing more of your memories and the photos!
If you think you may have a family connection to any of the Folk mentioned on this Page,
please let me know. I'll need to check with the author first but if okay,
I'll pass on their contact details to you.
Karen Perry in November 2013 shared on the Francis Firth website that her Dad, real name Patrick Perry, was born in 1941 and grew up in Netley Abbey. He was known as "Slim Jim".
Her Mum was Lily Bundy.
I have a number of folk named Perry and/or Bundy on my Netley Abbey Residents' Register
If you are connected to Karen, she would love to hear from you.
Complete
Contact Me and I will pass the information on and hopefully be allowed to share it here!
There are already several mentions of this next Family throughout my website and I had planned to add their story to my Village Folk page but hadn't yet done it when in late January, a descendant of said family contacted me. This, in turn, reminded me that another member of the family had made contact via Facebook last year.
So, this is a mix of their information and mine - allow me to introduce you to -
Phipps Family
with thanks to Derek Phipps and Paula Gibson for their contributions
[Derek's comments are in this font colour]
Thomas Samuel Phipps, born in 1868, is Grandfather to both Derek Phipps and Paula Gibson.
The 1901 Census has Thomas Phipps family living at 38 Victoria Road, Netley Abbey
Their Aunt Ivy was living at "Airedale", New Road in 1906.
By the time the 1911 Census is recorded, Thomas's wife Annie has passed away
and he has re-married.
Thomas and Kate Phipps' family are now living at Aston House, 47 Victoria Road, Netley Abbey
I have found the following newspaper articles about the 'driving habits' of the Phipps family ...
Kelly's Directory of 1920 lists Mr T Phipps at the Netley Motor Works.
The 1921 Census has Thomas and Kate living at 48 Victoria Road, Netley Abbey
Derek writes -
"In 1955, I was 4 years old and grew up in Netley until the early 1960s, living at No
50 Victoria Road. I rode my trike around the block doing wheelies around the corner of New Road and Victoria Road.
Once I knocked a poor old lady off her feet - what a terror!
My Grandfather, Thomas Samuel Phipps (born 1868; died 09/05/1946, aged 76)
started the Hamble to Woolston, via Netley, Bus Run."
Apparently locally, the buses were called the "Biscuit Tins" because they rattled so much.
Mr + Mrs Thomas Samuel Phipps were very generous, donating their time, support and
resources to Netley Villagers. More info in both Past Lives and Times of Netley Village pages
The family, however, suffered great sadness - also known as "Fanny" - in 1922:
By 1927, Harry Phipps is listed as a Motor Engineer at 48 Victoria Road, Netley.
He was the victim of a theft at his property in May 1929 when two £1 Treasury Notes were stolen
from the till by 24-year old Joseph James Shaw of Victoria Road, Netley.
The accused was found guilty at Eastleigh Magistrates Court and sent to prison as he was a repeat offender.
Hampshire Telegraph 31/05/1929
"My Uncle Harry (Tom Phipps) - my father's brother - used to run the fish and chip shop in Victoria Road, Netley. I knew the French family very well and last saw 'Little Ted' a couple of years ago.
My Father was friendly with 'Big Ted".
My Aunt Ivy Phipps attended Netley Infants School on 1906.
She was one of my Grandfather's daughters from his first marriage.
I went there too, 50 years later.
My Father was from his second marriage to Kate, nee Kill."
Kate Phipps passed away on 20/05/1962, aged 79. The "Kills" are another Netley Abbey family.
In addition to the addresses shown above, I have records of the Phipps Family living in -
1937: Nos 1- 2 Chamberlayne Road - T S Phipps
1964: No 52 New Road - Mrs Phipps
I am hoping that the above articles etc jog some memories!
If you have any further stories and/or photos etc about the Phipps family which
you are happy to share, then please get in touch via Contact Me.
Thank you.
-oo0oo-
Robertson Family
Sergeant John McDonald Robertson,
Service No 3177, 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles (Cameronians)
was a veteran soldier having served 17 years. He was the proud possessor of
the Queen Victoria Medal and that of the King with six bars gained in the South African War.
When the war was over, he was transferred from his Regiment to the permanent staff at
Hamilton Barracks. Pre-enlistment he was a Butcher.
He was born on 3 January 1869 in Govan, Lanarkshire.
