Week 2 - Favourite Photo - Lilian Rowell

This is a photo of my dad, George Sanderson, with his parents George Sanderson and Lilian (nee Rowell). I am giving an overview of Lilians life:

Lilian was born to parents Frederick William Rowell and Jane Elizabeth Bonsor, 11 Mar 1899 at 41 Derby St, Middlesbrough.  She was the 2nd born daughter of 13 children.

In 1901, at the age of 2, she was living with her parents and 2 siblings at 26 Theodore St.

10 years later In 1911 at the age of 11, she was living with her parents and 6 siblings at 46 Theodore St. She had witnessed her mother losing 2 of her children during infancy and no doubt was often left in charge of many of her other siblings at these difficult times. Anne (aka Nancy) her eldest sister was said to have been a little "slow" in the family and maybe Lilian also had to take care of her as well?

I recall in my early years, dad, taking us on trips to Bishop Aukland to visit Aunt Nance, who was living with a gentleman as his housekeeper.

Lilian married George Lowther Sanderson 23rd August 1924 at St Cuthberts Church, Middlesbrough at the age of 25. At the time of her marriage she was living at 31 Laws St, Middlesbrough. The witnesses were George William Sanderson (her next born brother) and his girlfriend Emily Iley, whom he would later marry in 1928.

Lilian's first born child was George Sanderson (my dad) born 24th July 1925.  We can therefore estimate that the photo is taken in the year 1926.

Lilian and George went on to have one more child whilst living at 23 Letitia Street, a daughter, Jean born 3rd October 1930.  Jean only survived to 22nd May 1931, aged 7 months, suffering a short life with hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). Having come from such a large family this must have devastated Lilian and it clearly had a lasting affect on my dad, who went on to name his first born daughter Lynne Jean.

Lilian and family later moved to 32 Cunningham St and she was known to be very protective of her only son George.  Even shopping him in to the army when he lied on his enrolment about his birth year, giving it as 1924 rather than 1925!

She could not keep hold of him for long and no doubt when he went off to fight in WW2 was beside herself.

Lilian and George continued to live in Middlesbrough and enjoyed many bus trip outings with their local clubs. She died of heart failure on 10th March 1970 at North Ormesby Hospital, the day before her 71st birthday.