Over the past three days I have been publishing the memories of Miss Lorna Dawes. Lorna was born on March 23, 1931, the daughter of Albert Dawes, an iron moulder, and his wife Mona Fanny Pinnock. Lorna lived in Tydeman Street all her life. I wished I had taken the opportunity to collect her memories of Gorse Hill.
Lorna’s maternal family originally came from Gloucestershire. Her grandparents, Emily Scales and Joseph Pinnock, married in St Mary’s Church, Tetbury on August 5, 1899. Joseph was a bricklayer, the son of Peter Pinnock, also a bricklayer. Emily was a dressmaker, the daughter of William and Anne Scales.
The couple began married life at 4 Haydon Terrace, Poulton Street where their first child was born. Victor Eric Pinnock was baptised at St. Barnabas Church, Gorse Hill. Their second son, Graham Joseph was baptised at St Mark’s on January 21, 1904. Mona Fanny (Lorna’s mother) was baptised at St John the Evangelist, Aylesbury Street (demolished in the 1950s). 111 Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill would be the Pinnock family home for more than 60 years.
Image of Beatrice Street taken around the time the Pinnock family moved into No. 111. Published courtesy of P.A. Williams and Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
Emily Pinnock died in November 1918 and is buried in Radnor Street Cemetery in grave plot C3541. In 1920 Joseph married Emily’s elder sister Mary Scales. The family continued to live at 111 Beatrice Street – Joseph, Mary, Anne Scales (Mary and Emily’s widowed mother) and the three children Victor, Graham and Mona. Anne Scales died in December 1926 and was buried with her daughter in grave plot C3541.
Joseph Pinnock died in 1959 and was buried on March 3 in grave plot C3541 with his first wife Emily and his mother-in-law. Mary Pinnock died in the Princess Margaret Hospital May 1965. She was 93 years old. Her personal estate was valued at £1,102 and probate was awarded to her two stepsons/nephews Victor and Graham. She was buried in the family plot with her husband, mother and sister. Sadly, there is no headstone to mark the spot.
You may also like to read:
Miss Lorna Dawes and a life ‘inside.’
Radnor Street Cemetery 
I find this blog a real treasure trove – thanks so much for the work. It may be just me but I cannot find an easy way to search t – so, for example, if I want to see if there is an article referring to a specific person or an area of Swindon – I cannot do so. Of course that does mean that I spend far more time browsing!
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Hi Ray – I am gradually adding the posts to category headings, which you will find at the top of the homepage and in the right hand sidebar. Lorna’s articles can be found in Women at Home and at Work. You can also click on the tags e.g. Rodbourne and that should take you to all the posts with a Rodbourne reference. I will try to add a search box into which you can put individual names. I am tinkering with the blog all the time! Thank you for your kind comment.
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Good of you to reply so promptly. Notice I didn’t offer to help! Although I would like to help with garden duties, clearance etc
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Hi Ray if you would like to private message me with your contact number on our Radnor Street Cemetery Facebook page I can put you in touch with Jon who coordinates the volunteers. Thank you for getting in touch.
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