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Parents: Caleb, a Silk Warp
Dresser and Eliza (nee Nicholls)
George was born in Coventry on
the 16th May 1881 at Radford, Coventry.
Early Years: He was one
of 8 children.
As a child he lived in a modest house at Radford about 1
mile from the the centre of Coventry. Around the age of 9 George suffered the
trauma of having his mother leave the family taking with her his little sister,
Sarah.
Occupation: At the time of his marriage he was a
Machinist but later became a Gas Stoker at Foleshill gas works.
Marriage: At the age of 19 he married Ellen
Elizabeth Howe, at St.Michaels, Coventry on 25 Dec 1900. Witnesses: Druie
Ann Poole and Abraham Howe. |
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Known Places of Residence:
As a child George
lived at 53 Radford (near the present Radford Common), Coventry.
On 25 December 1900, the couple are said to be living in Much Park
Street, in central Coventry, but it is suggested they were living
round the corner with Ellen’s parents Abraham and Mary Howe at 59 St.
John’s Street.
When baby Florence was born they were in
New Buildings, a 1/2 mile away.
From 1903 to 1905 they resided
at 108 Radford, Coventry, near George’s father.
By 1909 they
had moved to 51 Sparkbrook St, in the Hillfields district of central
Coventry.
In 1911 they moved out of the city centre to 5 Francis
Street at Foleshill.
In 1913 they purchased 12 Silverton Road, Coventry, and
also took the opportunity to buy the adjoining 2 houses, Numbers 8 and 10 which
they let out.
They lived there until 1929. In 1927 they purchased a
site for a new house at 175 Old Church Road, just opposite St.
Laurence's Church and moved there in 1929.
Ellen died in 1955 but
George stayed there until he died in 1962.
Death: George died
in 1962 and was buried at London Road Cemetary.
Burial: His
body was interred in April 1962 in Grave 38, Square 168/169 at London Road
Cemetary, Coventry.
Special Memories: George, my grandfather,
enjoyed coarse fishing with his son Charlie and they visited many favourite
local angling spots by bicycle, one being the nearby canal at Foleshill. On one
wintry day Charlie was leading George, then in his 70s, along the canal towpath
on their bikes. Charlie looked back to check on him but his father was nowhere
to be seen...just his old felt hat floating on the water. Charlie rushed back
and managed to hauled the heavy man out. Then he rescued his bike. George then
insisted Charlie also retrieved his hat from way out in the canal. Luckily they
did not have far to return home to thaw and dry out.
A short time later
George was fishing at the same spot when another nearby fisherman pulled his
leg with "I hear you have taken up swimming, George !" A few minutes later
George spotted a crack slowly growing in the canal bank just behind the other
man but kept quiet. He watched it as it grew larger under the man's weight and
as the bank where the leg-puller was sitting slid gently into the water, George
shouted " A bit cold for a swim isn't it, Tom?"
George loved his meat
and on his regular visits to our house he endlessly talked about his latest
shopping expedition to a favourite butcher or grocer and how he cooked a
delicious dinner, described in mouth-watering detail.
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