Robert John Dyer in his work clothes
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RJ Dyer and Family:
Most Respected Residents in the Village Heather Meays Family photos courtesy Heather Meays April 2017 There always was an undertaker in Box catering for the needs of the population. The business of RJ Dyer, Builders and Undertakers, at Dyer's Yard, the Market Place and Quarry Hill, was perhaps the best-known both for the work it undertook and for the remarkable character of its owner. This is the story of Robert John Dyer, his wife Florence (nee Oatley, sister of Charles Oatley) and their family by their granddaughter, Heather Meays. My Grandparents My grandparents first met as children when a small, kindergarten school was held in a room of Townsend House by Miss Eyles. RJ had been born in London but his parents came from Box and moved back when he was two in 1880. Florence Oatley was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs James Oatley of Quarry Hill. They married in 1903, bought Townsend House and fifty years later they celebrated their golden wedding there in 1953. My mother and I lived with my grandparents and I have so many fond memories of them and the house. |
Robert John Dyer, RJ as my grandfather was known, was a Master Carpenter, the son of Herbert Dyer, also a master carpenter, and RJ was an apprentice to his father before going to London to work, aged eighteen. Not content with his general education he studied at the London Polytechnic, the winner of one of four diplomas awarded that year.[1] He returned to Box after five years to assist his father and began teaching technical education in the village as well as pursuing his carpentry work.
My great uncle Charles Oatley in 1949
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RJ dedicated much of his life to public service. He served for two terms on Box Parish Council and his integrity was such that he served for seventeen years as Box Parish Clerk from 1936 to 1953. He was also Box's representative on the Rural District Council, a manager at Box School, and for many years the secretary of the collecting boxes for the Royal United Hospital, Bath, and on the Management Committee of the hospital. He had served during the First World War in the Red Cross detachment at the Corsham Town Hall hospital. During the Second World War he was the air raid warden for the area and the siren was kept in the back garden of Townsend House.
My grandmother, Florence was the eldest daughter of James Oatley and Rebecca Beer and the sister of Charles William Bond Oatley, the local auctioneer. She had several cousins living in Malmesbury and her mother had attended a very small school that was held in an equally small room above the porch in Malmesbury Abbey. Florence was also active in the local community, a Sunday School teacher and an original member of Box Nursing Association. We knew various members of the Oatley family quite well. Charles Oatley had two daughters, Margaret and Ethel. Margaret became a teacher, remained unmarried and lived at Little Orchard, Bulls Lane, Box. Ethel became a nurse and married a Jewish gentleman by the name of Joseph Elton. They had two boys, Martin and David, and lived in St John's Wood, London. The Eltons came regularly to Box, staying with Margaret at Little Orchard. |
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Townsend House, Box
Originally Townsend House was three properties, a house and two cottages. My grandfather, RJ Dyer, being a builder, converted the dwelling into one house and he and his wife Florence lived there all their married lives. Townsend House had five main bedrooms plus two attic rooms. There were a number of downstairs rooms and a cellar. Because of the conversion from a house and two cottages into one house, the building was on various levels which meant numerous stairs to negotiate. Right: Townsend House was originally three properties |
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Townsend House was always a hive of activity. This was partly due to my grandfather using one room as his office, although the workshop for the making of the coffins was on Quarry Hill, not far from the Gospel Hall. There was always a stream of visitors and neighbours popping in for a cup of tea, and my grandmother cared for several elderly relatives who also came to live at Townsend House. By 1942, in the middle of the war, Sydney, Joan and Mary had all left home and there was plenty of room, thus enabling Townsend House to be open to any people from Bath who wished to come and stay overnight in order to escape the bombing taking place in the city.
My grandfather, Robert, had a brother Cecil who emigrated to Canada and I remember his family sending exciting food parcels to Townsend House. The first time I had ever had chewing gum! RJ Dyer had cousins living at Shrewton, Colerne, Corsham and London. We often visited the Shrewton relatives by car and bus. After my grandfather died, my mother and I continued to visit Shrewton using the service bus. In the winter we would take a rug, hot water bottle and flask of hot tea, as there were no doors on the buses at that time.
