Today would have been my grandmother’s 127th birthday. Here is a little about her.

My grandmother, Ivy Gertrude Woolgar was the youngest of four children of Philip James and Clara Woolgar née Dawson. She was born at the family home, 7 Chalford Road, Dulwich, South London on the 4^th of January 1893.[1] Whilst Ivy was a child, her father gave up his job as a milkman and became a gardener.[2]  The family were regular church goers, usually attending nearby Emmanuel Church,[3] unless they went to hear Ivy’s brother, Percy, sing in a choir elsewhere.[4]

Ivy was entered into Salter’s Hill School, Gipsy Road on the 1^st of July 1897, she transferred to another school, possibly the junior department of Salter’s Hill, on the 2^nd of July 1900.[5] She became an office clerk,[6] working for John Gardner & co.[7] She was reported to have been her father’s favourite and he accompanied her to work on her first day at Smithfield Meat Market.[8] On the 8^th of April 1922 she married Frederick Herbert Smith, after banns, at St. Clement Danes in the Strand, London. The witnesses were Ivy’s mother and brother, Clara and Percy, Herbert H Smith, Frederick’s father and Muriel Chown Bird who was the sister of Ivy’s brother in law William Bird.[9]

In 1924, Frederick and Ivy went to live at 159 Albert Road (later renamed Davidson Road)[10] where they lived for the rest of their lives. Their daughter, Gwendoline Catherine, was born on the 27^th of February 1925.[11] She was baptised on the 31st of May 1925 at Emmanuel Church, Dulwich, Surrey.[12] Frederick died on the 13^th of September 1957 at 159 Davidson Road, of heart failure, bronchitis and emphysema.[13] Ivy Gertrude died of lung cancer at her daughter’s home, 28 Sundridge Road, Addiscombe, Croydon, Surrey, on the 25^th of April 1963. She was 70 years old.[14]

‘Granny’ was 63 when I was born (my age now) and died a month after my seventh birthday. She was a wonderful lady and the archetypal granny in everything except build. We played together regularly, she taught me to knit, recited nursery rhymes and did all the things grannies are meant to do. My first family holidays were on the Isle of Wight and Granny came too. My memories of Granny are a role model for my own grandparenting. Although I lack her dainty size, physically I have inherited most from this grandparent. In fact I wonder why, when I look in the mirror, she looks back.

[1] The short birth certificate of Ivy Gertrude Woolgar 1893, in family possession.

[2] Oral evidence from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith.

[3] This is no longer standing.

[4] Oral evidence from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith.

[5] Admissions’ Register for Salter’s Hill School, held at The London Metropolitan Archives.

[6] 1911 census for 7 Chalford Road, Norwood, Surrey RG14 2134 folio 190.

[7] Oral evidence from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith.

[8] Oral evidence from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith.

[9] The marriage certificate of Frederick Herbert Smith and Ivy Gertrude Woolgar 1922, in family possession.

[10]  Information from Gwendoline Catherine Braund née Smith, daughter of  Frederick Herbert Smith.

[11]  The birth certificate of Gwendoline Catherine Smith 1925, in family possession.

[12]  The baptismal certificate of Gwendoline Catherine Smith 1925, in family possession.

[13] The death certificate of Frederick Herbert Smith 1957, in family possession.

[14] The death certificate of Ivy Gertrude Smith née Woolgar 1963, in family possession.