| Notes |
- Marion Ethel was born in 1921 in Wanganui and moved with the family to Marton. She attended primary school in Marton. Her parents moved to Auckland where she attended the Wellesley Street primary school and then went on to Seddon Memorial Secondary School which was also situated in Wellesley Street.
Marion remembers moving out to a Kauri built house at 4 Grayson Avenue. The house had 3 bedrooms, small dining/sitting/lounge room and kitchen. The wash house and toilet were out side in a small back yard.
On completion of her schooling Marion was apprenticed to the tailoring trade on 15 shillings per week at Newling & Wilson Tailoring in Karangahape Road. They made mens' suits and the NZ Armed Services "great coats" for the war. Marion worked here for 10 years up until Graeme was born in 1946.
Every Sundays the family caught the tram from Grayson Ave to the city to attend church services at "St Mathews in the City", on the corner of Wellesley Street and Hobson Street. Bob & Joan became members of the St Mathews church choir. Bob, Hazel and Marion became bell ringers at the Church.
Bob, Stan and Ted went off to the Pacific arena in the 2nd WORLD WAR leaving Marion & Hazel to ring the bells of St Mathews during the period of the 2nd WORLD WAR.
It was while attending church services at "St Mathews in the City" that Marion met Stanley and Bob met Hazel Biddle. Stanley at that time conducted a transport business.
During the war period, Stanley Roberts served in the Merchant Navy, his ship M.V. Kopara being requisitioned by the United States Navy to carry high octane aviation fuel to the beleaguered air base at Guadalcanal and thus assist materially in halting the rapid Japanese advances in the South West Pacific.
Marion & Stanley married at St Barnabas church, Mt Eden on the 12 April 1943. They lived at home at Grayson Ave, with mum and Joan. Stanley was often overseas at that time and Dorothy had left home in 1940 when she married Bill Ward and they were living in Kumeu.
In later years, Stanley joined the firm of Winstone Ltd becoming purchasing officer for the Wall Board plant at Mt Wellington. St Matthews church started a Girl Guide Unit and Marion and Joan joined. There grew a life-long interest in the Girl Guide movement in which she was active for many years.
The year Gary was born in 1949, Marion & Stan moved from Grayson Street to Mt Roskill where they lived until 1966, during this time, Marion continued doing tailoring from home. Marion and Stan then moved to their new home at 66 Hilling Street, Titirangi, Auckland.
When in the Green Bay/Titirangi district, Marion became Assistant District Commissioner, District Advice Guider and Camp Recorder. As the Guide unit leader she was responsible for organizing programmes & coordinating as well as participating, in camping activities. There were huge camping Jamborees or "Gatherings" at Levin, Hamilton, Hasting, Rotorua, Otimai in Oratia, and at Manukau. Marion eventually became an honorary recipient of a certificate of acknowledgement for long service in the GIRL GUIDE MOVEMENT. Today, Marion is an enthusiastic member in the "Retired Guiding Section."
Marion went overseas in 1977 to Europe to meet up with Graeme, Elizabeth and Freda to stay with them. She travelled extensively around South England. Two years later in 1979 she again went to England with Mark to attend Graeme and Clare's wedding at "Our Lady of Lourdes Church" in Oxfordshire on the 8th December. Then with Freda and Elizabeth Walkley, Barry and Joy Yendell, Graeme and Clare Roberts, and her sister Florence Yendell they decided to visit Stroud in Gloucestershire, the HOMELAND OF THE WALKLEYS. They travelled around the district visiting the "Walkley Wood" reserve, churches and the cemetery where the families of Samuel and Charles Walkley were buried. Unfortunately the inscriptions on the grave stones were indecipherable, corroded with weathering and age. Marion and Mark then travelled to Europe visiting 13 countries before returning to NZ.
About 1990, Marion again ventured overseas with Clare to Dubai and then went on to England to stay with Mark & Debbie who were living and working just out of London. They travelled to Scotland and Wales and other parts of England. Graeme and family came over from Dubai and they combined to hire a "canal barge" for a fabulous weekend. There were nine family members on the trip! Later Marion went to Belgium & France through the "Chunnel" [tunnel under the ENGLISH CHANNEL] with Debbie and Mark. Marion then flew back to Dubai to stay with Graeme and Clare for a month before returning for a rest in NZ!
Until her death in 2014, Marion remained at her home in Hilling Street, living on her own but frequently visited by her sons and their families.
Marion Roberts and Joan Ingram were the two remaining siblings of Sidney Stanley and Ethel Walkley who attended the 2009 WALKLEY REUNION in Auckland.
|
1921 - 2014 (93 years)