Gladys Annie Whiting 1907-1980

Parents: William Whiting and Hannah Claydon (1,2)
Born: 29th August 1907 in the Risbridge district (1,3)
Baptised: ?
Married: William Edward Hammond in 3rd Quarter 1933 at the West End Congregational Church, Haverhill (2).
Children: David John Hammond b. 3 Feb 1945 (6,7)
Died: 2nd January 1980 in Haverhill. (3)

Bio: Gladys Annie Whiting was born in 1907, the daughter of William Whiting and Hannah Claydon (1). Her father died when she was just two years old and she was brought up by her mother in Haverhill along with her older brother William. On the 1911 census they can be seen at 16 Union Square living with their grandmother Maria Claydon, who was a widow just like their mother.

It seems likely that she was the Gladys A Whiting who married William E Hammond in 1933 at the West End Congregational Church, Haverhill. William Edward Hammond was born on 1st November 1906 in Haverhill (4), the son of William Hammond, a grocers porter, and Fanny Louisa Sizer.

The 1939 Register shows Gladys and William living at 17 Wratting Road, Haverhill(5). William is a bread baker, and also at this address is Gladys' mother Hannah, 76, who is working as a tailoress.

Gladys and William had one son, David John Hammond, who was born on 3rd February 1945 (6)

Gladys Annie Hammond died aged 72 on 2nd January 1980 in Haverhill. Her obituary appeared in the Haverhill Echo of 24th January 1980, and reveals she was a talented singer and had a close connection with the West End Church in Haverhill:
"MRS G. HAMMOND.
The West End Church, Haverhill, was well filled on January 11 by many friends, including a large number from the West End Church, for the funeral of Mrs Gladys Annie Hammond, who died at her home on January 2 at the age of 72.
Mrs Hammond was born in Haverhill, daughter of the late William and Hannah Whiting. Her only brother William died two years ago.
The family had always had close association with the West End Church, and Mrs Hammond had been attending since her childhood days. From the Sunday school she went into the church choir at the age of 15 and it was soon evident that she had an outstanding soprano voice. As time went on, singing became a very important part of her life with her becoming a member of the original Choral Union and one of its principal soloists.
Before and after her marriage to Mr W. Hammond in 1933, she and he were members of the Jade Jesters Concert Party, a group of singers formed within the West End Church which provided splendid entertainment for the public and especially for Servicemen during the war years.
Her singing in the church choir continued until her illness in 1975, a period of 53 years, and in addition to that she was treasurer of the Women's Guild, known as the Tuesday Meeting from the time it was formed in 1936 to the time of her death.
Mrs Hammond rendered invaluable service to the West End Church and to the town and the surrounding area as an outstanding singer, and she will be greatly missed. Her only son David has carried on the family musical tradition and now holds the position of organist and choirmaster in the West End Church"

William Hammond died in 1991 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.(8)

Thanks to John Orchard for pointing out Gladys' likely marriage/death details, and Judy Stratford for the obituary from the Haverhill Echo.

Sources:

(1) Birth Register. 4th Quarter 1907, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 863
(2) Marriage Register. 3rd Quarter 1933, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 2741
(3) Death Register. March 1980, Newmarket, Cambridge, Volume 10 Page 3061
(4) Birth Register. 4th Quarter 1907, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 891
(5) 1939 Register. Ref: RG101/6661B/003/32, Findmypast.co.uk
(6) Birth Register. 1st Quarter 1945, Newmarket District, Volume 4a Page 1394
(7) Death Register. David John Hammond. 9 Jun 2007, Haverhill, aged 62. Greypower Deceased Data; Compiled By Wilmington Millennium; West Yorkshire, England; England and Wales Death Indexes. Ancestry.co.uk
(8) Death Register. 4th Quarter 1991, Bury St Edmunds District, Volume 10 Page 2537