My grandfather was also one of a group of people known as The Board of Guardians, who took on the responsibility of visiting a person who was permanently in hospital. After my grandfather's death, my mother took on the same lady who had lived all her life in Chippenham Hospital. I always visited, with my mother, a lady called Hilda who was completely deaf but knew the deaf and dumb language and was allowed to help out with small tasks in the hospital.
My grandfather, Robert, had a brother Cecil who emigrated to Canada and I remember his family sending exciting food parcels to Townsend House. The first time I had ever had chewing gum! RJ Dyer had cousins living at Shrewton, Colerne, Corsham and London. We often visited the Shrewton relatives by car and bus. After my grandfather died, my mother and I continued to visit Shrewton using the service bus. In the winter we would take a rug, hot water bottle and flask of hot tea, as there were no doors on the buses at that time.
My grandfather was also one of a group of people known as The Board of Guardians, who took on the responsibility of visiting a person who was permanently in hospital. After my grandfather's death, my mother took on the same lady who had lived all her life in Chippenham Hospital. I always visited, with my mother, a lady called Hilda who was completely deaf but knew the deaf and dumb language and was allowed to help out with small tasks in the hospital.
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My Grandfather's Work
My grandfather's business of general builders, undertakers, hauliers and coal merchants was a substantial operation based on two separate areas in the village, both sometimes called Dyer's Yard. On Quarry Hill, where Woodside Place has been built opposite the present Brunel Way, was the builder's yard supporting a large workforce. The workers built Bargates and Brunel Way council estates in the 1950s.[2] The undertaking business was conducted mainly at the Market Place in the area now used as a car park in front of the Jubilee Youth Club building. RJ bought the site on 24 June 1919 paying £150 raised by mortgage borrowed from Thomas Bence, grocer.[3] RJ kept the yard for many years until the District Council purchased it in 1951-52. |
1925 advertisement (courtesy Clive Banks)
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Because of his work as an undertaker my grandfather saw many aspects of life in Box and he encountered many different people, all of whom he dealt with in a professional, respectful manner. Travellers, then called Gypsies, regularly camped on Wadswick Common. Next door to Little Orchard in Bulls Lane, Box, I remember a beautiful cottage called Pear Tree Cottage. For a short while a doctor lived there and gave medical attention to any of the travellers who needed it. He did not want them to wait in the cottage or the garden there and so they used to sit leaning against the wall of Townsend House. In the wintertime my mother would hand out steaming jugs of hot tea to try to make their wait to see the doctor a little less uncomfortable.
The tragic funeral of the gypsy boy with the procession led by Sydney Dyer
I particularly remember the funeral of Jesse Snith, a young gypsy boy, one of the saddest funerals my grandfather had to organise. The young boy was tragically killed in an accident whilst the travellers were camping on Wadswick Common. All the mourners walked behind the hearse from the Common to Box Cemetery where the little boy was buried. My uncle, Sydney Dyer, led the procession. My mother also attended the funeral and told me afterwards that the sisters of the little boy were all dressed in white with white ribbons in their hair. Subsequently when visiting the cemetery we would always go to find the tiny grave where a small stone statue of a pony had been placed.
