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to the Aldous Families in the north of England and beyond
Wilfred Aldous (1914 - 1988)
Wilfred ALDOUS
was the second and final child of Joseph and Eliza; he
was born in Rochdale, Lancashire on
25th July 1914. He married Bertha (Betty) Griffiths in 1936
at Trinity Methodist Chapel on William Henry street where Bertha's father
Sydney was caretaker. The couple lived at nearby Frank Street and
raised two children, Barry born in July 1936 and Barbara born in September
1938. Both the original chapel has been replaced and Frank St. has
been demolished.
Wilfred (Wilf) began work
at a local sweet factory owned by friends of his brother-in-law. He
trained to be a Sugar Boiler at Wilby's sweet factory before being called-up
for service in the second world war at the age of 25. He served in the
RAF for the full term, deployed in India and the Cocos Island, a small
island in the Indian ocean, midway between India and Australia.
Following Demob, Wilf
returned to his home and family and continued to work for Wilby's. The
family moved to Accrington, Lancashire in 1950 where Wilf had accepted a
managerial role with the confectioners, Tom Hodgson's. It was while
living at 92, Steiner Street that the family took over a local 'corner shop'
on Hyndeburn Road. This became the domain of Betty, who was well known
for the sandwiches she provided to workers at the local Ewbank factory.
Sadly, all of the properties mentioned in this paragraph no longer exist.
A short time after Wilf's
retirement, the shop was sold and the family moved to 53, Park Road here
much of their life was spent travelling and the pursuit of hobbies.
Wilf was a fine artist and
was industrious in this hobby, producing many oils and watercolours in his
lifetime. His work has be exhibited at the Howarth Art Gallery (Home
of the Tiffany Glass collection) and he also undertook commissioned work.
He was also had an interest in aircraft and marine modelling, a hobby he
shared with his son, Barry. Betty is a keen needleworker and continues
to make tapestries after the loss of her husband on 10th May 1988.
Barry Aldous 2004
Wilfred Aldous in the RAF
about 1945
click image to
enlarge
Wilfred Aldous with family outside
Trinity Methodist Chapel about 1948
click image to
enlarge
Wilfred Aldous fixing a Rose IST sweet
wrapper at Tom Hodgson's about 1960