His Parents are John and Margaret Robertson, nee McDonald.
He married Miss Mary Elizabeth Gasson on 17 January 1898 at South Stoneham, Hampshire.
Mary was born in 1880 at Aldershot S Camp. Her Parents are Edward and Elizabeth Gasson
Her Dad was a Corporal in the Army Service Corps.
John and Mary had 4 children - Ivy, Willie, Peggy, and Teddy - all born in Netley Abbey.
Ivy Winifred on 14 July 1898
Willie (John William) in October 1899
Peggy (Margaret) on 1 May 1903
Teddy (Edward Edwin) in the 3rd quarter of 1905
Netley Infants School Register shows that -
Ivy started school on 15 July 1901
Willie started school on 6 July 1903; and
Peggy started school on 25 June 1906.
The Grantham Rail Crash 19 September 1906
Sergeant Robertson, his wife Mary and three of their children had been spending time with
friends in Netley Abbey, Mary's home village. Sergeant Robertson had just been discharged from
Netley Hospital. They were returning home to Hamilton and were
very sadly on the Scotch Express King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley which crashed at
just after 2300h on 19 September 1906 at Grantham North.
Folk waiting to get on the train at Grantham Station reported that the train failed to pull up at the
station and on running over the Harlaxton Road Bridge, the engine, with several coaches,
left the rails and rolled down the steep embankment.
Fire immediately broke out in the wrecked wooden coaches and 14 folk lost their lives.
Western Times 21/09/1906
Mrs Robertson was found unconscious with extensive bodily injuries. Her daughter, Peggy had escaped with a few minor injuries. Both were transported immediately to Grantham Hospital.
Mary remained unconscious all night but in the morning, when she came to, she asked after her
husband and three children. A search of the wreckage took place immediately and crushed, almost beyond recognition, Sergeant Robertson was found dead with a rug wrapped round his legs.
Near him lay his little son, Teddy, and his daughter, Ivy, both terribly mutilated.
Sorrowful Scene at Netley
The final chapter in the grim tragedy of death, which seems to have enveloped the historic village of Netley in a cloud of sorrow, was enacted on Monday, when the bodies of Sergeant John Robertson and his little baby son and daughter were committed to their last rest.

During the early part of the afternoon groups of people were to be seen wending
their way towards the station, and by 2.25 pm when the train carrying the bodies pulled in, the large open square, which immediately fronts the station, the station itself and every available spot of vantage, was occupied by a large crowd, whose presence was itself an eloquent tribute to the memory of the dead.
In the centre of the square were drawn up 40 men of the RAMC under the command of Lieutenant Payne and Sergeant Major Jont, both of the RAMC, also
Quarter Master-Sergeant Turner of the 4th Scottish Rifles and three men, two
from 2nd Scottish Rifles and one from the Regimental Depot and Police Constables French, Barker and Bothwell of the Southampton Borough Police Force, who were at one time members of the 2nd Scottish Rifles to which Sergeant Robertson
originally belonged. The gun carriage and team was provided by the Army Service Corps, the men being under the command of Corporal Frial ASC. There was also a detachment of eight men of the ASC under the command of Staff Sergeant Norman.
After the train had pulled into the station, the carriage containing the bodies was detached and shunted into the sidings. The coffin containing the body of Sergeant Robertson was first removed and reverently replaced upon the waiting gun carriage. An open carriage laden with floral tributes was then drawn up. A number of the wreaths were removed and soon the coffin was almost hidden under its beautiful burden. Following this, eight boys from the village, under the charge of Mr. Thomas, marched up in military formation and bore away the coffins containing the bodies of Sergeant Robertson’s little boy and girl to the Hearse which stood in readiness at a little distance. The Cortege was then formed and moved slowly away.
Throughout all these operations the silence was almost pathetic in its intensity.
The order of the Cortege was as follows -
First the gun carriage with its Mounted Corps, draped with the Union Jack, and upon which lay the flower-covered coffin containing the body of Sergeant Robertson, his military headgear and side arms. This was followed by the village hearse, in which
were the coffins of the two little children, Teddy and Ivy. Next the eight village boys marching four on each side of the Cortege, two coaches containing the principal mourners, and finally the detachment of 40 men of the RAMC with whom was the
Rev F G Wright, Chaplain of Netley Hospital.
