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John was a twin born with my grandmother Phyllis.

Sadly he died in 1928 as a result of an electrical accident so I have been told.
My grandmother never spoke about it .

I would be interested to know what happened.

I do not have access to newspaper articles and wonder if anyone can help.

Thankyou

His death cert will give you the official cause of death, although not the circumstances of the incident:

Deaths Jun 1929 (>99%)
Lavers John H 23 St. Martin 1a 555

Yes thank you. Do you know how I could find out the circumstances?

You have his death as 1928- there are several articles re John Henry Lavers death in 1929

From Findmypast:-

Blown Through Manhole at Power Station.

A workman was so severely burned in an explosion at the Charing Cross Electricity Supply Works, St, Martin's Lane, W.C yesterday that his clothes fell off him and only his boots remained intact.

He was John Henry Lavers, aged 24 of King's Road, Willsden who was working in an underground chamber, near the manhole through which he was blown. He was removed to Charing Cross Hospital in a critical condition.

Immediately the explosion occurred the electricity supply to the Charing Cross neighbourhood was cut off and lights went out. The trouble was quickly rectified however.

"How the explosion occurred" an official said "is a mystery".

The above was in the Daily Herald, 10th April, 1929.

Kath. x

Oh wow thank you so much Kath.

That sounds horrendous. He was my great Uncle.

Have always wanted to know what happened and now I do thanks to your help :-)

Hi Austin..

When you say several articles...is there anything else of interest relating to this awful event?

I wonder if the cause was ever discovered

Thank you

Continuing on from Kath's post

"How the explosion occurred" an official said "is a mystery"........

But experts are at presents investigating the matter. There was a short circuit in the station.

Thank you

Feel quite upset about this.. :-(

Sorry just one more question

Would like to know who he was
Living with in Kings Road Willesden

Can anyone help me with that?

Thank you so much

In 1929, living with Alfred Henry Lavers and Lillie Lavers, at 18 King's Road, Willesden.


In 1930, Alfred Henry, wife Lillie and daughter Dorothy Maude Lavers are at 33 Beechcroft Gardens, Harrow.

11 April 1929 - Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Hartlepool, Durham, England

John Henry Lavers (24). who was burned in an explosion on Tuesday in the switchboard room of the Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company LTD...St Martin's Lane, has died in Charing Cross Hospital of his injuries.

Also reported....... 10 April 1929 - Derby Daily Telegraph - Derby, Derbyshire, England

Very sad.

Added........."Alfred H Lavers on the 1939 Register"


Lavers Household (3 People) 36 Park Chase , Wembley M.B., Middlesex, England

Alfred H Lavers 21 Sep 1880 Male Coal Department Manager Married 27 2
Lilly Lavers 26 Jun 1879 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 27 1
Dorothy M Murray 25 Feb 1908 Female Clerk (Silk Merchant) Married 27 3


Marriages Sep 1935 (>99%)
Lavers Dorothy M Murray Hendon 3a 1720
Murray David E Lavers Hendon 3a 1720

Thank you all so much.

You have answered a lot of questions for me :-)

I knew the answers wouldn’t be happy ones

Did Dorothy and David have any children?

I think Dorothy died about 1952

Hi Holly

Please can you tell me the date the household were living in Park Chase?

There are these Murray / Lavers births, but I can't say if they are Dorothy's children or not:

Martin K, 1942, Chelmsford.
David G, 1946, Stroud.
Paul S, 1948, Watford
Mark H, 1951, Hastings


Dorothy's death:

Deaths Dec 1952
MURRAY Dorothy M 44 Willesden 5f 356

Ancestry shows the same DOB on this death record as on the 1939 register - but I can't copy/paste the Ancestry record, for some reason.

Lillie was at 36 Park Chase in 1952. No other names listed.

(I'm having trouble copying & pasting today, so can't show the actual record.)

Thank you.

I was wondering if David may have died as Dorothy was living with her parents in Park Chase...however it does say’married’ not ‘widowed’

Looking at the age I guess the entry was 1936...wondering where David was?!