When my grandfather became unwell in 1954, the business and its premises were put up for sale, advertised as Stone built factory known as "Dyer's Yard" of approximately 5,500 feet of covered floor space, comprising Assembly and Spraying Shops, Bonded Store and small Office; excellent yard affording facilities for parking of vehicles or future extensions.[4]
When my grandfather became unwell in 1954, the business and its premises were put up for sale, advertised as Stone built factory known as "Dyer's Yard" of approximately 5,500 feet of covered floor space, comprising Assembly and Spraying Shops, Bonded Store and small Office; excellent yard affording facilities for parking of vehicles or future extensions.[4]
Children of RJ and Florence
Back Row: Joan, Ruth and Mary Front Row: RJ, Florence and Sydney in 1920s
RJ Dyer and Florence had four children, Sydney, Joan, Ruth and Mary. Sydney became a partner in his father's business, which was then known as RJ Dyer & Son, Builders & Undertakers. Joan who emigrated to New Zealand when she was twenty-one, lived abroad for some years and was a nanny to a doctor's four children. She married Stanley Hill but was widowed after only three years of marriage. I was born in 1943 to Joan and Stanley, and my mother decided to return to Box in 1946. We had a six week voyage on a ship coming through the Panama Canal and finally landing at Tilbury Docks. My grandparents met us there and we went to live with them at Townsend House. In return for our board and lodging, my mother became their housekeeper.
Ruth remained single and also lived at Townsend House. She became a private secretary and short-hand typist, who was recorded in 1939 as ARP Office Worker. She later worked for the Admiralty in Bath. Mary trained as a nurse and became a sister at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. She married a doctor, Jeffery Phillip, and had two children, Robert (Bob) Phillip and Margaret Phillip (now Morgan). Sydney married Doreen Long whose brother Rex and sister Edith farmed on land belonging to Hatt Farm.
I think they lived in a cottage belonging to the farm. Doreen had another sister (Vera?) who married a farmer and went to live in Urchfont. Sydney and Doreen had one son called Anthony (Tony) Dyer and they lived in Bath. Their house was completely destroyed during the Bath Blitz.
The Dyer children, Sydney, Joan, Ruth and Mary, attended Box School and later Chippenham Grammar School. As far as I know they mostly cycled to Chippenham but possibly used the train when the weather was bad.
Box Gospel Hall, Quarry Hill
Religion was a key part of my grandparent's lives. They were married at the Gospel Hall, Quarry Hill, on 28 May 1903 by
Mr RE Sparks of Bath and both of them taught in the Sunday School there. The land for the hall was the bottom of the garden given by my maternal great grandmother, Charles Oatley's mother. My grandmother (Florence, sister of Charles Oatley) remembered that when she was a little girl and the walls were being built, she used to run around on the top of them. Health and Safety was not an issue in those days!
Ruth remained single and also lived at Townsend House. She became a private secretary and short-hand typist, who was recorded in 1939 as ARP Office Worker. She later worked for the Admiralty in Bath. Mary trained as a nurse and became a sister at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. She married a doctor, Jeffery Phillip, and had two children, Robert (Bob) Phillip and Margaret Phillip (now Morgan). Sydney married Doreen Long whose brother Rex and sister Edith farmed on land belonging to Hatt Farm.
I think they lived in a cottage belonging to the farm. Doreen had another sister (Vera?) who married a farmer and went to live in Urchfont. Sydney and Doreen had one son called Anthony (Tony) Dyer and they lived in Bath. Their house was completely destroyed during the Bath Blitz.
The Dyer children, Sydney, Joan, Ruth and Mary, attended Box School and later Chippenham Grammar School. As far as I know they mostly cycled to Chippenham but possibly used the train when the weather was bad.
Box Gospel Hall, Quarry Hill
Religion was a key part of my grandparent's lives. They were married at the Gospel Hall, Quarry Hill, on 28 May 1903 by
Mr RE Sparks of Bath and both of them taught in the Sunday School there. The land for the hall was the bottom of the garden given by my maternal great grandmother, Charles Oatley's mother. My grandmother (Florence, sister of Charles Oatley) remembered that when she was a little girl and the walls were being built, she used to run around on the top of them. Health and Safety was not an issue in those days!
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The Gospel Hall belonged to the Open Plymouth Brethren and the Dyer family were very involved in running it.