After the Cortege had formed, some little delay was occasioned, as Mr. C. Logan, brother-in-law of Sergeant Robertson, who identified the bodies at Grantham, was arriving by train.
Numbers of people lined the route between the Station and Hound Parish Church and in the Churchyard itself a large concourse of people had gathered.
The Service was conducted by the Rev W A C Chevalier, Vicar of Netley, with that beautiful dignity and simplicity by which he is justly noted.
The first part of the Service was held within the Church and at the conclusion at the graveside, the Vicar gave a brief address with so beautiful an eloquence as to bring tears to the numbers of people who listened to it.
All their hearts went out that day to the sorrowing and the bereaved relatives of the Robertson family in deepest sympathy and sorrow. At the conclusion of the Service the “Last Post” was blown over the open grave by the Bugler of the RAMC.
The principal mourners included Mr C Day (Father-in-law), Mrs Salter (Sister-in-law), Mr C Logan (Brother-in-law), Mrs Hardie, Mr and Mrs Green, and Mr and Mrs Thomas.
Amongst the numerous wreaths, crosses, etc were -
In Loving Memory of a dear Ivy from her loving mother.
From Grandma and Grandpa
From sorrowing relations.
With fondest love from Willie for a dear Daddy, Teddy and Ivy.
To Ivy with deepest sympathy from Daisy
From the Officers of Regimental Districts (Hamilton N.B.)
With deepest sympathy from Captain C Young, 3rd Scottish Rifles
With deepest sympathy from Depot, Highland Light Infantry (Hamilton)
With deepest sympathy from the Sergeant Major and staff of the 4th Lincolns (Grantham)
With sincere sympathy from Freemason’s Lodge 568, Scottish Constitution.
In affectionate memory of Ivy and Edward from the Rector and Sunday School Teachers of St Mary’s, Hamilton.
With deepest sympathy from Colour Sergeant Alexander (Hamilton).
With deepest sympathy from old comrades - A French, C Bothwell and J Barker.
With much sympathy from Colonel the Hon H G L and Lady Emma Crichton.
With deep sympathy from the Sergeants' Mess, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
With deepest sympathy from Mrs Tucker.
With deepest sympathy from the officers of the 3rd Battalion Scottish Rifles.
In Loving Memory of wee Teddy from his loving mother.
In Loving Memory of Sergeant Robertson from his devoted wife.
With deepest sympathy from members of the Netley Abbey United Football Club (Many of whom attended the Funeral).
The inscription on the coffin, which was of English Oak with Brass mountings read -
“John Robertson, died Sept. 19th 1906 aged 37 years”
Hampshire Chronicle Saturday 29/09/1906
Peggy had quickly recovered at the Hospital but for sometime, Mary lingered on the brink of death.
Becoming convalescent, although by no means physically recovered, she and Peggy were finally discharged from Grantham Hospital on Wednesday 7 November 1906 and both returned to Netley Abbey.
Peggy, however, became seriously ill on her return and she was removed to Southampton Infirmary where an operation for diphtheria was performed. Sadly Peggy passed away on 10 November 1906.
Primary cause of death was diphtheria, secondary cardiac failure. She was 3.5 years old.
Peggy's coffin was taken on Tuesday afternoon, 13 November from Mrs Robertson’s home at
8 Victoria Road, Netley to the Church by several choir boys who wore their cassocks and surplices.
There was a large gathering of relatives and friends at the Graveside and many
beautiful floral tributes were sent.
The coffin was of polished oak with handsome brass mountings.
She was laid to rest in a grave adjoining her Daddy in the Churchyard of St Mary, Hound.
Hampshire Chronicle 17/11/1906
Robertson Memorial Stone
Section C, Row 11, Grave 4
This stone is erected by the Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants of Hamilton Garrison in Loving Memory of our comrade, Sergeant John ROBERTSON of
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), husband of Mary Robertson, killed in
Grantham Railway Disaster, 19th September 1906.
Also, in memory of their two children Ivy and Teddy killed in the same accident and their daughter, Peggy who died 10th November 1906, from injuries and shock sustained at the same time.
Mary had one child remaining, Willie.
On 6 April 1907 at St Denys, Southampton, Mary married Lionel Henry Logan (a relation of
the Logans of Netley Abbey). Mary and Lionel relocated to Princes Town Hotel, Grouville,
Jersey, Channel Islands where their two children were born - Reginald Henry on 13 May 1908 and
Sydney George on 17 September 1909. Lionel was the Hotel Chef.
