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MY GRANDMOTHER

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This is my grandmother Ada Crutchley (nee Sherman). She was born on Friday 11th September 1908 in 9 Court Lower Rushall Street, Walsall. Ada is the daughter of Thomas Sherman (1878-1936) and Alice Sherman (nee Russon), one of their eight children. By the date of her wedding in 1929 Ada was living with her parents and siblings at 100 Lower Rushall Street in Walsall.

Ada married my grandfather Sidney Crutchley on 25th December 1929 at St George's church in Walsall. St George's stood on the corner of Walhouse Road and Pershouse Street in Walsall, part of its original perimeter wall exists to this day. St George's was Ada and Sidney's parish church, it's construction having been completed in 1875 to a design by Stafford based architect Robert Griffiths. The stone construction of the church was in the early English style, with the building layout including the traditional elements of a chancel, nave, aisles, and a south porch. Sadly by 1964 the building was in a poor state of repair and regular worship ceased as a result. St George's church was demolished in December of that year and it's parish abolished. Below is a photograph of the church whilst it was still in good repair.

St George's, Walsall

Over the twenty year period which followed their wedding, Ada and Sidney raised three daughters and two sons.

The creased and faded photograph below shows a Walsall summer scene in the early 1930's. Ada and her oldest daughter Margaret are standing in the garden of the family home at Teddesley Street, on what was clearly a hot and sunny day.

Ada and Margaret 1930's

The following colourised photograph probably dates from they early 1960's. It shows Ada during what appears to be another summer's day in Walsall. This time the location is 131 Coalpool Lane, where Ada, Sidney and their family spent the majority of their lives together.

Ada at 131 Coalpool Lane

Ada and Sidney lived all of their lives together in Walsall, in the early years of their marriage they shared a 19th century terraced house at Teddesley Street, later on they lived with their family at 131 Coalpool Lane in the Ryecroft area of the town.

Ada died at the Conifers nursing home in Great Wyrley on Tuesday 1st November 2005, she was ninety-seven years of age. She was cremated at Streetly crematorium as Ryecroft had closed by this date, however, her ashes were scattered at Ryecroft on the very same spot where those of her husband Sidney were placed twenty-four years earlier. Her inscription in the Ryecroft Cemetery book of remembrance is shown below.

Ada memorial