My grandfather, RJ Dyer, was responsible for arranging the preachers for Sunday evening services. They came from Bath, Calne, Corsham, Corshamside and Devizes and they and their families were always invited to have tea at Townsend House before the evening service and sometimes came for lunch as well. Some of the preachers cycled to Box or used the bus service. The Sunday morning service was referred to as The Breaking of Bread and was a very simple communion service. The Brethren did not have ministers but were led by elder leaders who were well versed in Bible study and prayer. Different men were allowed to announce a hymn, say a prayer, read a Bible passage and then break the bread which was shared amongst us together with the wine. My grandfather was responsible for giving the starting note for us to sing to, as the harmonium was not used on a Sunday morning. After my grandfather died, my aunt Ruth, gave the note and also played the harmonium for the evening services. Left: RJ Dyer and Florence in 1953 |
The chapel was very plain, with no cross being used, but there were a few posters on the walls with verses from the Bible. Infant baptism was not practised in the Brethren but when a candidate felt they understood what baptism meant, they were considered ready to take this step forward with baptism by total immersion. After baptism, the candidate would then be a member and allowed to take communion. Women were not allowed to take part in the services but had a weekly women's meeting where lady speakers were invited to come and give a talk. There was also a well-attended Sunday school, with a lot of children coming from prefabs that had been built between Box Hill and Rudloe, where a school was built for them, called Highlands School.
After my grandfather died, the Gospel Hall was supported by Bath Brethren but after some years was sold and became a dwelling house. My grandmother had died by this time and my mother, aunt Ruth and I then attended the Box Methodist Church. My aunt also used to play the organ there occasionally and played for my wedding to Robin in 1968. We have two children, Helen and Colin, who have now grown up and left home. Robin and I live in Devizes and after our marriage still visited Box regularly to see my mother, aunt Ruth and Robin's mother, who lived at Kingsdown.
Although my grandparents were very committed Christians, they never rammed religion down our throats but showed their faith by the way that they lived, showing help and encouragement to all in need. I think this must be why Townsend House was such a loving home to grow up in.
After my grandfather died, the Gospel Hall was supported by Bath Brethren but after some years was sold and became a dwelling house. My grandmother had died by this time and my mother, aunt Ruth and I then attended the Box Methodist Church. My aunt also used to play the organ there occasionally and played for my wedding to Robin in 1968. We have two children, Helen and Colin, who have now grown up and left home. Robin and I live in Devizes and after our marriage still visited Box regularly to see my mother, aunt Ruth and Robin's mother, who lived at Kingsdown.
Although my grandparents were very committed Christians, they never rammed religion down our throats but showed their faith by the way that they lived, showing help and encouragement to all in need. I think this must be why Townsend House was such a loving home to grow up in.
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Golden Wedding
RJ and Florence celebrated their golden wedding in 1953 which was prominently reported in the local newspapers, probably to the disapproval of such a reticent man.[5] They enjoyed a family luncheon party in Bath, then returned to Box for a tea party held in the Bingham Hall, then the village hall situated in Chapel Lane, Box, together with their wider family and friends. Right: Golden Wedding celebrations in 1953 showing RJ with grandchildren Tony Dyer, Bob Phillip and Margaret Phillip (now Morgan) |
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The guests included two of Florence's bridesmaids, Mrs Edith Lines of Manchester and Miss Isa Adye of Malmesbury but RJ's best man, brother Cecil, could not get back from Canada. The quote at the heading of this article came from the newspaper report of the golden wedding of these Most Respected Residents in the Village.[6]
On his death in September 1954 his work for the village was recorded as one of the village's most prominent residents and active workers.[7] He was a man of high integrity who was universally respected. His funeral was attended by eighty village notables, including most of the Parish Councillors and representatives of Box Churches, especially the congregation of the Gospel Hall. It was a fitting farewell for a very special man.
On his death in September 1954 his work for the village was recorded as one of the village's most prominent residents and active workers.[7] He was a man of high integrity who was universally respected. His funeral was attended by eighty village notables, including most of the Parish Councillors and representatives of Box Churches, especially the congregation of the Gospel Hall. It was a fitting farewell for a very special man.
Village Shops and Factories
I lived in Box from 1946 until 1958 which has left me with very many pleasant memories of the village. There were many more shops then providing a huge variety of goods and services.