Lionel was born in July 1881 in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire.
His Parents are Henry and Eden S M Logan
He enrolled in No 8th Training Battalion, RAMC on 8 March 1918. His Service No was 128339.
He was posted for duty with the Army School of Cooking at Portslade Camp.
Sadly, tragedy struck the family again when Willie, a Private with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers,
was killed in action in France on 31 August 1918, aged just 19.
Then on 18 February 1919 at Portslade, Mary's husband Lionel died from Pneumonia/influenza and
cardiac failure, leaving her a widow once more, with two young children.
Serjeant Lionel Henry Logan is buried at Kensal Green (All Souls) Cemetery, Kensington,
Square 115 Grave 18247.
[There is a note on cwgc.org that the Commission is working to erect a headstone on his grave]
Mary Elizabeth Logan remarried. She died in 1984 aged 104!
Much of the above information came via Tony from Ann J - thank you!
The Salter Family
Tony's Great Great Grandfather, John Salter lived in Ivy Cottage in Butlock's Heath.
He was born in 1830. He was a soldier and after he was discharged in 1877, he worked at
Netley Hospital with the Army Service Corps. He died in June 1891, aged 60.
He and his daughters, Elizabeth Jane and Amelia, are buried in the Churchyard of St Mary's, Hound.
Tony's Uncle Gordon and Doug also lived in Butlock's Heath whilst Uncle John lived in
Denzil Avenue, Netley. Tony's Dad is Maurice. They too are all buried in Hound Churchyard.
Thank you Tony!
In December 2019, Elizabeth Conem contacted me via this website to add her Family's Story here.
The information she has given me and the photos found by her brother, Simon, make interesting reading,
with the added bonus of the connection to the Crook Family story [Shared Village Stories l]
- even before Robert's additions above and below!
Let's meet the Rogers Family ...
"My Nan was Annie Beatrice Crook, the first daughter and I believe possibly the eldest child of John Crook who had nine children.
Annie married Edward Rogers."
On the 1921 Census below, the family was living on Grange Lane, Netley Abbey.
Edward is employed as a Grocer's Assistant at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
"Their son, my father, was called Arthur Rogers.
He and his sister, also Annie Beatrice Rogers who was 7 years older than her brother, were brought
up in the accommodation belonging to the Grocers shop, their parents ran
on the corner of Denzil Avenue, Netley Abbey.
It was called "E Rogers".
The man standing at the door was my Grandfather, Edward Rogers. One of the two children is my Dad, Arthur Rogers. I don't know who the little girl was."
"Photo No 1 below is a bit of a mystery to us. We don't know who the fine chap on the cycle is.
The reverse of this photo is an unwritten Postcard."
Elizabeth is hoping that someone may recognise him.
If you do, please let me know via Contact Me.
Miss Ethel Irene Moore, third daughter of
Mr + Mrs William Moore of Pasadena Cottages, New Road, Netley Abbey was employed for "some time" in Mr Rogers' shop in Denzil Avenue.
She passed away suddenly on 18/08/1931.
There is a house called "Heatherdene" on Station Road, Netley Abbey but not in
Butlock's Heath. Mr Reynolds lived there between 1912 - 1917
"The photo below was taken in 1953.
It is the Wedding photo of my parents - Arthur Rogers and Pamela Mead at Hamble Church.
The couple on the very left of this photo are Edward and Annie Rogers in maturity."
The next photo is from the early 1930s - a lovely off-guard relaxed holiday photo showing the rest of the small family from E Rogers' Shop.
I think they were holidaying in Bournemouth, probably while husband and Dad, Edward Rogers
was back at the shop keeping the business running!"
"Centre - Annie Beatrice Rogers, nee Crook
Left - Arthur David Rogers, aged about 8;
Right - Annie Beatrice Rogers, known as Nancy, aged about 15."
"Edward Rogers died in 1957, aged 81; his wife, Annie Rogers, died in 1974, aged 82.
Both are buried in Hound Church Cemetery."
There is another mystery with which perhaps YOU can help Elizabeth!
