Aunt of W.P. 'Bill'
Richardson
The second child of John Edward Gilliland and Ada Isabel Lee, Rena was
born on 21st January 1903. Her birth was registered in the Auckland
Registration District of County Durham.
She was counted on the 1911 census as aged 8 at the family home in
Sunniside, Tow Law, Co. Durham and was listed as being at school as
were her sisters Vera (9) and Gladys (5). Her younger brother John was 4
and baby Ada was 5 months old. Their Dad, John Edward was 33 and working
as a hewer in the pit, Mam, Ada, was 32.
Rena attended Chester le Street Secondary School and the Prize Giving
Programme of 1918 shows that she attained examination success of 2nd
class honours at Senior Oxford Local Examinations, she was also awarded a
distinction in English.
On 5th August 1933, Rena married Albert Edward (Ted) Massey at Durham
Road Methodist Church, Chester le Street. Rena was 30 and her occupation
was recorded as School Teacher. Ted was 31 and he worked as an Assistant
Secretary at a Printing Works.Their witnesses were W.P. Richardson and
Ada Gilliland. The wedding cards they sent out showed the date of their
wedding and that they had set up home at Milton House, Priory Road, Sale,
Manchester.
In 1937 Rena and Ted had a son, Gerald.
Rena died on the 12th November 1983, her death was registered in the
Leeds registration district. Her cremation took place at Lawns Wood
Crematorium, her cremated remains were strewn in an area of the grounds
which is known as Woodland Glade 1 Path 1 - No: 1123.
|
