General Chat

I pored over the information we had gathered on our visit to Cannock marrying it to that contained in Mary Mays scrapbook. I was drawn once again to the wedding report for January 1909. I gathered from the description of the bride’s outfit (see Mary May’s Wedding Dress) that it was no ordinary wedding. The wedding gifts and their donors half filled a column. Headed by the groom’s gift to his bride, a diamond and sapphire wristlet watch, a stark contrast to the simplicity of his gift of the bridal bouquet of Lilly of the Valley and White Heather. Now married into the family of the largest department store owners in Cannock and to one of the most respected businessmen. It soon became apparent from newspaper reports that she settled well into her new home “The Limes” and into Cannock itself. Ingram Clarke, Mary’s husband was a man noted for his kindness and good works. Though not aspiring to any public position he was always ready to help any good cause or anything that had for its object the welfare of the town and district. He sat on many boards and was mostly interested in children’s education and welfare. Mary, it seems had become a “minor celebrity” and was “crowning pageant queens, presenting certificates and awards, officially opening fetes, and working with the girl guides and cubs. It would appear she was not above using her past connection to the Royal Family, as is indicated by the following newspaper report. The garden fete, arranged with the Girls Friendly Society to raise funds in response to the Bishops appeal, and which is to be held at “The Limes”(by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Ingram Clarke) on Tuesday next, promises to be a great success. Her Majesty Queen Mary and Princess Beatrice have sent gifts, which comprise no fewer than sixteen different articles, some of which have been made by the Queen and others by Princess Beatrice. It is proposed to put the royal gifts up for sale by auction on the day. According to newspaper reports they were a very generous and popular couple. Almost all parties, coffee mornings and other charitable occasions were held in the beautiful large gardens of their home. I remembered my first glimpse of M.Ms picture. I imagined her to be a shy, sensitive little creature, my, how wrong could I be? Copies of letters sent to the editor of local newspapers showed a fiery and articulate Mary fighting for more district nurses and many other things that she thought needed readdressing! Cannock was then without a war memorial (Great War). When a committee was selected to start raising money for a war memorial, Mary and Ingram were leading lights in this cause, which was really close to their hearts. So much work went into this venture, from coffee mornings, flag days, garden parties, in fact anything that would add to the fund. A great many men, women and children really gave their all to this cause. On our first visit to Cannock we had not been aware of their participation in this venture. It gave us an excuse to return to that fair town. A sunny Saturday found us back in the spacious Market Place of Cannock. As in most towns or cities on a Saturday, it was a hive of activity. Ladies with loaded shopping bags, teenagers happily carrying bags containing their latest acquisition while yet others went by munching large burgers and fries. We walked around this fine memorial several times shading our eyes in the bright sunshine as we gazed upwards. It felt good to be there, I walked around it many times, knowing I was now walking in the footsteps of Mary May. I again marvelled at the chance wind that had blown open the page of this family's history, given us, their decendants, a glimpse into their lives. We then went and sat on a nearby bench, just yards away from this tribute to the fallen. It stands 20ft 3inc high. It is in two parts. The pedestal, placed upon two steps is of Aberdeen silver granite and is 3ft 6 inches square. On it are sunken panels upon which are inscribed in lead raised letters the names of the 120 men from Cannock who fell during the war. The pedestal is surmounted by two life-sized figures of a soldier and a sailor holding the flag, and which has been carved out of a single piece of Sicilian white marble. The base of the memorial is 8 feet by 8 feet and a granite pillar has been placed at each corner. The inscription reads “This monument was erected in loving memory of the men of Cannock who died in defence of their country in the Great War 1914-1918. Their honour: our gratitude. I have veered away from M.M. for a short time. This is because I have seen and read some reports on how the money was raised to pay for this tribute. So many people worked so hard to make it happen. Pennies and shillings given in hard times by people who could ill afford it. The cost was £735. 2. 0 A lot of money in those days! And so, we sat and looked, watching hundreds of people go rushing by without as much as a glance at this monument. I looked at the lads of 17 and 18yrs and wondered, did they know some of the names on this memorial were those of boys, the same age as themselves? Eight thousand people watched the unveiling. I smiled to myself as I noted a report of a collection made during the ceremony by a band of ladies organised by Mrs Clarke on behalf of the Hospital Note Fund. Never one to miss a chance was our Mary! Photo page, See picture of Cannock memorial, also a very old photo c1874 of Mary May and her family. Mary is the small girl on the bottom right with my husbands Grandfather the boy stood behind her. A very stern looking set of G. grandparents ! Love Bridget x

bridget thankyou again for sharing mary with us sandra

well after all that im really a shamed of my self i live in cannock and you know more than me . when did you come to cannock as that memorail is all fenced off was wondering how you got to measue it:-)

For Jen In Staffs.... Hi Jen, We were in Cannock researching Mary May about 2/3 years ago when I made the notes. The discripition of the beautiful memorial was taken from newspapers found in M>M. scrapbook. We also went and found Hatherton Churchyard, where Mary's husband is buried. We really loved Cannock and the surrounding countryside. We hope to soon pay a visit to St Luke's for a Sunday Service This is the church where Mary married. Bridget x

Thanks Bridget for another insight into the life of Mary May.