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- Born 15.8.1908 at Kensington, London
Freda, as she was known, was the eldest child of 6, and was brought up in Fulham, South West London. Her father was an Army Officer who, after contracting malaria during the Boer War, worked at the War Office in London.
Freda was brought up in Fulham, South West London, and attended Fulham Central School. She excelled not only in the classroom but also in sport, and at every opportunity would meet her friend to play tennis on the local courts in Bishop?s Park, by the side of the River Thames ? many days rising at 6 a.m. to play before school. She was also an excellent netball player and an active member of a Keep Fit class.
On leaving school, she continued her studies at night school, perfecting her French, which enabled her to take up a job as a secretary at Galleries Lafayette in the offices of the high-class store in Regent Street, in the West End of London. Two years later she joined the staff of Lloyds Bank, Cox & Kings Branch, as secretary to Mr A E (Skipper) Walkley, who subsequently became her husband.
Freda and Skip Walkley married in All Saints Parish Church, Putney, London, on 13th March 1937 and after honeymooning in Nice in Southern France, they set up home at No 2 Rayleigh Rise, South Croydon. Although she had not been a Girl Guide herself, Freda very soon became involved in the Scouting activities of Skipper?s Troop. Freda?s door at No. 2 was always open and the Scouts very soon became firm friends.
In 1940, during the Second World War, their first child was born. A daughter was followed by a son in 1942, another daughter in 1944, and a second son in 1946. With a home to run and as a mother to four children, Freda was kept fully occupied, but always found time to help the neighbours, to tend the garden, and continue her sports, playing league tennis for South Croydon Tennis Club, and later badminton. She took in French students and also organised exchanges with children from French families for each of her children. These formed lasting friendships and later she visited the families herself on holiday.
Freda was widowed at the early age of 51, when Skip passed away. With two of her four children still at school, Freda went back to work and took a job in the Legal Department of the Royal Automobile Club in Croydon. Everyone there loved Freda, and no-one realised, when she retired in 1980, that she was in fact already 72!
In 1972 when Elizabeth was working in Australia, Freda made the adventurous journey to Sydney. Together they crossed the Tasman to visit New Zealand, where they met some of the Walkley relations with whom Freda knew Skip had corresponded. She had not fully appreciated just how many there were! She returned to the UK full of praise for New Zealand and the wonderful hospitality that had been afforded her. She also returned home with a broken arm, and was so proud of her plaster cast signed by most of the ?Kiwis relatives?!
Freda loved children, and adored her 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She even went camping for the first time in her life with the grandchildren, learning to pitch a tent and cook over an open fire ?usually in the pouring rain!
She continued playing tennis and badminton until well into her 70s. In addition, she helped to serve lunches at South Croydon ?drop-in? Centre, she joined the Wives Fellowship at St Paul?s Church where her children had been Guides and Scouts, and she helped at the Scouts jumble sales. Freda?s love of life kept her young and it was not until 1997 that illness forced her to retire to a nursing home.
Freda passed away on 13th February 1999 at the age of 90.
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1908 - 1999 (90 years)
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