Page 77 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

James Julian was known as ‘Jim’. He was the eldest of four children born to
James Julian Howell Fibbens (1862-1945) and Lucy Maria Cookoo (1867-
1956). ‘Jim’s’ father was a ‘Bricklayer’, who lived for most of his life in
Greater London.

He was captured in the 1891 Census, living with his parents at 62 Mayall
Road, East Brixton. Ten years later, he was recorded as a 10 year-old boy
living with his parents and siblings at 21 Hurst Street, Lambeth.

In the 1911 Census, ‘Jim’ was working as a ‘Canteen Waiter’, living with his
parents and siblings at 68 Wellfield Road, Streatham. Wellfield Road was
also the home of John and Emily Blaker, Mary Ann Blaker’s parents. It is
assumed that this proximity was key to ‘Jim’ and ‘Polly’ first meeting.

In 1914, ‘Polly’ and ‘Jim’ were married in Streatham. At the time of their
marriage, ‘Jim’ was working as a ‘Tram Conductor’, whilst ‘Polly’ was
working as a ‘Domestic Servant’.

6.23.5.2 Mary Ann Blaker and James Julian Fibbens
After their marriage, ‘Polly’ and ‘Jim’ lived at 66 Wellfield Road,
Streatham.

On 1 June 1915, just 11 months after his marriage, ‘Jim’ enlisted into the
Suffolk Regiment; Regimental Number: 20467. He served in the rank of
‘Private Infantry Man’ in France between 16 December 1915 and 9
December 1917. During his time in France, ‘Jim’ attended the Lahore
Military Hospital, Calais, and was treated for severe varicose veins in both
legs, coupled with nervous disability. He was discharged from the Army
on 17 January 1919, and returned to his home in Streatham, where he
found work as a ‘Tram Conductor’.

‘Polly’ and ‘Jim’ had two children:
• James Julian: b. 21 July 1920, 94 Elm Park, Brixton Hill,
Greater London
• Sylvia Joan: b. 20 December 1926, 45 Wingford Road,
Clapham, London

By 1935, ‘Polly’ Fibbens and husband were living at at 84a Kingswood
Road, together with ‘Polly’s’ mother, Emily Blaker. Emily died at this
address in January 1938.

As described in Section XXX, over a period of at least 12 years, from 1948,
‘Polly’ and ‘Jim’ lived in the same house in Holmewood Gardens,
Streatham, as her sister ‘Maude’ and her husband, Cecil Gardner.
Holmewood Gardens was something of a Blaker enclave, in that ‘Beatie’

Joy, and her husband, ‘Jim’, also lived in the same road, just across the
leafy green from the Fibbens/Gardner household.