9
sisters also visited an aunt in
Fulham where they danced
and then caught the last
train back with a long
walk from Crowthorne to
Finchampstead!
Possibly the glitz of ballrooms
inuenced Winnie’s lifelong
passion of clothes, costume jewellery and
scarves!
Winnie met Reg in her early 20’s. Sadly
he wasn’t the best dancer, but a perfect
husband, nevertheless. Winnie had started
working for Frank Cadby’s garage (now
the Ford garage on the Finch roundabout)
where Reg was a mechanic. They courted
for several years and got married in 1950.
Sadly, both Winnie’s parents died in their
50’s. Wilfred had suffered ill health since
having been injured in the War in Canada.
Frances died 6 weeks later believed to be
of a broken heart.
Fortunately, Reg was a great support for
Winnie. They moved into the family home
and celebrated the birth of son Trevor in
1951 and of daughter Marilyn in 1953.
They were a close and active family.
Sundays were spent at the beach – picnic,
bat and ball, bucket and
spade, in fact everything
but the kitchen sink!
Holidays were enjoyed in
Devon or Swanage.
A devoted couple, Reg
was more ‘stay at home’ and
loved working in the garden
(Marilyn as assistant) or engaging in
sports with Trevor; Winnie the more social
one, enjoying various clubs and tirelessly
working. Winnie and Marilyn shopped a
lot! Winnie learnt to drive early on and
when the children were young, she worked
at the Thatched Cottage Stores where
Trevor and Marilyn would play in the
gardens, afterschool.
Winnie played netball and belonged to
the WI and Mothers Union – not the
obvious choices for someone not keen on
domestication! She was also passionate
about raising money for the graveyard.
Winnie later found her perfect social job
at the sports club where Reg was the
groundsman at the local Finchampstead
Park.
Although Winne and Reg remained in the
same house, they had a zest for travel and
enjoyed many holidays together. They
Winnie was
always a bright,
spirited and
gregarious person,
with a progressive
outlook.
Reggie and Marilyn on
their wedding day
Baby Marilyn Baby Trevor