1911 - Herbert Ralph Ward-Eversley...........................



Almost everything about the man is a mystery. His origins, his life, his end are a blur really.


He was, of course Glennys' (and Andrea's) father. Born in Wandsworth, London on October 14th., 1911, his birth certificate (Glennys has it) has no entry in the "father" column so I must assume he was illegitimate. His mother was Sarah Lazarus. I would guess that makes him 50% Jewish depending on who his father was - said father seems to have dropped out of sight shortly after inseminating Sarah!

Nothing known of him after that, until he appears in Blackpool as a 24 year-old. Why he travelled all that way north, I don't know. He seems to have been "in clothing" all his adult life.


He married Rena Horrocks on July 30th 1935. He was working then, I think, in a men's outfitters. After 'our' marriage we had a pack of cards, seemingly from HRWE, with "Burton's Tailors" on the back. Or was it Burton's?

The following year, September 26th 1936, Rena bore him a daughter.


Seven years, three months later, December 21st 1943, a second daughter followed; Andrea.


The fact that the marriage lasted at least eight years is surprising to me, given Rena's fiery temperament and HRWE's fussy, fastidious, almost feminine ways. But it was an ill-starred marriage. By Rena's account she kicked him out in 1944.

He was a great buyer of flowers, decorator of the dining table, buyer of clothes for Rena. At the same time money was tight, as they raised two daughters and worked at day to day life. Ever the practical woman, Rena seems to have decided that this wasn't the way to run a household.


There was never a divorce. Seemingly he failed to provide any support for the girls. This is Rena's and Glennys' version. Perhaps his side was different. Rena did march to the beat of her own drum!

Seemingly he then moved to Coventry - probably he found a job there. He certainly "sold mens' clothing" in that city for the rest of his life. I'm guessing he moved to Coventry quite soon after the terrible bombing of the city by the Germans.


He was to live in Coventry for the rest of his life. At Number 4 Tennyson Road to exact. As far as I know his landlady all that time was a Mrs. Richards. Given later discoveries I doubt there was any love affair.


His first appearance in my life was as father of the bride-soon-to-be. He was at my wedding at Norwich Registry Office on April 4th 1959. After the marriage we, HRWE + me + Glennys + a couple of guys from RAF Horsham St. Faiths where I was based, went to the nearby pub, "The Raven," for lunch. I think he gave us a 'dinner service' (plates and stuff) as a wedding present.


It was to be a long time before I saw him again.


I visited him in Coventry at least once from Canada. I remember touring the "new" Coventry cathedral with him. He was dapper, rather charming, little man. Embittered it seemed by the lack of communication from his daughters and lack of contact with his grandchildren. I made several attempts to open up written communication with him but he was never one to reply to my letters.

He and I met up once in London. I had Mitch with me I think and we all rowed on the lake in Hyde Park. Just a framentary memory. He's all fragmentary memories I'm afraid. Was Andrea there too?

I never saw him again. As far as his family is concerend, he died alone.


I think Andrea got a letter from a lawyer? This told of his death. She went to Coventry and did her usual best. It turned out he was gay!! As were many of the people at the funeral service. Year of death? late 1990s I think.


Hoping for input from Andrea sometime and perhaps photos ................. then I'll try and fill out the story a little more.

The only momento I have of the man is a tiny souvenir sewing kit from the Dart Valley Railway. How he came by it I don't know - not even sure how it reached me. So very typical somehow of this foggy figure.