Husband of W.P. 'Bill'
Richardson's Aunt, Rena
Gilliland
Albert Edward
Massey was born on 29th March 1902 in Chorlton, a part
of Manchester. He was known as Ted. His parents were
Richard and Susan Massey and in the 1901 census they
were shown as having two children, Sarah, aged 2, and
Alfred, aged 1.
In the 1911 census, Richard and his two sons, Alfred and
Ted, are shown as boarders. An extensive search has
revealed no definite trace of either his wife or his
daughter.
From later evidence, we know that Ted was joined by a
sister Hilda but know nothing else for sure about his
family or his early years in the Manchester area.
In due course, Ted took up work as a printer and for
firms of printers. It seems likely that it was his work
which took him away from Manchester and up to County
Durham where he met and courted Rena Gilliland. There
are many photographs dating from around 1930 which show
him with the Gillilands and their friends. The romance
blossomed and on August 5th 1933, Ted and Rena were
married. The marriage took place at the Durham Road
Methodist Chapel in Chester-le-Street (where Rena's
sister Gladys was married in 1929 and her youngest
sister, Ada, would marry some 18 months later). The
marriage certificate shows Ted's occupation as
'Assistant Secretary (Printing Works)‘ and his address
is given as, 2 Union Street, Greenhays, Manchester. The
witnesses were W. P. Richardson and Ada Gilliland! A
wedding card shows that the couple were going to live at
Milton House, Priory Road, Sale, Manchester. The
newspaper cutting of the wedding identifies, among
others, Hilda Massey.
In 1937, their son Gerald was born. Ted's work caused
several moves. During the war, he was in Bristol and for
a time, Rena and Gerald lived with her parents in
Sunniside. These must have been difficult times.
At some point after the war, the family moved for the
last time. They took up residence at 3 Moss Gardens,
Allwoodley in Leeds. This was a good place for Ted to
pursue his interest in rugby and associated social
activities.
Ted died on November 19th, 1976 and was cremated at
Lawns Wood Crematorium where his ashes were spread.
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