Person:Lilian Dyer (2)

Name^[1]	Lilian Dyer
Alt Name^[3]	Cissie _____
Baptismal Name^[1]	Lilian Frances Dyer
Gender	Female
Birth^[1]	19 Nov 1893	Newton Abbot, Devon, EnglandWoodway Street, Chudleigh
Census^[3]	1901	Newton Abbot, Devon, EnglandWoodway Street, Chudleigh
Census^[2]	1911	Teignmouth, Devon, England9 Den Crescent
Occupation^[2]	1911	Teignmouth, Devon, EnglandGeneral servant/domestic within a lodging house
Marriage	Jun 1912	Newton Abbot, Devon, Englandto William Henry Bennett
Marriage	Jul 1922	Newton Abbot, Devon, Englandto James Hurman
Death^[5]	6 Jul 1967	Weston super Mare, Somerset, England

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Lilian's Life

Lilian was born on 19 November 1893 at Woodway Street, Chudleigh, Devon, England.^[1] She was the second child of George and Charlotte Dyer. As Lilian grew up she was affectionately known as Cissie. This is what she is called on the 1901 census^[3] where she is still living in Woodway Street along with her parents and siblings.

Sadly Lilian's mother, Charlotte, died in 1904 from tuberculosis. This must have been an absolute disaster for the family. Whilst close relatives were living nearby in Chudleigh and clearly helped to bring up the children it is difficult looking back to work out what actually happened. Charlotte went to work as a domestic which is recorded on the 1911 census^[2] which shows her living and working at 9 Den Crescent,Teignmouth which was a guest house owned by Mary Jane Rowse. Lilian's sister, Mary Ann, who was only 4 years old, had been incarcerated in the Western Counties Hospital at Starcross, an institution for the "feeble-minded". Unfortunately Mary Ann had been kicked in the head by a horse the previous year and this had effected her ability to learn as quickly as other children. In 1912 Lilian was able to secure Mary Ann's release and looked after her for the rest of her life.

It was whilst working in Teignmouth that Lilian met her future husband, William Henry Bennett. They were married in the spring of 1912 at Newton Abbot Devon^[4] and went on to have five children. Sadly two of their babies died, William George Bennett who had many disabilities died aged 9 months and Phyllis Maud Bennett died shortly before her first birthday. To have two such young babies die must have been heart breaking for Lilian and William. But there was more heartache to come for Lilian, as in July 1919 William sadly died, from the effects of gases, which he had breathed in, whilst in the British Army.

Three years later in 1922 Lilian married James (Jimmy) Hurman at Newton Abbot, Devon.^[6] This was a long and happy marriage. They never had any children together but he was a wonderful step father to the girls. The family lived at Devonshire Place in Teignmouth, right on the beach front, you could almost say the beach was their front garden as when you walked out the front door you was literally on the beach! Which was extremely convenient for the family business, "Hurman's", which was an ice cream and snack hut situated close to the pier. Lilian run the snack hut as James had other business commitments.

In later life, when the girls had all married and moved to their own homes, Lilian and James moved to Weston-Super-Mare which was James home town.

Lilian died on 6 July 1967 aged 73.^[5]

Lilian (back) with sister Mary Ann (front)	Spring Storms-Hurmans Hut being held by ropes	Lilian and James in Hurmans Hut	Cissie (left hand side) at Chudleigh Rocks
Cissie (left hand side) with daughter, road side picnic