In the Market Place, in a small room which was part of the Chequers public house, was Jim Hill the butcher and on the other side of the road was Bences, the grocers. On the same side of the road as Bences was Dykes Dairy where milk was either bought from their shop or delivered to us. When Dykes closed, milk was delivered from Gage's dairy at Bathford. By this time my grandfather had died, and my grandmother, aunt Ruth, my mother and I moved from Townsend House to a bungalow in The Ley, near Kingsmoor Children's Home, called Leyside. Milk was delivered each day from a milk van driven by a lady who always called into Leyside for an early morning cuppa.
In a front room of one of the cottages in the Market Place, a small sweet shop had become well-established selling interesting sweets for children, especially sherbet dips. Beyond there was a fish and chip shop and when this closed one of the banks would come every so often from Bath. Next again in the front room of a house, was a haberdashers, then a fresh fish and vegetable shop. Beyond the Methodist Church was a newsagent and sweet shop, Pontings another grocer, and the chemist shop. Opposite the chemist shop was Abrahams the butcher, Millers who sold vegetables and had a coach for hire. Next to Millers there was a shoe mender. When he closed another shoe mender came from Colerne collecting boots and shoes for repair and returning them some weeks later (at this time the RAF had an aerodrome at Colerne). Next to Mill Lane were the post office, newsagents and sweetshop, and just beyond there was the doctor's surgery. Box also had a hairdressers and police house.
There were three factories in Box. At the rubber factory on Quarry Hill tennis balls were manufactured at one time and any rejects were thrown out onto Quarry Hill for children to collect to play with. In the Market Place there was another factory producing tennis racquets and my first racquet came from there and was really quite good. In The Ley, opposite the entrance to Box Woods, was an ice cream factory. Box also had a baker, Ben Drew, who delivered his bread by horse and cart.
Favourite Local Walks
The longest walk my mother and I did was from Box to Colerne to visit farming relatives there by the name of Knight and one of them usually gave us a lift home afterwards.
Walking to Ditteridge was another favourite, then home via Middlehill (where there was another children's home for babies) and along the main road past the Northey Arms back into Box. We sometimes made a detour to the church before returning via the Recreation Field and back up to Mill Lane.
Occasionally we would walk to Kingsdown, starting off along The Ley, over Breakneck Stile. This was aptly named as it was a rickety wooden style at the top of some uneven stone steps which led to a narrow steep path with fields on either side (Ben Drew, the baker, kept his horse in one of these). The walk continued over a small bridge across a stream, before climbing another steep path leading us onto the Devizes road. This path came out next to Brownings' Garage, who also had coaches for hire. Crossing the Devizes road, we then climbed up Henley Lane, onto Totney Comer. On the way we sometimes called in to have a chat with
Molly Ford who kept cows and chickens on a small-holding near Kingsdown House. Molly also ran a small chapel constructed of corrugated iron near her home and my mother sometimes played the harmonium there for Sunday evening services. From Totney Corner we would cut across Kingsdown Golf Course, then on towards Hatt Farm before returning home via the Devizes Road and once more over Breakneck Stile.
From The Ley we could walk into Box Woods and the fields beyond. In one of the fields there was a strange concrete construction with a heavy metal door which was kept padlocked. It was always very wet around this construction and a constant swishing noise could be heard coming from inside. I think it must have had something to do with pumping water, but when I asked what the noise was, I was told that a very large mouse lived there and the noise I could hear was the mouse washing his whiskers! Afterwards this building was always known to me as The Mouse's House.
From Quarry Hill we could walk to a wood called The Beeches, back across fields and down Hazelbury Hill. This hill was directly opposite Townsend House and when reaching the top we had a choice of three different walks: To the left across a field and into The Beeches, to the right down through a wooded area which led to Wadswick Common, or straight ahead over a field to Hazelbury Manor. The first people I remember living at Hazelbury Manor were called Kidston. When they left, the manor became a finishing school for young ladies but this didn't last long. The next people I remember were Ian and Dinny Pollard who restored the gardens and opened them several times a year to the public. They were there for a number of years before moving to Abbey House, Malmesbury, where they again restored the gardens and opened them to the public.
