Gladys Constance BAKER [2043]

  General Notes:

Steve Purkis writes - 2021
Gladys Constance Baker, was the eldest child, born on 9 Oct 1901 in 49 Walter Street and baptized soon after in St Francis Church, Ashton on 15 Nov. She first worked as a maid and later she worked alongside her sister Lily in a cafe in Southampton. She also worked in the Wills tobacco Factory and got her hair caught in a machine. She met the author and commercial historian, Edward George Downing Liveing MA, whilst working in Carwardines.

They had gone out in his car one day and it had broken down. They had no choice but to stay overnight in a hotel and shared a bedroom. When his family found out they insisted that they should be ashamed and so should be married They wed in St James, Winscombe on 12 Apr 1923 and had one daughter Jennifer who was born 19 Jan 1932.
Even so, his family did not like him marrying below his station and eventually stopped talking to Gladys which meant the Liveing side did not see Jenny. It must have been difficult for Gladys, she had tried to get rid of her Bristolian accent and to learn to entertain and cook suitably for her new family but all in vain.
Gladys and Edward Liveing Gladys was staying with the Brown family on 14 Queens Parade at the time of the 1939 register.

Gladys may have suffered from tuberculosis and had troubles with alcoholism in later years due to unhappiness in her marriage. She separated from her husband, who had several mistresses and who later lived with a German lady.
Gladys lived with her sister, Lily, for a time whilst she worked at Long Ashton Country Club. She died in 1960. Jenny was quite close to the Brown family while she was growing up. Her mother lived with Bill and Lily Brown for a time while she was recovering from one of her problems.
Nanny stayed quite close to Jenny after her sister's death in 1960 and would see her every few months and then my Mum did the same after Nanny's death.

Gladys C Liveing aged 34 arrived Port of Plymouth ENG from Lourenco Marques Mozambique, 18 Mar 1935. Ships name City of Ngapur
Ancestry.com

Mrs G Liveing born 1902, left on the City of Ngapur, in 1935, on a "round voyage" London to South Africa and back. The manifest records her address as 9 Addison Tce, Victoria Park, Manchester
Ref: findmypast 2011

Liveing Mrs G C 347A Upper Richmond rd SW15 Putney 6115
Ancestry: London Phone Book 1935/36/37/38

1939 Register
14 Queens Parade , Bristol C.B., Gloucestershire, England
Gladys C Liveing aged 44 was recorded as being at the Watts Houshold She is listed as married occupation unpaid domestic duties.

  Other Records

1. Gladys Constance Baker: Images from her life.
Gladys as a young woman,1932 with her sister Anne (left) and Annes's niece Marguerite and Gladys infant Jenny in her arms, Gladys with her niece Marguerite Brown and nephew Peter Brown.

Gladys married Edward George Downing LIVEING [457] [MRIN: 131], son of Rev Henry George Downing LIVEING [447] and Margaret RANDS [448], on 12 Apr 1923 in St James Winscombe. (Edward George Downing LIVEING [457] was born on 24 Mar 1895 in Romsey HAM, died on 31 Jan 1963 in London and was buried in Stoke By Nayland SFK.)