Person:Winifred Ococks (1)

Francis married in may 1934 Winifred Margaret Page OCOCKS, daughter of an army colonel in Newell nr. Epsom, Surrey, England; she died aged 103 on 2 may 2004 at Rosegarland. Winifred Margaret P. OCOCKS was born 1901 at Brentford, Middlesex (bmd index). They had 2 children: Anne Cecilia Fallon nee Leigh and „Robin“ Robert Edward Francis Leigh, born abt. 1937-38 as he died 2005 aged 68 (Wexford newspaper). From the „New Ross Standard“ and „Wexford People“: Winifred Leigh dies in her 103rd year Thursday May 6th 2004 THE death has occurred in her 103rd year of Winifred Margaret Leigh, widow of Francis Leigh, of Rosegarland, Wellingtonbridge. Mrs Leigh passed away peacefully at home after a short illness and her funeral took place at St. Paul's Church, Ballyoughton, on Sunday, May 2. She was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery beside her husband of almost 70 years. She was born Winifred Margaret Page Ococks at Newell near Epsom, her father an army colonel. She was educated in England in her teens lost a year of formal schooling through TB. She used the time to read very widely and subsequently had a job in the publishing world. She met Francis Leigh during a visit to Rosegarland with one of his sisters. The couple were married shortly afterwards in May, 1934. Although not country-bred, Winifred was a keen horsewoman, riding side-saddle to hounds. Even in the last weeks of her life, television enabled her to remain an avid follower of horse racing. She took an active part in running the farm with her husband and built up a herd of shorthorn cattle which won a number of awards at the RDS. On her 100th birthday, her long involvement with the RDS was recognised in a congratulatory letter by the then-President of the Society. She was also hostess of the many hunt balls held at Rosegarland, as well as the World Ploughing Matches. She had a great love and interest in people and children in particular, with the parties she held for children of the estate and the wider area becoming legendary, with presents specially chosen for each child. She worked for many years on the committee of the ISPCC. Flowers and gardening were a special interest. There are many people in the area who will remember her quiet generosity in times of difficulty over the past 70 years. To the end, she took a lively interest in her family for whose children there were always sweets to eat and books to look at. Until the last few years, she took an active part in church and parish affairs. Francis and Winifred Leigh had two children, the late Anne Cecilia Fallon and Robin, who has succeeded to Rosegarland Estate. She is mourned by her son Robin, her grandchildren David Fallon and Sarah Kehoe, her great grandchildren, nephews and their families and many friends.

1. ↑ Birth, marriage and death index, England and Wales.
2.   Information from R. Stephenson.
3.   various. Family letters (2).