Obituary

Irene Davis

Irene was born at Headington, Oxford on 12th December 1917. Sadly her father had been killed at Ypres before she was born. The Oxfordshire countryside instilled in Irene a life long love of things rural.

At the age of six Irene's grandparents moved to Portsmouth to enable her Grandad to benefit from the sea air, as he was asthmatic.

Naturally Irene's mother had to work to support herself and her daughter and was employed in Scarborough, Birmingham and London. Irene moved between those places and her grandparents' home. She was hospitalised for a period with congestion of the lungs and her Granny nursed her back to health.

When sixteen Irene moved south to live with her Granny and Grandpy, who moved to 'The Gables', Victory Avenue, Horndean. She became a member of the choir at Blendworth Church. It was from that church that she was married and where her two daughters, Barbara and Hilary were baptised.

Irene loved dancing and accompanied by her friend Joyce would go to Southsea. It was near the Pier that she met her beloved Charles, whose home was in Copnor. Charles was a seaman - later to become a submariner. He was taken prisoner of war in Italy. When repatriated they made immediate plans for their marriage which took place on 21st June 1943. Charles returned to service in Malta and Irene joined the Wrens, in which she served for about a year.

Encouraged by Granny Jefferies, Charles and Irene bought a plot of land on what became Warfield Crescent. It overlooked Mr Smith's farmland and the bungalow, designed by Granny, was built in 1952 and named Rural Vista.

In the late 50's and early 60's, when the Rev Tait was the incumbent, the family were greatly involved in church organisations, i.e Brownies, Young Wives and Mothers' Union. They took part in Nativity and Easter Passion plays (Charles playing the part of Peter) and in MU Deanery Pageants.

Charles and Irene were supporters of the Waterlooville Primary School PTA (on Stakes Hill Road). It was there in 1966 that Irene became a dinner lady along with her cheerful companions Mrs Nellie Olding and Mrs Elsie Slaughter. The girls were members of the junior choir.

Irene was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mothers' Union and for several years made available her garden for the annual event at which funds were raised for Overseas work. She was a marvellous needlewoman, careful housekeeper and wonderful cook. She was justly proud of her daughters and their careers and of her two grandsons. The death of Charles in 1994 left a great void in her life which she bore bravely assisted as she was by her youngest daughter Hilary, who made her home with her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

 An obituary for Commander Eric Bradshaw, OBE RN will appear next month.