Chapter 9: FRANK THE BAKER

Chapter 9: FRANK THE BAKER

Frank was born on 15 July 1876 in Slimbridge. He left school aged 8 and by 14, whilst still living at home, he was working as a bakers assistant. He worked with Ernest Harding, and moved to Birmingham with Harding at around the turn of the century. By 1901 Frank was living with Harding at 105 Coventry Road. At that Harding was the business proprietor, employing Frank as a journeyman baker. As the business grew Harding employed several hundred people in south Birmingham. Family stories have it that Harding was an illegitimate son of the Fitzhardinge family of Berkeley Castle. Frank remained at the bakery most of his working life, his final job was as a checker of the orders and rounds. At the time of his eldest daughter's marriage in 1925 he described himself as a tea merchant.

Frank on a Delivery Round

In 1901 Frank married Nellie Ruth Tyler in the Congregational School in Aston, Birmingham. Ernest Harding was a witness to the marriage. Nellie Ruth was born in 1877 at 80 Cattell Road, Aston. At the time of their marriage Frank was living at 105 Coventry Road, Hay Mills, and Nellie Ruth at 39 Wyndcliffe Road, Small Heath. They lived first at 66 Waverley Road, moving in 1910 to 63 Bolton Road, and later to 214 Alexander Road in Acocks Green, Birmingham.

Nellie Ruth and Kate (c.1902/3)

The family soon started growing with Kate Corona Mary (chapter 10) being born in 1902. There followed; Helen Louise (Lulu), Eva Hannah, Florence Lillian (Floss),

Kate, Lulu, Eva, Floss

Frank Edward (Frisky), William Henry (Bill), Norman Stewart (Stew), and Rita who died in infancy. Frank died on 8 April 1952 in Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, leaving an estate valued at £451. Following his death Nellie Ruth left Alexander Road to live with her daughter Eva. Nellie Ruth died at 100 Queensbridge Road, Moseley, on 26 October 1963. Both Frank and Nellie Ruth are buried at South Yardley cemetery.

Lulu was a midwife and nursing sister. She married an insurance representative, Leslie Piddington who worked for the Prudential Assurance Company with Kate's husband, Ray. Leslie rose to the rank of Assistant Superintendent. Lulu had a daughter of her own and adopted a son. Lulu died in 1993. Her daughter’s husband is a nurseryman. Her adopted son has been married three times, having divorced from his first two wives. He has served in the forces.

Eva's husband was James Young. They were married in the same church as Kate. James was a mechanic. Two of their three children survive and have families of their own. John married Rita Ladds who worked in Foster Brothers. He was a tool setter by trade. His daughter Kim was a WPC before starting her own family. Her brother David was a police constable, then a car salesman and has since spent much time travelling.

James Young and Eva

Floss had several jobs, including millineress. She married her first husband, Ernest Hughes, just after the Second World War started, and her second, Austin Callaghan, in 1949. She did not have any children, and died in 1990.

Austin Callaghan & Floss

A married daughter survives Frisky, a house builder, and his wife Pamela Drury. His business was run from the family home in Alexander Road. He was still building well into old age.

During the Second World War Bill served as a lorry driver in the RAF. He was based in Reykjavik, Iceland for most of the time. In civilian life he was a long-distance lorry driver. Bill died in 1994, having been predeceased by his wife Jessie. He left a son, Donald, two grandsons and a great-grandson. Like his father before him Donald served in the motor transport section of the RAF, but travelling to warmer climes such as Egypt, Cyprus and Suez between 1953 and 1956.

Bill, Jessie and Donald

Stew worked at Cadbury's chocolate factory in Bourneville. He had two sons by his late wife, Dorothy. Oldest son Roger is a chef. Malcolm is a plasterer living in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. His wife, Jane, is a teacher by profession.

FRANK b.1876 d.1952 m. NELLIE RUTH TYLER

…..KATE CORONA MARY (chapter 10)

…..HELEN LOUISE(LULU) b.1903 d.1993 m. LESLIE JAMES PIDDINGTON

……….SHIRLEY ANNE(ANNE) m. TREVOR ARTHUR BROOKES

……………HELEN JANE m.- GUNTON

……………REBECCA LOUISE

……….CHRIST. JHN. m.#1 CAROLINE CARVILLE, #2 TRACY THOMPSON, #3 JULIE -

……………#1 LAURA

……………#2 JAMES GREGORY

……………#3 REBECCA

……………#3 AMY

…..EVA HANNAH b.1905 d.1980 m. JAMES YOUNG