Lionel and Ann Pearce 1932

Lorna Ascoli age 6

Lionel, Lorna and Anne
Kimmeridge, Dorset, June 1932

Outside the Post Office at Kimmeridge, Dorset, is Lionel Pearce, Lorna Ascoli (age 6) and Ann Pearce.

Shirley, who is Lionel and Ann’s daughter but not born in 1932, sent this photo to Lorna with a note “Do you remember this holiday?” I asked her the question and she replied, with enthusiam, “Oh, I do.” She loved the memory of the holiday.

Lionel worked for WD Williams in St Paul’s Churchyard as a representative and had a car.  Ann and Grandma worked there, too. Uncle Lionel and Auntie Ann (Grandma’s sister) rented a coastal cottage which Mum remembers had three outside loos, one for each cottage. She recalled the beach having enormous slabs of stone, rather than sand,  and finding sea anemones. Her doll, in the photograph, was called Poppy and Lionel and Ann’s black dog had the same name as the one The Dambusters (different times.)

She was on this holiday because her own father had died. To her, Uncle Lionel and Auntie Ann were “the example of a married couple I didn’t have.”

For a modern view of this building see Geograph [ opens in a new tab].

Lionel Pearce and Ann Pearce

Kimmeridge, Dorset, June 1932

A St Columba Wedding

I have this press-cutting (no date, but probably 1930) which reports the wedding of Lionel Pearce and Ann Ramsay.

Wedding report Lionel and Ann

Glorious sunchine, seeking its way into the interior of St Columba Presbyterian Church, Prospect Hill, Walthamstow, gave an additonal touch of brilliance to the charming wedding of Miss Annie Carnie Ramsey, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Ramsay of 64, Marten Road, Walthamstow, and Mr Lionel Henry Pearce, eldest son of Mr Harry Pearce of Fareham, near Portsmouth. The Rev F J Smithen, who solmenised the marriage, was in happy mood in congratulating the happy couple, and advising them as to the conduct of their future career. He spoke highly of the bride, whose seven years service in the Church, both as gymnasium Instructress and Sunday School teacher, was greatly appreciated. A large congregation joined heartily in the singing of two well chosen hymns, “Love devine, all joy excelling” and “In the cross of Christ I glory” whilst Mr Harold Greenhill FRCO was in most expressive mood at the organ.

The bride wore a white suede georgette gown, with headdress of orange blossom and lily of the valley. She carried a bouquet of cream roses and white heather. Attending were two of the bride’s sisters, Miss Jessie Ramsay, chief bridesmaid, and Mrs Margaret Ascoli, dame of honour, together with Miss Lorna Ascoli, the five-year-old daughter of the latter. The two sisters who carried bouquets of peach carnations and white heather, were charmingly attired in peach suede georgette dresses with coatees. The head-dresses of eau-de-nil silk net and peach forget-me-nots, eau-de-nil. court shoes and necklace (the latter gift of the bridegroom), afforded a pleasing relief, whilst Lorna presented a lovely contrast in an ankle length dress of eau-de-nil georgette trimmed with peach and eau-de-nil ribbons, and headdress of same. Peach silk socks, silver shoes, and the bridegroom’s gift, a gold bracelet, completed a pretty picture. Lorna’s posey was of cream roses and white heather. Mr Richard Hull was an efficient best man.

A loyal touch was provided by the girls of the gymnasium club, who, with their gym wands formed a guard of honour for the bridal couple. The reception was held at the residence of the bride’s parents, after which the newly weds drove away for their honeymoon.

There is a photograph of the St Columba church, now demolished, on facebook Wathamstow in Photos. [opens in a new tab]

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