She writes -
"There is a family story that my Nan looked after a Swedish princess somewhere in Netley for a while. Apparently the princess took refuge in a big house during the war, presumably WW1, and
Nan used to go there to cook for her. My Mum keeps a bell on her bookcase which apparently the princess used to ring to call for service."
Thank you Elizabeth and your brother, Simon, for sharing your Family Story!
-oo0oo-
In June 2022, Nicky E contacted me from South Africa to share the story of her Netley Abbey family
Ross, Ruthen, Dunnings Family
My maternal Grandmother was Phyllis Marion Dunnings, nee Ruthen.
She was born on 2 January 1911.
Her Parents are Philip and Elizabeth Ruthen.
The 1911 Census has the family living at No 2 Dart Villas, Station Road, Netley Abbey
Phyllis married John W Dunnings in 1934
John passed away in 1941 when their daughter, Valerie Ann was only 5.
In 1964, Phyllis was living at 58A Grange Road, Netley Abbey.
My Mum was Valerie Ann Dunnings, an only child. She was born on 9 August 1936.
My Dad was Anthony John Edward Ross.
His Parents are Robin David Genge Ross and Violet Estelle Ross, nee Budd.
They were married in August 1929. He was born on 21 July 1933
His Grandparents were Henry Genge and Francesca Henrietta Cecilia Ross
My Parents, Valerie Ann and Anthony John Edward became engaged
They were married at St Edward the Confessor Church, Netley Abbey on 27 July 1957
I, Nicola Ann, was born on 7 August 1958
We lived at Penshurst on Abbey Hill until we emigrated to South Africa in 1959.
After her retirement, my Grandmother, Phyllis Dunnings also emigrated to South Africa
Anthony and Valerie resided in Pietermaritzburg, Natal (now known at KwaZulu-Natal)
the greater majority of their lives.
I married Duonne Matthew Erasmus on 21 May 1988.
He was born on 7 March 1959.
We have 2 children -
Matthew John, born 7 June 1991, married Christen Renee Lahner on 12 June 2020; and
Emma Jane, born 17 January 1994.
My Sister, Sally-Ann Jane and my brother, Jonathan Anthony Genge, aka Jonty, were both born in South Africa.
Sally-Ann, born 27/01/1967, first married Guy Brandon King in 1993. They had two daughters -
Laurie Jane and Tayla Joan - and divorced in the early 2000s.
Sally-Ann then married Brett Miller in October 2003. They have a son, Liam.
Guy passed away in 2021.
Jonty, born 17/04/1970, married Dana Allanson in March 1997.
They have a son, Callum Andrews Ross and a daughter, Grace Isabella Ross.
Being the avid sportsman that he was, Dad quickly joined a local football club named Savages.
There are newspaper cuttings about him joining the club. There was quite a bit of hoo-ha about this Englishman joining their club!!
Below - the Savages Football Club win
the Winners' Cup in 1959
My maternal Grandmother, Mrs Phyllis Marion Dunnings passed away on 29 March 2001,
aged 90 years. Later that same year, my Mum, Valerie Ann Ross passed away on
23 October 2001 at 65 years of age.
My Dad, Anthony John Edward Ross passed away on 26 March 2017, aged 83.
My paternal Grandparents are Robin David Genge and Violette Estelle Ross.
They had 4 children. They later divorced after which my Grandmother, Violette,
left the UK for the USA.
David Robin Genge Ross
He emigrated, I think in the 1950s, to Vancouver, British Columbia. I have recently linked
with his daughter via Facebook but I don't know much about the family yet.
Anne Estelle Ross
She sadly passed away in the UK quite young. I don't know too much about her; she has 2 sons.
Elizabeth Mary Ross - aka "Boo"
Elizabeth emigrated to the USA. She has 2 children from her first marriage.
I am often in touch with Amy Markland who is Elizabeth's daughter from her second marriage.
Amy is in constant contact with her half-siblings.
and of course, my Dad - Anthony John Edward Ross - whom you've already met!
Thank you, Nicky and Duonne, for sharing both the photos and stories of your family!
Dear Reader - I heard from both Nicky Ann and Simon on the same day in early June 2022 via this website. Neither knew about each other despite both being the Great Grandchildren of Henry and Francesca Ross.
Simon's Dad, Malcolm, has fond memories of his cousin, Elizabeth.
As kids, they used to play together in Netley Village.
