Thomas Mackereth
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About this time Tom started work as a gardener, then in 1936 he enlisted into the RASC.
Ian remembers:
"I was told that he had to leave home because his mother couldn't afford a family home. I assume that this meant that she couldn't afford to rent a home for two.
"Certainly when I was young, she was poor and lived in what I assume was a farm labourer's accommodation, above a barn cum store space. This was next to the river Wharf in Boston Spa. Every year the river would flood the lower portion.
"My memory, as a 5 year old, was of a living room which was very dark. Granny Calvert cooked on a coal fire with a side oven. All I remember of her cooking was batter puddings cooked in sardine tins!"
"I was told that he had to leave home because his mother couldn't afford a family home. I assume that this meant that she couldn't afford to rent a home for two.
"Certainly when I was young, she was poor and lived in what I assume was a farm labourer's accommodation, above a barn cum store space. This was next to the river Wharf in Boston Spa. Every year the river would flood the lower portion.
"My memory, as a 5 year old, was of a living room which was very dark. Granny Calvert cooked on a coal fire with a side oven. All I remember of her cooking was batter puddings cooked in sardine tins!"
Tom and Madge's wedding
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Madge and Tom in 1953
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As part of his training Tom attended a course in Darley Dale, Derbyshire; there he met Madge Chadbourne who he married, on 27 July 1940, at the Methodist Church, in Mansfield, Notts.
During the war he served in North Africa and Palestine. After demob he worked for the Post Office, in Mansfield, and later became a salesman/collector for various local companies.
Madge and Tom had 2 children: Thomas Colin, born in October 1942, and Ian Malcolm, born in July 1949.
During the war he served in North Africa and Palestine. After demob he worked for the Post Office, in Mansfield, and later became a salesman/collector for various local companies.
Madge and Tom had 2 children: Thomas Colin, born in October 1942, and Ian Malcolm, born in July 1949.
"He was an avid gardener, not of flowers but of vegetables. He would garden day or night, rain or shine.
"He devoutly disagreed with the use of chemicals. As a consequence he collected anything compostable, from leaves to flock beds!. The result was the biggest compost heap in the area.
"I would often return home from school to find the gate barricaded by a lorry load of manure which needed shifting down the garden!"
"He devoutly disagreed with the use of chemicals. As a consequence he collected anything compostable, from leaves to flock beds!. The result was the biggest compost heap in the area.
"I would often return home from school to find the gate barricaded by a lorry load of manure which needed shifting down the garden!"
Tom developed a blood disease, polycythemia vera, which eventually developed into acute leukemia. He died on 3 June 1981 in Mansfield General Hospital.
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Madge lived at her home in Rainworth for several years and then moved into a home in Mansfield Woodhouse. Here, she met Albert and 'remarried'.
She died in December 1988 and Albert died in 1989; they had a few happy years together. |
Madge and Albert
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The parentheses are due to the fact that Albert was a Roman Catholic whilst Madge was brought up as a Primitive Methodist. In fact the service wa a 'Blessing of Rings'
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