Ethel Jemima Roberts

Harry Roberts married Ethel Jemima Ball on August 5th 1912, both aged 25 at Holy Trinity Church, in the parish of Oakengates. Harry's occupation a Stoker, his address Church Street, Oakengates his father Samuel Roberts a labourer. Ethel's address Beveley, Oakengates, her father Jonah Ball a Collier. A Louisa Ball mentioned, should pehaps be Louis. By 1962 (50th wedding anniversary) she was very fat. Larger from hips downward. My cousin Veronica has inherited this shape. At the time of their marriage they were the only Sunday School Teachers at Oakengates Church.

Jemima was a large lady, a typical 'pear' shape, much larger from the waist down, at the end of her life she was bedridden and her bed was downstairs in the only living/dining room. They always had a roaring fire going in the hearth. She was looked after mainly by her son Lewis.

She had the care of 2 grandsons, her daughter Dot had a son Raymond of the same age as Lewis's adopted son Nigel but they were treated very differently, she disliked the fact that Lewis had been left to bring up his ex wife's illigitimate child and treated Nigel very badly. Nigel got the blame for everything and was never allowed to do the things Raymond did. As soon as Nigel was 15 she made him go into the Navy as a boy sailor. My mother Dorothy disliked her for this treatment and would never visit the family, Dad had to go alone.