PLIMMER grandparents

Harold Edward PLIMMER(1892 - 1962)

He was born in Edge Lane, West Derby to James PLIMMER, a postman and Ellen (Nellie) PLIMMER (nee SWIFT), the youngest of two; his sister Lily Gertrude PLIMMER was born in 1891.

His father died in 1893 and I wonder what effect it had on him; with out his father in his life was he ever bitter about it or did he just accepted it as the norm? He also had other half brothers and sisters and I wonder if after this event they ever remained in contact, I am guessing that they did not.

1901 sees Ellen, Lily and Harold living at 30 Lennox Street, Kensington, Liverpool and Ellen is listed as a cook in the post office.

Sadly I do not know much about my Grandpop's early life (or army life) but I have recently discovered that his World War I medals were issued while he had been recruited with the Machine Gun Corps. He was a private and his Regiment No. was 120042.

His sister Lily married in 1915 to Thomas Arthur SPRATT (a capstan-man) at St Paul's, Princes Park, Liverpool; witnesses: William Henry SPRATT and Florence ?OUGHLEY .

Harold, a dock labourer, married Mary Jane SMITH in 1921 at St Silas, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. He was 28 and living in Powis Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool; witnesses: Richard EVANS and Elizabeth SMITH.

His first child was born in 1922, named Robert Harold PLIMMER and residence at this time was in Gaskell Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. The second child was a girl born in 1924 and the third child was named William Arthur PLIMMER, born in 1927, both where born at the same address as the first.

Then sadly his first wife Mary died in 1935 at South Hill House, South Hill Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool aged only 36. TB seemed to be the primary cause.

It was in 1938 that my Grandfather married my Gran, Annie Leay NUGENT (nee ALDRIDGE) at Christ Church, Norris Green, Liverpool; witnesses: Stanley BAKER and Florence Adelaide BAKER (her sister and her husband). My Grandfather is listed as a labourer and was living in Faresham Road, Norris Green, Liverpool. My Gran was living in Kingsland Crescent, Norris Green, Liverpool at the time. It did seem, when I went to view the properties, that they were virtually back to back, over looking each other. I have always thought how romantic it must have been if they did fall in love over the garden fence. LOL ;-)

At this time, he also became a step-father to my Gran's children from her first marriage and by the time my father was born, later in that same year, they had moved and were living in Lordens Road, Huyton. My Grandpop is again listed as a dock labourer on my Pop's birth certificate.

. I am aware that the children from his first marriage went to live with his sister Lily SPRATT and family and sadly over the years they lost touch with one another.

Harold's mother died in 1950 aged 85 of cerebral hemorrhage, which sounds quite horrific. I wonder if this was the time when he met his daughter again after a long absence. I believe the meeting was very difficult and very emotional and sadly, I understand, they did not meet again.

He died in 1962 at Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool. He was only 69 years old and was listed as being a dispatch clerk and still resident in Lordens Road, Huyton. He did not see my Pop marry and he died long before I was even a twinkle in my Pop's eye!

I know he kept canaries or budgies and was a very kind, gentle, considerate man. I believe he was given a silver cross by a German soldier, for sparing his life in one of the wars and that makes me very proud to be his grandson. Sadly the cross was stolen by a step-child after he died and the only thing I have of his, apart from his medals, is a signet ring.

There is so much more I would like to know about him and what he did. I wish the Internet had been invented for general use then so he may have left a blog of his own, for me to share with him in a spiritual kind of way.

Annie Leay PLIMMER (previously NUGENT, nee ALDRIDGE)

(1897 - 1979)

She was born in Rankin Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool to William John ALDRIDGE, a carter and Elizabeth ALDRIDGE (nee BURNETT); she had several siblings.

In 1901 I find her with her parents and older siblings, Florence and William at 5 House, 3 Court, Beresford Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

I am curious to know what she did during the war years.

I know she went into domestic service at some point but in 1920 she was married at St Cleopas, Liverpool to Thomas William NUGENT, able seaman; witnesses: Francis RICE and Elizabeth Jane McCALLAGN. Both Annie and Thomas where resident at the address of Annie's birth. I wonder why the family moved out of that address but moved back into the same address much later? I imagine she was now busy being a wife and later, a mother to several off-spring.

Sadly in 1933, aged 35, her husband died and only the year before in 1932, she lost her father to cancer aged 58. It would take another five years before she met and married Harold Edward PLIMMER and I hope this brought her some happiness. I'm thankful that this union brought my father into the world, otherwise I wouldn't be here writing this!

I wonder how she coped during the war with children to bring up, especially as her husband had to go off and fight in the 2nd World War, not long after their only child was born. (I often wonder if this is why the children from my Grandpop's first marriage went to live with their aunt and uncle SPRATT?)

I believe she worked at the Crawfords Biscuit Factory and also returned to be of domestic help to wealthy families and I think she liked to adopt some of their refined traits for her own.

In 1952 she witnessed the death of her own mother at the age of 78.

I am fortunate to have faint memories of her and I always remember her smiling, amazing when I think what she must have suffered before her own death. I remember her taking me to the Pier Head, Liverpool to see the ferries and visiting us at our various addresses in St Helens.

Breast cancer took her away from us in 1979 aged 81 and I believe she would have lived on much longer if treatment was as advanced as it is now. I imagine she kept mentally strong through out and considering what she must have been through in her life time, this must have contributed to her method to cope.

I have even had a spiritual visit from her when I was in a dark depression in a flat in Manchester. I knew she was there because I could smell her and her flat and all the happy memories of her came flooding back. It was an emotional moment and very reassuring that she still thought about me too, I wasn't alone, it was like having a spiritual hug.

:-)