March 15. 2007
Memories of Margaret Andrews (nee Whitcombe)

Hello Stephen

I did not know my grandfather personally as he died before I was born. (July 23, 1921)  My father (Bertie) told me that his father died on Christmas Eve.  Apparently he had a massive heart attack and fell down the stairs in his home (Hope Villa,  Wilton Road Shanklin.)  I am puzzled regarding the date of his death as 1920.  I am pretty sure that my father was not 33 years old at the time of his father's death but was much younger.  He told me he was in his late teens when his dad died which would put the death at around 1905/06.

My father joined the Royal Navy at an early age.  He begged his parents to sign the consent papers (they did not want him to go into the navy). He told them that was all he wanted for his 15th birthday.  He left the naval papers overnight on the kitchen table for their signature.  He came downstairs on August 29th 1902 and he had his wish. His father's words were  " Don't come crying home to us Bertie if you don't like the naval life" 
Please let me know how you came up with the 1920 date.

Re: Hotels - There is a connection but through the marriage of Grace Whitcombe to W. Ernest Moorman.  The Moorman family owned at least two hotel/guest houses on the Esplanade in Shanklin. The two that I remember are "Nelson House" and "Dorset House"  I visited my Aunt Grace and Uncle Ernest many times when I was a child.  The last time was at Dorset House in 1982 when my husband Charles and I visited my cousin Jeff Moorman.(Grace's son aged about 74).  He was living there with his second wife also named Grace - but it was then a private house and a very fine one.  Jeff is now deceased but do not know the year he died.

When I saw your family picture I recognized your Great Grandfather & Grandmother .  My first rememberance of  visiting them was around 1925/26?.  They lived on the outskirts of Portsmouth - could have been PortsDown?    The house was a  property that had a clear view of the harbour with the naval vessels at anchor.  The house was quiet high up with no buildings in between.  I remember My Uncle Charlie had white hair and my father always called him Chad.

More of my memories will follow.  I am going to remember people and events in Chronological order starting with Fanny Whitcombe.  I want to make sure I have my facts right so will be a few day before the next installment.

Bye for now
Maggie  
 ( I was always known as Peggy when I was a child.)

March 17, 2007

Harriet Whitcombe:  I had no idea my grandmother had a daughter called Harriet.  She must have died when she was very young.

Rose Whitcombe:    I know very little about Rose except  that she emigrated to Australia.  My father would occasionaly receive a postcard from her but this ceased shortly prior to WW2.  I was told she was happily married.  Rose always ended her postcards to Dad with  the comment:  " I miss the island so very much."   She was never crazy about Australia.

Louisa Whitcombe:    Louisa died when she was about 10 or 12 years old.  She fell out of her swing in the garden and went into a coma and died a few days later.  I remember my father allowing me to play with a small teaset that had belonged to her.I had to be very careful with it.  He always reminded me that it had belonged to his sister whom he loved very much.  There was little book she also owned.  I have never forgotten the title.  It was called  "Mattie's Hungry Missionary Box."  The story was about a little boy who saved his pennies for the poor black children in Africa. Do hope this gives you a bit more information regarding the Whitcombe clan.

Maggie

March 21, 2007

My grandmother died before I reached my 6th birthday so I have only a few memories.  She was not a demonstrative woman as I do not remember her ever cuddling me or even  letting me sit on her lap.   She sent me my first doll for Christmas and continued up until her death.  She would buy an undressed one and Aunt Agnes (Percy's wife) would dress it , including a nightgown.  After Fanny's death Aunt Gertrude would buy the doll and Aunt Agnes continued to dress them until I was around 10 or 11 years. When older, I always received a book from Aunt Gertude and Uncle Walter.

The most vivid memory I have was when I was about 5 years, the summer of 1926.  Grandmother Fanny took me to a graveyard only a short walk from Hope Villa.  She had flowers from the garden and I remember her trimming the stems with a small pair of scissors and arranging them into a type of metal flower urn.   I am sure if was my Grandfathers grave and I have a faint memory that perhaps  Harriet or Louisa were interned there also.

Memories of Fanny part 2
Hello Stephen
The following   “saga” of my late grandmother is etched in my memory for ever.  When my father’s sister Ada (Horton) visited us in later years these events were re-hashed over and over again.
Fanny’s last days, as told by Percy and Agnes.
Fanny complained about being more tired than usual for about a week.  Every afternoon she rested in her bedroom for a few hours.  Her daughter- in -law Agnes would bring her in a cup of tea around 4pm.  On her last morning she walked around the garden as usual.  She called Agnes to come and see the Honeysuckle with the buds already forming.  This was the first time they had seen buds so early on the climber.  Agnes cut the spray and took it indoors.  When Fanny went for her afternoon rest Agnes placed the honeysuckle spray in a vase by her bedside table.   At 4pm Agnes as usual took tea upstairs.  Her first thought was that Fanny was asleep.  It was a great shock when she realized otherwise.  Fanny had died peacefully in her sleep.  The scent of the honeysuckle in the room (Fanny‘s favorite flower).
Funeral
Grace (Moorman) my father’s sister took charge and sent telegrams to the families living on the mainland informing them of the death of their mother.   Alfred on the U.S. “Leviathan” heading to New York City was sent a cable.  My father received a second telegram the following day regarding the funeral arrangements etcetera.   Grace insisted that they be at Cowes at 9:30am and Ernest would meet the boat with car.
My mother wasn’t too popular with Bertie’s family and didn’t relish meeting with most of them.  When they arrived at “Hope Villa” they were surprised at the number of funeral cars lined up all along Wilton Road!!!  Grace had ordered a separate car for every branch of the family.  Ada who arrived alone never tired of complaining about the excess and expense.
My parents planned on staying overnight with Gertrude at Upper Bonchurch.  When the family returned from the cemetery and were sitting down for the usual luncheon during a lull in the restrained small talk Ada out of the blue said “Who knows about mother’s will?  She owned this house and must have tidy savings.  Who gets what?  You can imagine the uproar that started.  My father was furious.  He told May we are leaving now.  We will get the next “Vector Bus” to Cowes and the 7pm boat to Southampton.   Dad told Ada he was disgusted with the comments she had made.
Before they left, Grace presented Bertie with a bill for his share of the hired cars.  My father wasn’t expecting this but paid up.  Father just had enough money left over for bus fare to Cowes and tram fare home (thank goodness he had bought return fares for the boat trip).    His coolness towards Ada lasted for quite a few years – but that’s another story.

Maggie