The top of Hazelbury Hill was always quite damp. Here, in the autumn it was possible to find a rare fungus called the Crimson Elf Cup. This grew on rotting wood that had fallen onto mossy areas and had a very tiny bright red cup. We never collected this fungus but in the autumn could gather blackberries, hazelnuts and conkers. In the spring we could pick bunches of primroses, cowslips and bluebells. Sometimes we found wild orchids such as the common orchid, bee orchid and butterfly orchid. These we were never allowed to pick as again they were rare. In the summer there was jack-by-the-hedge, bachelors button, vetch, tom-thumbs, toadflax, violets (white and blue), birds eye speedwell, scarlet pimpernel and many more whose names I have now forgotten. Such pleasant memories of living in Box!
I lived in Box from 1946 until 1958 which has left me with very many pleasant memories of the village. There were many more shops then providing a huge variety of goods and services.
In the Market Place, in a small room which was part of the Chequers public house, was Jim Hill the butcher and on the other side of the road was Bences, the grocers. On the same side of the road as Bences was Dykes Dairy where milk was either bought from their shop or delivered to us. When Dykes closed, milk was delivered from Gage's dairy at Bathford. By this time my grandfather had died, and my grandmother, aunt Ruth, my mother and I moved from Townsend House to a bungalow in The Ley, near Kingsmoor Children's Home, called Leyside. Milk was delivered each day from a milk van driven by a lady who always called into Leyside for an early morning cuppa.
In a front room of one of the cottages in the Market Place, a small sweet shop had become well-established selling interesting sweets for children, especially sherbet dips. Beyond there was a fish and chip shop and when this closed one of the banks would come every so often from Bath. Next again in the front room of a house, was a haberdashers, then a fresh fish and vegetable shop. Beyond the Methodist Church was a newsagent and sweet shop, Pontings another grocer, and the chemist shop. Opposite the chemist shop was Abrahams the butcher, Millers who sold vegetables and had a coach for hire. Next to Millers there was a shoe mender. When he closed another shoe mender came from Colerne collecting boots and shoes for repair and returning them some weeks later (at this time the RAF had an aerodrome at Colerne). Next to Mill Lane were the post office, newsagents and sweetshop, and just beyond there was the doctor's surgery. Box also had a hairdressers and police house.
There were three factories in Box. At the rubber factory on Quarry Hill tennis balls were manufactured at one time and any rejects were thrown out onto Quarry Hill for children to collect to play with. In the Market Place there was another factory producing tennis racquets and my first racquet came from there and was really quite good. In The Ley, opposite the entrance to Box Woods, was an ice cream factory. Box also had a baker, Ben Drew, who delivered his bread by horse and cart.
Favourite Local Walks
The longest walk my mother and I did was from Box to Colerne to visit farming relatives there by the name of Knight and one of them usually gave us a lift home afterwards.
Walking to Ditteridge was another favourite, then home via Middlehill (where there was another children's home for babies) and along the main road past the Northey Arms back into Box. We sometimes made a detour to the church before returning via the Recreation Field and back up to Mill Lane.
Occasionally we would walk to Kingsdown, starting off along The Ley, over Breakneck Stile. This was aptly named as it was a rickety wooden style at the top of some uneven stone steps which led to a narrow steep path with fields on either side (Ben Drew, the baker, kept his horse in one of these). The walk continued over a small bridge across a stream, before climbing another steep path leading us onto the Devizes road. This path came out next to Brownings' Garage, who also had coaches for hire. Crossing the Devizes road, we then climbed up Henley Lane, onto Totney Comer. On the way we sometimes called in to have a chat with
Molly Ford who kept cows and chickens on a small-holding near Kingsdown House. Molly also ran a small chapel constructed of corrugated iron near her home and my mother sometimes played the harmonium there for Sunday evening services. From Totney Corner we would cut across Kingsdown Golf Course, then on towards Hatt Farm before returning home via the Devizes Road and once more over Breakneck Stile.
