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Gerald B. Gardner (1884-1964) revisited


The Exile

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Monica English and Gerald Gardner in the late 1940's to early 1950's

 

Monica English became part of Gerald Gardner's Brickett Wood coven in 1959.

 

But is is believed that they met a lot earlier than 1959.

 

 

 

I mentioned in the Monica English thread that while she was in the New Forest there was the possibility that she may have met Gerald Gardner in the New Forest. Monica English as Mrs. Peter Earle Barnes was listed as one of the Masters to the New Forest Beagles Hunt for the 1952 to 1953 season.

 

If Monica knew Robert English earlier, then she may have been to the New Forest earlier, since Robert English was living in the area since World War II to about 1948. Monica was also in the Women Auxiliary Air Force, but don't know yet where she was stationed. Robert English was in the R.A.F. in the Bomber Command. His first wife's family living in Burley in the New Forest from the 1920's to early 1950's.

 

Most people know that Gerald Gardner was in Highcliffe, Hampshire which is just below the New Forest from about 1939 to 1945. After that he was living in London. But because of his closeness to Edith Woodford-Grimes, Gerald Gardner visited Highcliffe sometimes in the 1945 to 1950's period.

 

 

 

 

The following Passenger list shows:

 

 

Gerald Gardner was listed as living at Avenue Cottage 22, Avenue Rd. Highcliffe, Hampshire.

 

 

Mr. G. B. Gardner, age 66, and Mrs. E. Gardner, age 63, that were on a ship, "R.M.S. Orion", they boarded the ship at Gibraltar and arrived at Liverpool on March 5, 1951.

 

 

 

From the passenger list of the ship R. M. S. Orion, March 5, 1951:

 

Name of Ship ......................................................................... R. M. S. "Orion"

Port of Arrival......................................................................... Tilbury

Date of Arrival ..................................................................... 5th March 1951

Steamship Line ..................................................................... Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

Whence Arrived .................................................................... Sydney via Columbo & Suez

Port of Embarkation ............................................................ Gibraltar

Port at which Passengers have been landed ........................ Tilbury

 

Number .................................................................................505

Name .................................................................................... Gardner Mr G B

Class ...................................................................................... First

Age ....................................................................................... 66

Proposed Address in the United Kingdom. ........................ Avenue Cott. 22, Avenue Rd. Highecliffe, Hants

Profession, Occupation .... .................................................. Retired

Country of last Permanent Residence. ................................ England

Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence. ........... England

 

Number .................................................................................506

Name .................................................................................... Gardner Mrs E

Class ...................................................................................... First

Age ....................................................................................... 63

Proposed Address in the United Kingdom. ........................ - do -

Profession, Occupation .... .................................................. H D

Country of last Permanent Residence. ................................ England

Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence. ........... England

 

 

 

Image of Passenger List:

 

Gardner-Woodford-Grimes-1951-March-Passenger-List-Image-7-1b.jpg

 

 

 

Note that the wife is listed as "Mrs. E. Gardner". This is not his wife Dorothea.

 

 

This is Edith Woodford-Grimes.

 

 

The passenger list of March 5, 1951 has her age as 63. That would put her birth year ca. 1887 or 1888 depending if she had the birthday for that year before, on, or after March 5th.

 

Edith Woodford-Grimes (born Edith Rose Wray) was born on December 18, 1887. Which fits perfect with the lady on the passenger list as she will turn 64 on December 18, 1951.

 

Dorothea Gardner was born on August 24 1893 and she would only be 57 in March 5, 1951, so she is clearly not the woman age 63 in the list.

 

 

 

And from the British Phone Books, Edith Woodford-Grimes was listed at the Avenue Cottage address in Highcliffe for many years.

 

 

From the British Phone Books for 1951:

 

1951, Image No. 528

 

Page 200

 

Woodford-Grimes Mrs. E, Avenue cottage ……………………………….…………. Highcliffe 75

 

 

 

 

 

Don't know the nature of their trip or where they were before they boarded the ship at Gibraltar. Were they secretly married ?

 

 

 

But back to the original point, even that Gerald Gardner was living in London, he made trips back to Highcliffe and perhaps lived there part time with Edith Woodford-Grimes.

 

 

And perhaps Gerald Gardner met Monica English (with her previous married name) in the New Forest or Highcliffe.

 

 

 

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Edited by The Exile
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