William John Whiting 1903-1977

Parents:       William Whiting and Hannah Claydon (1,2)

Born:             6th May 1903 in the Risbridge district (1,3, 5)

Baptised:     ?

Married:        Lily Oliver, 28, spinster, schoolteacher of 13 Diamond Terrace, Durham Road, Tudhoe Grange, Tudhoe, Durham, daughter of William Oliver, engine driver, deceased, on 2nd November 1929 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at Tudhoe Grange, Tudhoe, Durham. Witnessed by Stephen Hewitt and Gladys Whiting. (2)

Children:      William Brian Whiting b. 19th Dec 1930(3), Living Relative

Died:             1977 in Northampton (5)

Bio:               William John Whiting was born in 1903, the son of William Whiting and Hannah Claydon (1). Sadly, his father died when he was only six and he was brought up by his mother in Haverhill along with his younger sister Gladys. 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.

On the 1921 census, William can be seen still living with his widowed mother at 15 Croft Row, Haverhill. He was working as an outfitter's shop assistant for a tailor and outfitters in Haverhill High Street, and his mother was working at the same place as a tailoress.

William was 24 and working as a boot retailer's branch manager and living at 113 Craddock Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, when he married Lily Oliver, a schoolteacher of Tudhoe on 2nd November 1929 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at Tudhoe Grange (2).

'...The wedding took place on Saturday at the Wesleyan Church, Spennymoor, of Mr William J Whiting, only son of Mrs and the late Mr Whiting, of Haverhill, Suffolk, to Miss Lily Oliver, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr Oliver, of Spennymoor. The Rev. W. Henderson officiated at the ceremony, and the bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law, wore a dress of powder blue georgette, with hat and shoes to match. She carried a bouquet of lilies and was attended by the Misses Gladys Whiting (sister of the bride-groom) and Flora Parkin (friend of the bride) as bridesmaids... the best man was Mr Stephen Hewitt (friend of the bridegroom) and the groomsman was Mr William Oliver (brother of the bride). Both the bride and bride-groom are well known in the Spennymoor district. Mr Whiting is very prominent in musical circles, and has been a member of the Wesleyan Church since he came to Spennymoor. He is a singer of ability, and is choir leader at the Wesleyan Church. Mr Whiting is manager of the Spennymoor branch of the Public Benefit Boot Company, and his bride was for some time on the teaching staff of the Upper Church Street Schools, Spennymoor. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents at 13, Diamond Terrace, Durham Road, Spennymoor. Later Mr and Mrs Whiting left for London, where the honeymoon is being spent.'
(from the South West Suffolk Echo, 16th November 1929, featuring an article from the Auckland and County Chronicle of 7th November)

William and Lily had a son William Brian Whiting born on 19th December 1930 in Newcastle.

William gave his sister Gladys away at her wedding to William Hammond in 1933, and at the time he was said to be living in Sunderland.

At the time of the 1939 Register, William and Lily were living at 120 Park Avenue, Northampton, and William was working as an company inspector for a boot trade retailer. Lily was no longer working as a teacher, and they had two children by now.

William died aged 74 in 1977 in Northampton (5).

Lily Whiting died at Avenue Lodge Residential Nursing Home, 2 The Avenue, Spinney Hill, Northampton, on 11th November 1986 (4). 

Marriage Certificate at top of page courtesy of the GRO. © Crown Copyright.

Sources:      

(1) Birth Register. 2nd Quarter 1903, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 923
(2) Marriage Register. 4th Quarter 1929, Durham District, Volume 10a Page 821
(3) 1939 Register. 120 Park Avenue, Northampton. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6098G. Ancestry.co.uk
(4) England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1995 for Lily Whiting, Ancestry.co.uk
(5) Death Register. 3rd Quarter 1977, Northampton District, Volume 7 Page 2312