lasted a few weeks as there was a rota of men waiting to obtain a few weeks work to earn some money to keep their families going for a short while.
In the end, he was unable to do any heavy work and in between doing odd jobs and unemployment, he was practically an invalid and eventually passed away towards the end of 1928 at the early age of 43.
His wife, Elizabeth, although blind, had brought up their large family in very difficult circumstances in trying times for many years, and surviving two world wars, eventually passed away about 1947 – 1948 over 60 years of age.
The youngest daughter, Christian, was evacuated with her mother to Cumberland during the First World War and in 1942 suffered a heart attack and passed away in August 1942 at the age of 22.
All of her sons however, lived reasonable long lives and both John and William, having served in the Merchant Navy and at jobs in the shipyards and factories, passed away in their middle 60s. David, the eldest, had worked at various jobs and for many years driven long distance coaches, but suffered ailments in his later years and died aged 80.
The elder daughter Margaret, married a serving soldier in the early years of the 2nd World War and moved to London, where her husband belonged, and after a couple of visits to South Shields, settled in London and after the family lost touch, it’s not known whether she is still alive at the present date of 1991.
The writer of this history, Richard, is still going strong and after working with one firm for 62 years retired in 1982 and now at the age of 84 in reasonable good health hopes to be the longest living member of the family.
Richard, born in 1907, married Wilhelmina Smith who was born in the same year, 29th June 1907. They were married on Easter Monday, 9th April 1928 at St. Thomas’s Church, Fowler Street in South Shields, and attained their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 1988, but unfortunately Wilhelmina passed away in her 82nd year, after bringing into the world 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. All of their family have given great joy to their parents and have been successful in their own lives.
Richard left school early at the age of 13 ½ having passed an examination to allow him to leave before he reached the school leaving age of 14. This enabled children to obtain employment to supplement the family income to help in the running of poor homes.