From The Ley we could walk into Box Woods and the fields beyond. In one of the fields there was a strange concrete construction with a heavy metal door which was kept padlocked. It was always very wet around this construction and a constant swishing noise could be heard coming from inside. I think it must have had something to do with pumping water, but when I asked what the noise was, I was told that a very large mouse lived there and the noise I could hear was the mouse washing his whiskers! Afterwards this building was always known to me as The Mouse's House.
From Quarry Hill we could walk to a wood called The Beeches, back across fields and down Hazelbury Hill. This hill was directly opposite Townsend House and when reaching the top we had a choice of three different walks: To the left across a field and into The Beeches, to the right down through a wooded area which led to Wadswick Common, or straight ahead over a field to Hazelbury Manor. The first people I remember living at Hazelbury Manor were called Kidston. When they left, the manor became a finishing school for young ladies but this didn't last long. The next people I remember were Ian and Dinny Pollard who restored the gardens and opened them several times a year to the public. They were there for a number of years before moving to Abbey House, Malmesbury, where they again restored the gardens and opened them to the public.
The top of Hazelbury Hill was always quite damp. Here, in the autumn it was possible to find a rare fungus called the Crimson Elf Cup. This grew on rotting wood that had fallen onto mossy areas and had a very tiny bright red cup. We never collected this fungus but in the autumn could gather blackberries, hazelnuts and conkers. In the spring we could pick bunches of primroses, cowslips and bluebells. Sometimes we found wild orchids such as the common orchid, bee orchid and butterfly orchid. These we were never allowed to pick as again they were rare. In the summer there was jack-by-the-hedge, bachelors button, vetch, tom-thumbs, toadflax, violets (white and blue), birds eye speedwell, scarlet pimpernel and many more whose names I have now forgotten. Such pleasant memories of living in Box!
Dyer Family Tree
Herbert Dyer (b 1851 at Stockton, Nr Warminster) married Charlotte (b 1854 at Orcheston on the Salisbury Plain, Wilts).
Children: Robert John (b 1878 at Waterloo, London; d 1954); Cecil H (b 1880)
Robert John (1878-1954) married in 1903 to Florence Oatley (1879 - 1995)
Children: Sydney Robert (1905-1972) married Doreen Long in 1932 and had one son, Anthony (Tony) Dyer. They lived in Bath;
Joan (b 1908) married Stanley Hill in New Zealand, who were my parents;
Ruth E (b 1910) was unmarried;
Mary was a sister at the RUH and married Dr Jeffery Phillip, and had two children, Robert (Bob) Phillip and Margaret Phillip (now Morgan).
Herbert Dyer (b 1851 at Stockton, Nr Warminster) married Charlotte (b 1854 at Orcheston on the Salisbury Plain, Wilts).
Children: Robert John (b 1878 at Waterloo, London; d 1954); Cecil H (b 1880)
Robert John (1878-1954) married in 1903 to Florence Oatley (1879 - 1995)
Children: Sydney Robert (1905-1972) married Doreen Long in 1932 and had one son, Anthony (Tony) Dyer. They lived in Bath;
Joan (b 1908) married Stanley Hill in New Zealand, who were my parents;
Ruth E (b 1910) was unmarried;
Mary was a sister at the RUH and married Dr Jeffery Phillip, and had two children, Robert (Bob) Phillip and Margaret Phillip (now Morgan).
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[2] David Ibberson, The Box Collection Vol 1, Christopher James Printers, p.14 and p.28
[3] See Jubilee Centre
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 8 May 1954
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 9 October 1954
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[2] David Ibberson, The Box Collection Vol 1, Christopher James Printers, p.14 and p.28
[3] See Jubilee Centre
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 8 May 1954
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[6] The Wiltshire Times, 30 May 1953
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 9 October 1954