One time when she was feeling poorly, he wrote her a story to cheer her up.
The story was eventually made into a book called "Boo's Goose".
Malcolm very kindly sent me and Amy (Markland) a copy.
Thank you Malcolm
-oo0oo-
Past memories of Mr Frank Sainsbury
[Extracted from Oral History Interviews done in the 1970s by the then RVCP Team]
"I was born in Netley in the year 1890. I went to school in Netley and worked in Netley doing farm work with the horses, long hours from six in the morning to five at night. Then I went in the fields to work; then I went carting coal around the village and around Netley Hospital.
In 1939, I took over as Verger of the Royal Victoria Hospital Church, Netley. The congregation was good, we had a good choir and anthems morning and evening.
About thirty years I was Verger there.
I enjoyed every day and I am hoping to do it for many years to come."
Sellwood Family via a "War-time Postcard"
In early 2020, a lady called Hannah contacted me via this website to tell me a lovely story
surrounding a war-time Postcard which she had recently purchased at an Antiques Fair.
She lives in Cheshire; somehow the Postcard had made its way up to there.
Hannah decided to do some research and here's what she found out ...
"The Postcard is addressed to a Miss Rose Sellwood at Hartfield Cottage, Grange Road,
Netley Abbey.
I know that it is a World War 1 postcard as it mentions the Dardanelles.
It is also signed by a "Reg" although that doesn't yield many clues."
"Rose was actually called Elsie Rosa Sellwood and is Joseph Sellwood’s daughter.
The man who wrote to her, “Reg”, was Reginald Lewis Sellwood, her brother who was in the Royal Army Medical Corps. [See front of postcard photo below]
Elsie Rosa Sellwood went on to marry an Edward Skinner, and I think that their daughter Rosemary Skinner went on to become a Ruthen?
Ben Miles, mentioned on the Postcard, was Benjamin Parker Miles who lived in Netley and went off to war at the same time as Reginald."
The 1911 Census below shows the Sellwood Family living at Hartfield Cottages,
Grange Lane, Netley Abbey.
The Text in the margin at the back of the postcard reads -
This is the picture on the front of the postcard.
RAMC Mess Hall - but which one is Reg?
Mr A E Sharp was a Resident in Netley Abbey
between 1910 and 1985
He contacted Ken Ford in the late 1970s to give his Memories of the Village
Did any of the above "ring a bell" with you?
Please let me know via Contact Me on the left!
Rosemarie S shared a memory on Facebook in August 2023; I commented and this led to her agreeing to give us more ...
"As you can imagine my memories of the Royal Victoria Hospital are more personal than historic.
However, I can tell you a few snippets.
I met Sergeant Ian MacKay Strain, Royal Army Medical Corps in 1959.
He had worked in "P" Wing at the end of the 1950s, about 1958 - 59.
After we married in 1960, we were allocated 15 Married Quarters.
The Sergeants' Mess was great fun and I remember going on a Treasure Hunt; Ian and I on his
motorcycle and all the others in their cars. We won and received a "silver" cup.
Great evenings in the YMCA Hut as well.
In October 1960, Ian was posted to BMH Nairobi just after we married and then after a posting in Buckeburg and Catterick (a very short stay as RVH wanted him for their football team!),
he was posted back to RVH as Regimental Sergeant Major.
We lived in a house next to P Wing and I was advised not to put underwear on the washing line
as the patients would read messages into it.
My two sons went to the local school (there was no school at RVH) and my daughter went to
the local kindergarten. I used to take her there on my bike!
The children also visited the cinema next door.
I helped the C.O.s wife (sorry I cannot remember her name but I think she was French) with
the Wives’ Club. I was also at the “digging up” of the memory box under the old hospital in 1967.
Oh and we bought a parrot from the pet shop in Netley and he only died about 3 years ago,
so he was well over 50 years old!
Ian was commissioned in 1971 and posted to Germany.
In 1990, we both went to Buckingham Palace on the wonderful occasion of Ian being presented with his OBE by the Queen. So proud.
Sadly, Ian is no longer with us to give more information.
Thank you Rosemarie for sharing your memories!
-oo0oo-
Betty Wilkinson's Memories of her Childhood Home + Family
No 2 Sea View, Abbey Hill
Correspondence, dated February 1989, was found in Hound Local History Society's Archives from Mrs Betty Wilkinson to Councillor Neale. At the time of her writing, Mrs Wilkinson lived in New Road, Netley Abbey.
