Person:Edith Farrant (1)

(Notes being made by Roy Bernard Kew, son of Edith Emily). My Mother was a teacher in Richmond Surrey and also at some time in Yorkshire..She told the story of how the first time she had Yorkshire Pudding in Yorkshire it was served before the meat course with gravy. She met my Father in Richmond Surrey whilst he was working for his Uncle Walter as a butcher in Kew Green. When Dad died in 1911 they were living away from the shop and Mother had nothing to do with the business. On Dad's death Mother was left with five children I was the youngest and was one year old. Mother immediately gave up the house and moved into accomodation over the shop. She took complete control of the shop and ran it successfully for the next sixteen years. Eventually the business was sold to the Vesty group. We then moved to a house called Burleigh on Honey Hill Hillingdon Middx. For Five years she was a Teacher at St. John's (Infants) National School, Richmond Surrey from 1883-1888. From letter it would appear that Mother was still teaching in Yorkshire in February 1891. It was my intention to make these notes in chronological order but I find that very difficult. I intend in future to enter events as I remember them. xEdith Emily FarranT my Mother was, before she met my father a teacher. she started her teaching career in Yorkshire but eventually taught in Richmond where she met my Father. Whilst my Father was still working for his Uncle Walter at Kew my parents lived in Richmond. On acquiring the shop in Windsor Street Uxbridge they moved into a House at Guildford Villas in Cowley Road Uxbridge. On my Father's death my Mother moved into the shop at 45, Windsor Street Uxbridge. At this time she was left with 5 children and had never run a business. Mother ran the Butchers for 16 years before selling out to the Vesty Group. A remarkable achievement. Mother was the Family centre point. As well as raising her own Family she also became Mother to various nephews and nieces. Among the ones who calledD Windsor Street Home were Fred, Mac and Margery Faramnt and Edwin Farrant. Fred & Mac were in the Royal Navy and every leave came to Windsor Street and Edwin was left an Orphan and made his home with us, Mothef paid for him to qualify as a Pharmacist. Margery was a nurse and came home whenever she radtime off. As well as these Mother for many years supported Uncle Wally and his Family at High Wycombe. Every year Mother hired a seaside house for us to go on holiday and as Mother could not levve the shop she got Uncle Wally, Auntie Tot and their son Eric to come with us and Mother paid for us all. Mother had another relative who I knew as Auntie Olive I have not been able to establish where she fits into the Family. She was married to someone called Georfe Shooter. I never saw him. She had three children. Edna, Freda and Albert When Olivwe died the two girls were old enough to look,after themselves but Albert went to Dr Barnados Homes. Edna was killed by a Bomb during the War and Freda joined the ATS and became a Sergeant Najor. Later she married an American Soldier and went to the States.

1. ↑ 1881 British Census, Record Type: CD, Film: 1341199.
2. ↑ PRO online 1901 Census. 1901 British Census.
3. ↑ Age 12, born in Chertsey, Surrey, Occ:Scholar, Single
4. ↑ Age 27, born in Chertsey, Surrey.