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William and Rose - their lives in brief

William Albert Manly was the fourth child and first son of William Albert Manly and Sarah Louisa Manly (nee Jones). He was born at 10a Bath Road, Edmonton, Middlesex. He subsequent lived with his family at 9 Park Croft, Burnt Oak, Edware, Middlesex, and at 58 Barclay Street, Somerstown, London.

Rose Manly (nee Harley) was the twelth child and fourth daughter (but only survivor) of William Henry Wentworth Harley and Margaret Mary Harley (nee Gammage). Birthplace and family homes not known.

Not much is known about their childhood except that William had rheumatic fever when he was 18 which left him with damaged heart valves

They met in 1924 and were married at the Old St Pancras Church, St Pancras, London, NW1 on August 2, 1931. They honeymooned in Margate (pictured right).

They set up home at 4 Bayham Street, London, NW1, moving to 42 Beverley Avenue, Sidcup, Kent, on October 7, 1933. The Abbey Homesteads home cost £535 and was purchased with a mortgage of £507 arranged with the Halifax Building Society (repayments comprised a fixed 5 per cent interest over 18 years).

The house was damaged by bomb blast in 1943 or 1944 resulting in the now family of seven (four children and Rose´s mother) firstly in an evacuation to Huntingdon, and then to 34 Pancras Road, London, NW1. The family returned to Sidcup in 1950 after the house had finally been repaired.

William, being the eldest son, naturally worked in his father´s coach painting business until around 1936 before setting up his own firms, Ace Enamelling Co Ltd and Ace Synastics, at 82/84 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, and later at Albion Works, 17a Balfe Street, London, N1.

Family holidays were usually spent on the south east coast, mostly at Ramsgate (below, circa 1948) and at Margate. Other outings included motor trips to Allhallows and Shoeburyness and on one occasion, hop-picking in Kent. The last family holiday was at Jaywick Sands, Essex, in 1951.

William was a member of The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, a charitable organisation which is active, not only in its local community, but, at all levels of society. It is non-political, nor does it look to religion to inspire participation. It does, however, inspire members to commit to a peaceful and meaningful way of life, which no doubt was why it attracted him.

He seemed to be a collector of cars which included a Hillman, Renault, Austin Seven, and a Daimler. Fond memories are of all seven of the family either cramming into the tiny Austin or enjoying the spaciousness of the Daimler. He was a member of the RAC at a time when the patrolmen used to salute members they saw on the road (identified by a badge on the front bumper).

Not a sportsman, William nonetheless enjoyed watching football, especially Charlton Athletic where he held a season ticket in the stand (next to the directors´ box too!). He also spent a lot of time studying the football league teams´ performances in preparation for the weekly football pools entry. At five o´clock on a Saturday it was an absolute silence rule while he checked his coupon. He scored the maximum 24 points just once but instead of the hoped for £75,000 jackpot he only got £250 because there were a lot of winners that week. Although that was a sizeable amount at that time, he was very upset.

William liked showing silent movies and tinkered with playing the guitar and the mandolin.

But his greatest pleasure, remembers his daughter Margaret Rosemary (Dodie to the family), was just being at home in the midst of his family taking pride in the house and family.

"He was a kind, caring, and gentle person, loving, romantic, poetic, and devoted to Mum and all of us," she adds. "He had a witty and delicate sense of humour, was skillful and artistic, an excellent draughtsman, a responsible, honest, trustworthy businessman who worried a lot, and, in my opinion, was too trusting and too hardworking."