Ernest James HOOKINS was born in August 1887 at 3 Bath Road Mitcham and Bath Road was to be the home of various HOOKINS families in the years to come. He was the 6th of 11 children of George and Caroline (nee TRASH) HOOKINS. The family lived in Bath Road at No.3 (1885), No.21 (1890), No.41 (1895) and No.6 (1900). The family was a little elusive in a couple of Census returns being found in 1881 as HOSKINS and in 1901 as HOOKIN with Caroline being recorded as Clara! Ernest married twice, firstly to Mary Ann (nee BULL) with whom he had 3 children. There is a record of an Ernest James as a Private in WW1 with the Army Service Corps. When his wife was only 38 she died leaving Ernest with a 6 year old son and 2 other children in their teens. He then married Sarah May (nee BROOKER) at St Mary's Walton on Thames with whom he had another son the following year. Ernest is recorded as a Packer in a Varnish Works at the time of his second marriage and later as a Factory Hand. His youngest son was however less than 2 when Ernest himself died leaving Sarah to presumably care for the still young family as she survived her husband by another 30 years before her death in 1966 at the age of 70. Ernest was buried in Church Road Cemetery.
I am so sad to have to report the death of the oldest living HOOKINS family member. Ruby Ivy Louisa HOOKINS passed away on Tuesday of this last week aged 101 years. A lovely lady who had a good sense of humour and whose hearing, sight, mind and memory enabled her to communicate in engaging conversation. The card below was given to her at her 100 birthday celebration and shows a picture of her parents as well as her own baby picture following her birth in July 1909 in Ealing. She married Charles Francis HOOKINS (photo below) in September 1931 at St Mary's Church Ealing and I understand that the honeymoon was spent in Bournemouth and Hastings. A year later they bought the house which was to be theirs throughout their married life. Charlie spent his war service in Bermuda whilst Ruby provided accommodation for relatives. Thereafter they lived happily in their home until Charlie died at the age of 93 in 1999. My first contact with Ruby was in 2000 when she responded to a letter I had sent but by that time she was housebound. I was pleased to be able to visit her the day
after her 100th birthday which she spent at St Vincent's Nursing Home which was so wonderful in caring for her. They gave her a party which included a number of visitors and her room was bedecked with flowers and cards and presents to celebrate this milestone. Thank you Ruby for what you meant to so many people who came into contact with you. I will miss our contact with you which has latterly been through Mary who is a relative of mine who lived in the area and spent time in visiting with Ruby on a regular basis and who I know will also greatly miss this lovely lady.
