‘Marie's forebears were Somerset folk; her paternal grandparents lived in Shepton Mallet, where her father lived until he was 18. He came to Newport and later met Marie's mother who was nursing at Caerleon, before and during the First World War. Her maternal grandparents were also Somerset people from the Taunton area. They went to St. Fagans near Cardiff and later to Cadoxton, near Neath, where Marie's mother was born. After World War 1 her parents settled in Abergavenny where they married and where Marie and her brother Robert were born. Marie went to school there and studied the piano, voice production and dramatics. Her main interests were drama, light operatics, tennis and watching Abergavenny Rugby Club's games.

During the last war Marie left home to work in Baker Bakers, Bristol, and lived in Charlotte Street. She pursued her tennis interests and joined the Rowing Club at Salford. The 'blitz' however, forced her to return to Abergavenny, where she took her Civil Service Exam and entered the Ministry of Defence to become P.A. to the Manager of Production.

During this period I was stationed at Llangaftock Hall Park, the seat of the Sandeman family, with the Welsh Regiments of the 32~ Division. Bill Tamplin the post-war rugby international was also stationed at Liangaftock and was largely instrumental in my meeting Marie, in so far as arranging an evening out in a 'liberty truck', finishing up later gate-crashing the Hospital Ball, when after some negotiations by Bill with the hospital secretary we were allowed in. I drew the short draw and had to partner the secretary's daughter, whilst an old Swansea Grammarian schoolmate of mine Errol Griffiths first met Marie. Nevertheless we got together eventually and several months later we got engaged.

I was drafted overseas, and on my return from demobilisation I took up an architectural post in Swansea, followed by posts in Coventry and Cardiff In the meantime Marie was working as Records Officer in the Land Army at Raglan with Lady Raglan. Marie and I were married at St. Mary's Church Abergavenny in August 1948 and settled in Roath Park Cardiff and later in Fairwater. Meanwhile Marie had transferred to the Land Army in Cardiff.

On the closure of the Land Army office Marie took a part-time job helping the set up of a new glassware company. Then, after an audition she became a member of the newly formed Welsh National Opera Company. Later she underwent surgery, but in April 1953 Linda was born. In 1955 I was appointed to a post in Wiltshire, where we lived in Melksham, and Sarah was born in Bradford-on-Avon on January 1958. After successive postings to Solihull and Monmouthshire we moved to Bristol in 1965 following my new appointment in 1964. That seems a long time ago, but really the quite eventful years have rolled past and they have been very happy years.

During this period Marie had to undertake care of her mother and help out her father at weekends. Later Marie's father and mother passed on and I lost my mother but Linda and Sarah completed their education and training and fulfilled their promise in their professions, eventually marrying Philip and Peter and giving us two beautiful granddaughters and grandson. You will appreciate we have moved about since our marriage but throughout Marie has been resourceful, adaptable, home-loving, a caring mother and wife, settling into new homes with wholehearted support. I could not have carried out my works without her love and understanding and I still love her very much.’

 

 

 

 

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