This letter was received from Nick Board in September 2012.
Barbara Joan Tidridge was born in Southampton on the 17th February 1923 the daughter of Bertie Tidridge and Minnie Agnes Leamon [n/a Daisy].
She had a sister, Doris, who unfortunately died of TB shortly after her birth.
Barbara lived at the family home in St. Catherine's Rd., Bitterne Park and went to school at Bitterne Park High School before moving to live in London Road and joining St. Winnifred's School. At the age of 18 Barbara joined the ATS where she remained for the duration of WW 2.
Bertie, her father, was an Auctioneer & Valuer for Ryder and Brower in Southampton and later became a bailiff for the Southampton Corporation. Following the death of his first wife Minnie Agnes [Daisy] he married Margaret Kelleher in Southampton.
Barbara married Peter Board, a well known local sportman who trailned to be a school teahcer in King Alfred College in Winchester. In WW2 he served as a Capt. in the Hampshire Regiment and afterwards pursued his teaching career as head of English ath the Deanery School in Southampton. They brought up theri four children in their house in Regants Park Road Southampton - Richard, Elzabeth, Lesley and Nocholas. Peter and Nicholas were very keen cricketers and both played for the Deanery Cricket Club, a club from whom Harry John Tidridge had previously umpired.
Barabra continued to live in the same ouse follwing Peter's death and remains fit and healthy. Fol.lowing iln the footsteps of her grandfather Harry John Tidridge, she is a keen gardener and takes grewat pride in maintaing her garden. Althogh he rown chilren now live in differen tparts of the county, Barbara continues to be the cdnetral communicartion point for family updates, not surprising with regular visits from ten grandchildrenand four great grandchildren!
Note
My other distant memories are of William Tidridge, married to Ethel - they lived in Ashurst, New Forest with the main line from Southampton to Bouremouth running at the bottom of their garden.... great for a train-spotter!!
Daisy and her brother George, who lived near Boscombe in Dorset - I believe Daisy looked after George. We used to visit and take their dog Tess for a walk!
Will and Bert [right] Tidridge in what one supposes to be choir outfits. The photo wa sonje of many provided by Florence Haven in 2013. Uncle Will and Bert are written non the back. Ted Place [UK] add that they, the lads, were a Winchester College, Hampshire UK.
Winchester is a relatively new college circa 1387. To check out the history check here.
If this is the college the boys attended then they received an excellent and somewhat pricey education. It would certainly give them a good start in whatever venture they embarked on. The college would have been somewhat stuffy and would have cheered, hurrah, rather than hurray! (You have to be English to appreciate the difference.)
A brief read of the history talks of William of Wykeham, who funnily enough had one of his saying above the main door of Wickham Church were John T had attended because Uncle Ern and Auntie Edie lived in Wickham. The saying which he has remembered and tried to practice, said "Manners maketh man".
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The soldier is Bertie, who served in the Hampshire Regiment, regimental number 31580. He served along with his two brothers. His younger brother Ernest, was killed oin France.
John T remembers little of uncle Bertie except that was a dapper looking gentleman.
Group photograph of Bertie Tidridge's wedding to
to Minnie Agnes Leamon August 4, 1915
Back row: George Tidridge Frederick Tidridge (?) Arthur Leamon, Emily & Harry John Tidridge, John & Ellen Leamon
Front row: Daisy Tidridge, Charlie Leamon, Daisy Stride, Bertie Tidridge Minnie Agnes Grace Leamon, page boy ? Old Lady ?
The photograph below is of Bertie and Minnie and baby Doris. Doris died shortly after this picture was taken.
