18th September 2025 • The HERALD • Page 73 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v 145 Long Lane, Holbury SO45 2NZ Tel: 023 8024 3300 FOR ALL YOUR MOTORING NEEDS LOCALLY • Free fit batteries (most cars) • Free fit wiper blades • Battery chargers • Oils • Braking • Service parts • Tools/tool hire • Car paints • Engine management diagnostics/reset • Towing accessories • Number plates • Exhaust systems • Steering/suspension • Haynes manuals W: www.cobramotorcomponents.co.uk E: sales@cobramotorcomponents.co.uk TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH, FAWLEY by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish of All Saints’ Fawley PATTIE ANNIE TAYLOR On the South East side of the church lie the interred ashes of Pattie Annie Taylor who died, aged 96, in January 2015. Pattie was born on 13th November 1918, 3 days a er the cessation of World War 1 (WW1). She was the eldest child of 4, born to Rose Elizabeth and Cecil Harry Fossey. Her siblings were Cecil, Raymond and Gwendoline. Her parents lived in London at that time, and there was a graveyard at the end of the garden (over the wall). As small children they used to ‘dare’ each other to look over the wall for ghosts once night had fallen. eir father, Cecil Harry, was a professional soldier in the 15th Royal Hussars and had served in India, South Africa, and eventually in WW1 on the Somme. His bravery in WW1 was recognised by him being awarded the Military Medal plus (very unusually for a non-officer) a second recognition of his bravery awarded with the Distinguished Conduct Medal. When Pattie was young she used to take her brothers and sister to the museums in London (entry was free of charge) and she grew up with a love of the museums. During the following 15 years the family moved to Putney and then eventually to the outskirts of Kingstonupon- ames. Pattie remembered her school days, particularly the nature and cra lessons. She also liked writing and after a school trip from Putney to Chichester where they visited the Shiphams factory, she won a prize for her essay describing the visit. Her needlework and sewing were so good that she was o ered a place at the Royal School of Needlework which was a great honour. Sadly, her mother Rose, refused to let her accept the o er and insisted that Pattie, being the eldest daughter, stayed at home to look a er her. is was a throw-back to the Victorian era. e interwar years were not an easy time to be living and by the time of Pattie’s 21st birthday England was once again at war with Germany. Her mother would not let her join the forces at the commencement of World War 2 (WW2). Her eldest brother Cecil joined the Royal Air Force, her younger brother Raymond joined the army at the age of 16 (he lied about his age) and young sister Gwendoline joined the WAAFS and was stationed at Calshot. Eventually her mother permitted her to go out to work at Hawker Aircraft factory and she became a progress chaser for a while, but when she fell pregnant and had to leave Hawker Aircra , she reverted to her natural love of creating beautiful things. She managed to get a job as a milliner to Mattli of London. Mattli was one of the Royal Milliners and the hats that Pattie made were worn by the Queen (Mother), the two princesses (Elizabeth and Margaret), and by famous lm stars such as Margaret Lockwood. One of her creations is kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1947 Pattie met and married Albert Taylor, but sadly he refused to let her continue to go out to work, so she became a full-time housewife. Albert secured a mortgage on a solid semi-detached house in Tudor Drive in Kingston, near to where Pattie’s parents lived. A year later a second daughter was born to Pattie, a sister for her elder daughter. At the top end of Tudor Drive, Hawker Aircra was situated, on the banks of the River Thames. During the war it had been a prime target for Germany and easy for them to locate because it was next to the river. Fortunately the factory never received a direct hit but one bomb landed just outside the walls on Ham Common, and the crater eventually lled with water and became a pond. e a erwar years were a period of austerity, but Pattie was such a clever needlewoman that her daughters, her mother and Pattie herself were always well dressed. She used to go to Kingston Market to purchase material to make clothes. Every year she would attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot and her hats were admired creations. Albert, who was an accountant, always took the family to Goodwood horse races on Gold Cup Day. It was the only day of the year that he would attend a race meeting. He was the chief accountant for William Hill, based in London. He used to say that the punters were the people paying his salary. His brain worked faster than people could enter numbers into a calculator and he could rapidly add up columns of numbers, plus compute complicated betting odds, never making a mistake. It was a comfortable life for Pattie, but when Albert died aged 74, he le Pattie widowed aged 65. It was the rst time in her life that she was sleeping in a house on her own. With his death her life completely changed. It was the rst time in her life that she had had to administer her own finances other than her domestic budgets, and as this was before technology was a major part of many people’s lives, she found it difficult. Seeing, what was to her, vast amounts of money, she often spent unwisely and ended up getting into debt. Fortunately, one of her son-in-laws managed to persuade her to let him sort out the debts she had accrued, and eventually she was in a stable nancial situation. A er some years Pattie decided to sell her house in Kingston-upon- ames and she moved to Maybush, north of Southampton, to be near her younger daughter. Once she had settled into her new home she joined a local bowling club and soon became a valuable member of the team. Pattie had always been gregarious, loved parties and days out. She enjoyed an active social life. She had always been a keen gardener and her garden had colour in it all year round. Pattie also loved foreign travel and went abroad with her friends or daughters, o en spending time with her eldest daughter in France. Fortunately, her health was reasonably good enabling her to live an independent life. She had never been taught to drive, so relied on the bus, or walking, to get around. However, when she was 92 years-old she su ered a few mini strokes, luckily none of them incapacitating her too much, but enough for her daughters to persuade her to sell up her house and move into a comfortable Home in the Waterside. Her eldest daughter used to take her out on a Sunday morning to local places of interest, and they would drink wine together before lunch. One of her favourite places was e Jolly Sailor at Ashlett Creek. She also loved going to Seashells for a meal or just an aperitive. Pattie eventually died in 2015, aged 96, with both her daughters holding her hands. She was cremated at Southampton Crematorium, where her favourite hymn ‘Be silent in the presence of the Lord’ was sung as part of her service. e service was attended by a large circle of family and friends, many who stayed for her ‘wake’, which was a lively happy gathering. Patties ashes were interred by the Reverend Roy, some weeks later, in the graveyard of All Saints Church, Fawley. Dear readers, thank you for your kind wishes during my cancer treatment. I have now been told that I am completely clear, so I am hoping to commence writing ‘Tales’ on a more regular basis. Fortunately I have now been well enough to have my ‘Tales from the Graveyard’ Book 2, published and The Herald office has been kind enough to offer it on sale. The price is £5. I do hope you enjoy it. Pattie Annie Taylor
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