Page 79 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

6.23.6.2 Emma Maude Blaker and Cecil Maurice Gardner
It is understood that ‘Maude’ and Cecil initially lived in Wellfield Road,
Streatham. ‘Maude’ and Cecil had two children:
• Cecil John: b. 1913, Streatham, Surrey
• Beatrice Alice: b. 1914, Streatham, Surrey

On 17 March 1915, Cecil enlisted with the Mechanical Transport Army
Service Corps. At the time of his enlistment he attested that 4 shillings
should be taken from his pay on a daily basis and paid to his wife. Private
Gardner (Regimental No. M2/053713) was serving in France just 8 days
after his enlistment.

Based upon absent voters’ lists in the electoral registers for 1918, we
know that Cecil’s home was recorded as 4 Valley Road, Streatham. He was
discharged from Army service on 27 July 1919 and returned to civilian
life. His wife, ‘Maude’, had brought up their 2 children in his absence.

In the 1948, 1951, 1958 and 1960 London Electoral Registers, ‘Maude’
and Cecil were listed sharing accommodation with ‘Polly’ and ‘Jim’

Fibbens at 80 Holmewood Gardens, Streatham. This was the same road
where ‘Maude’ and ‘Polly’s’ sister, ‘Beatie’, was living with her husband,
‘Jim’ Joy (at number 48). Thus, three sisters were living in close proximity
with each other, over a period of at least 12 years – must have been
impossible to keep any family secrets!

80 Holmewood Gardens, Streatham: Contemporary View

Location of Holmewood Gardens, Streatham

Cecil died in Thanet, Kent in 1968, leaving ‘Maude’ as a widow. She
survived her husband by some 11 years and died in Lambeth in 1978. Her
death certificate gives the cause of death as: Ischaemic Heart Disease;
Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus’. Her son, Cecil John Gardner was the
informant for ‘Maude’s’ death.

6.23.7 Beatrice Alice Blaker (1895-1975)
Born: 16 October 1895, Norwood, London
Married: 25 December 1919, aged 24 years, married James Joy; St.
Leonard’s Church, Streatham
Died: 18 January 1975, aged 79 years; Putney Hospital, Putney, London

Curiously, no direct record has been found of the registration of Beatrice’s
birth. The earliest records that have emerged to date relate to her
schooling at Salter’s Hill and Eardley Road Schools. Based upon these
records and her death certificate, an estimated date of birth is 16 October
1895.