[I have been given permission from HLHS to reproduce Mrs Wilkinson's memories.]
Here is her story ...
"This information has been passed to me by my mother and grandfather who lived at the bottom of Abbey Hill in the house known as No 2 Sea View."
"My Mother lived there in 1896 when her own mother, Mrs Harriet Bran, died in childbirth and her elder sister, Lily, aged 13, was left to look after the 4 other remaining children, ie my mother, 2 years old and the other 3 ranging from 4 years to 11 years.
Aunt Lily had to leave school but luckily the Misses Pennington who lived just above, next door, at the Lake House (now demolished) offered to give her lessons in the afternoons."
"My Grandfather, known as Captain Bran, was Skipper of Sir Harry Crichton's yacht and was often
away at sea.
No 1 next door was occupied by the Crichton's Coachman and later Chauffeur.
There were no driveways to either of our houses. We each had single small gates.
My Grandmother and her baby were buried in Weston Churchyard, as was my Aunt Beatrice who,
at the age of 9, fell down the stairs at "Sea View" and broke her neck."
[See below for the article in the Hampshire Advertiser on 08/07/1899]
"At first, there was no mains water. All water was from an internal pump over a well under the kitchen.
By then gas had come via very sparse lighting on Abbey Hill but no electricity whilst we were
there in the 1920s. I remember "Ginger" Rowe on his bicycle lighting the oil lamps with a taper.
There was no mains drainage at the edge of the road. In my mother's time, Hound stretched over all of Weston Shore promenade area, over the Weston housing estate and on into Woolston."
"The pond and woodland surrounding the house including the bluebell wood on the 'Lake House' side,
was fenced off from the woods going on up to Weston.
There were double gates, sometimes locked, with a rustic seat alongside, to rest awhile.
Often the gates were unlocked, especially if there was a "shoot" in progress, I was very fortunate
to have the sun of the lower copse to myself (my grandfather being an employee).
I was sufficiently in awe of my surroundings to take care - not to fall in the pond and get drowned;
not to go near the shooting when in season; and not to damage the flowers etc.
"Sea View" was built about 1883 and the name of the first owner of the Lake House (not proprietor
of the Abbey Hotel, as it was previously known in 1883) is engraved on the foundation
stone of our old house - L J Mould, London, Builder in 1880.
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT AT NETLEY
A terribly sad fatality occurred on Tuesday night. A little girl, aged nine years, daughter of the skipper of the Hon. Col. Crichton's yacht, was walking in her sleep, about midnight,
when she fell downstairs. Her father, hearing a noise, jumped out of bed, and ran downstairs, and, to his horror, found his daughter dead, her neck having been broken.
The sad event has evoked the greatest sympathy for the bereaved parents.
The inquest on the body of the deceased was held on Thursday, before Mr. Bernard Harfield, the County Coroner. Dr. Brown, of Woolston, was first called, and deposed that he assisted
Dr. Stephenson in the post-mortem examination, and found a small fracture of the base of the skull, and some blood, diffused on the surface of the brain.
The fracture might have been caused by a fall.
Lily Bran, sister of the deceased, stated that about ten minutes past 12 on Wednesday morning,
she heard the deceased’s call, and almost immediately heard a fall.
The witness went out of her room, and found her sister lying at the bottom of the stairs, consisting of seven. The deceased had walked in her sleep.
Frederick Bran, father of the deceased, stated that he, too, heard his daughter fall, and when he came out of his room, he found the deceased with her sister.
The Witness sent for a doctor, but the deceased did not live many seconds after.
Witness took her into his room.
The deceased had not walked in her sleep for the last 12 months, but before that she did so frequently.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
Hampshire Advertiser 08/07/1899
Past Residents of "Sea View", Abbey Hill, Netley Abbey , so far ...
No 1 -
1891 - William Gillard, age 60, Yacht Captain; wife Mary
1901 - James H ? Coachman
1907 - William Henry Dalton
1911 - 1935 Sydney + Emily Maud Armitage
1964 - Percy Palmer
No 2 -
1891 - William Smeeth, age 31, Coachman from Alton, Hants; wife Lucy, 29
1896 - 1925 Captain Frederick Bran, Col Crichton's Yacht Skipper, and family (see above)
1927 - George Gilbert
1937 - George Charles Leavey
Connecting the pieces ...
