May Fowler, 1905 - 1994

May was born on January 5 1904, at 107 Manvers Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. One of seven children and daughter of James and Eliza Fowler. James was a painter, employed by the local railway company to paint bridges. Little is known of May's early life but she grew up and attended school in Sneinton and had a very elementary education. Life wasn't easy for May's family as her father died when May was very young.

Manvers Street, Sneinton, Nottingham

In March 1923, at the age of 18, she married William Croome a miner and they lived together at 28 Davidson Street, Colwick. Around this time we know she worked as a barmaid in the Old Moot Hall in Nottingham Market Square (her brother Harry and sister Clara also worked here when it was bombed during the war).

Moot Hall from the Market Square, Nottingham

It was while she lived at Davidson Street that May left here husband for Bill Drury, eventually divorcing William Croome. May and Bill lived for a short time in Hutton Street and after the birth of their first child they moved to Croyden. The move south may have been an attempt to avoid thge scandal of the divorce which was a rare occurance in 1920's Nottingham. Alternatively it may simply have been a bid for Bill to find work during the Depression. Whilst in Croydon Bill worked as an electrician and May found work as a domestic in the flyers hostel at Croydon Aerodrome. May and Bill were married in Staines Register Office in 1930.

The family eventually returned to Nottingham to Overdale Road in Sneinton staying with members of the Fowler family. In 1936 they moved to their new council house in Deepdene Way and remained there most of their lives. May and William had four children Mavis, Sheila, and twins June and Jean. Sadly Sheila died at a very young age.

Mavis	Sheila	Jean
		June

After returning to Nottingham May worked at CS Wardle's, Nottingham as a semptress. Her eldest daughter Mavis joining her there fora time on leaving school ad they worked there together until 1950.

CS Wardles Ltd, Castle Boulevard

May died in Nottingham in April 1994, aged 79.

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Email us at k.noble@coventry.ac.uk
June 17, 2009