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A
Lievesley Story
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William Brammer
Lievesley 1885 - 1975 and
Olive Eaton 1891- 1983 |
| William was born into a large
family the same year as
General
Gordon was killed in Khartoum . At the began his working carer he
started as an apprentice carpenter, but the saw
dust caused him significant eye problems ( We know he was this job in
1901). With the aid of evening
classes he learnt how to be a cashier & clerk, which is the job he
retained for the rest of his working life. To demonstrate he was no
slouch at figures he would (& being Will, an unassuming man) quietly
add columns of pound, shillings & pence up in one go without
transferring from pence to shillings & then to pounds. Will lived at 11 Prospect Road Old Whittington CHESTERFIELD. Olive was born in Alfeton, Derbyshire but at the time of the 1901 census she was 10 & lived in Prospect Road ( Will was 13 & at work as an apprentice) so it is highly likely they met there. Olive moved with her parents to 59 Moira Street LEICESTER, probably after her father lost his job as an Iron Moulder for his trade union activities. The last strike he was involved in was to maintain training standards. Olive was a trained Milliner . In her later years talked about seeing her first plane, car & how the roads were tarmaced . At the time of their marriage Will was a coal mine clerk presumably living in digs at The Plantation KILLAMARSH. They were married on 20th June 1914 at United Methodist Church & Lecture Hall Harrison Road LEICESTER . |
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At the time of writing the story of where they lived after marrying is unclear but at some point they moved back to Chesterfield & eventually moved into a house on Newbold Road (on the corner of Newbold Road & Newbold Drive) before WW2. We know the war was spent there as we have memories of Olive pointing out the Anderson shelter in the back garden, not to mention the ongoing ritual of the morning cup of tea with her neighbours Mrs Booker & Mrs Hardy. On his retirement Will was working as cashier at the Staveley depot of the Stanton & Staveley Steel works. He was follower of Chesterfield Football Club, a keen Cricketer & they both belonged to a tennis club. After his retirement he worked on the gates at Chesterfield Football Club & The County Cricket Ground. Olive was a leading light in Chesterfields Town's Women's Guild. Underpinning their life was a strong tie to the local Methodist Church, & they did not smoke or drink. Apparently this was not uncommon at this time as a rebound from the not uncommon sight of excessive drinking in Victorian times. How much this was Wills natural bent or Olives upbringing is not known. |
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In the late 50's/ early 60's they had a smaller
house built in their back garden with the house facing onto
Newbold
Drive. Except for a short time when they
moved to the South Coast, Olive lived there until after Will's death. Will died in his sleep a few days after his
grandson Ian's wedding. Shortly afterwards Olive was
persuaded to move to the Methodist Home at
Moreton13 Drakes Avenue Exmouth until she died after of a stroke
in 1983
Like many marriages theirs was a partnership of different personalities. Will was a quiet, shy, gentle man. Olive was of strong mind & opinions, but with a charitable streak. However it takes a quite man to get away with his wife thinking for 60 years, that a joint bank account meant they could both put money into the bank but only he could take it out. 1974 - All Mr Lievesley - ? / Neil / Andrew /William B / Ian / ? >> |
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Will 1930 |
Olive and first great grandchild. |
 Olive with Grandsons Ian & Andrew1949 |
 The 'Old' House Newbold Road |
 Diamond wedding Aniv. 1974 |
 New House Newbold Drive |
 All Mrs Lievesley's .... by marriage 1974 |
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Footnote...In their later years Will & Olive talked about taking the car and 'Going for a run to the top of Grange' .... Last year I revisited 'The top of Grange'... even on a gloomy winters day it seemed a good idea. |
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