The more research I do about Netley Abbey Village,
the more connections I'm finding.
The history of this Village is fascinating! By sharing your stories here, hopefully we can keep those memories going!
If you have any old photos of the Village, please let me know. I'll take a copy and you keep the original.
The Wilson Family at Netley Cliff
"Tug" Wilson contacted me in January 2022 to share his memories of Netley Abbey -
"We lived at Netley Cliff house in Victoria Road from 1958 to 1960 maybe 1961.
My Dad - 7265181 E W M Wilson - was RSM at the Hospital. After that he was posted to Solihull.
I had 5 sisters and 1 brother. I am the oldest brother. Hazel was the eldest.
She is the one wearing the beret below
At the time I worked at Herbert Ferryman & Edwin Jones in Kitchen furniture.
One of Dad's jobs was replenishing stores on the Hospital Ships "Nevasa", "Dilwara"
and "Oxfordshire" that I remember.
The Hospital was busy with shell shock cases caused by the Eoka terrorists in Cyprus.
Terry Dene was there as a patient he was a Pop star and got a medical discharge.
The last film I saw in Netley was Debbie Reynolds in Tammy with a supporting film Bambi.
Still remember the girl [I think he means his 'date'] She worked in the Coop in Station Road Netley.
My Mum was a bit of an Author and wrote an article entitled
"The Esso Fawley Fairy Tale" - all about the Fawley flame and the refinery.
Two of my sisters were in the Hospital church choir as was my brother.
The Oak Tree in the grounds of Netley Cliff house we called our Family Tree."
Nigel's sister, Hazel has recently contacted me to share her memories of living at the house and her
childhood, growing up in Netley -
I remember Netley Cliff house; its gardens were an amazing playground for us kids. It had loads of bushes to hide in by the road and a garden that went down to the beach but the track through the shrubs was best. We used to slide down on our bums to the beach and sea.
Mum taught us five to swim then said I was in charge of all the little ones.
We used to find all sorts of rubbish on the beach from the boats. My brother and I got told off
for blowing up all the "balloons" we found ... Mum said they were dirty but didn't tell us why.
Once we grew up, we found out why.
Mum would sometimes have a sandwich ready for lunch when got home from school which we would eat it on the way down the track for a swim before going back to school. I once swam in winter when there was ice in the sea. Once my Mum decided she would swim across the Solent but she got picked up in the shipping lane, warmed up and sent back! She hadn't realise it wasn't allowed.
We had an old shelter with a massive heavy lid on the roof with a ladder going down; there was also a walkway to the underground. It was, of course, forbidden but inviting territory. It wasn't until I was grown up that I realise that the big heavy door could have killed us kids if we got trapped if it fell.
The whole place was an amazing happy playground for us kids. Sometimes I went to school on the
steam train to Hamble Secondary. The hospital was huge and we used to get into its massive corridors and play. We used to see the Queen Elizabeth and Mary coming in and out.
I still love the sea. I used to collect jelly fish in a bucket and bring them back home; they amazed me.
Thank you Tug and Hazel!
-oo0oo-
Michael (Mikey) Wright contacted me recently via this website to give his memories of
living in Netley Abbey
"My Father was Daniel Wright (Danny) and my Mother Hilder, nee Davey.
My maternal Grandparents lived in Wales. I was born in 1941 at No 47 Sea View Estate.
I have two elder brothers - Tony who was over 3 years old and David who was 2 in 1941.
We lived there until about 1945 when we moved to an ex-Army Camp (about 30 huts) in
Southampton, maybe because of the War.
Did any of the others from Sea View Estate go there?
[Please let me know if you did - thank you.]
My Father was an Aircraft fitter in Hamble. I remember going there and seeing flying boats
and ducks (crafts for land and sea).
Strange it may be at age 11/12, I was sent to Netley [Court] school, a school for low grade children.
(I was bullied at school so fell behind with my lessons.)
The school was on the cliffs over looking Southampton water.
We would stop lessons to go outside to watch the Queen Mary and the United States Ships go by.
I would get on the bus in Southampton which would pick-up other children on the way.
Maybe someone from the village remembers seeing the bus arriving at the school each day?
Thank you Mike!
