Barbara Kate "Babs" THORNE

  General Notes:

Birth Jun 1921 Brentford 3a 200 Thorne Barbara Kate, mother's former name Best .

Birth Certificate
Twickenham sub district of Brentford, entry 306
20th March 1921 at 51 Mereway Road, Twickenham.
Barbara Kate, Girl, Henry John Thorne, Harriet Louisa Thorne formerly Best, Railway Engine Driver. Registered by H J Thorne, father, 51 Mereway Road Twickenham on 21 April 1921.

Marriage Mar 1942 Brentford 3a 759 Thorne Barbara K (to Powell Alfred T)

Married at the Salvation Army Hall, May Road, Twickenham on 24 January 1942, by licence.
Alfred Thomas Powell, 24 years, Bachelor, Sergeant 975129 R.A.F. (Motor Lorry Driver), 37 Devon Avenue Twickenham. Father Alfred Thomas Powell, Coal Miner (Retired)
Barbara Kate Thorne, 20 years, Spinster, - , 51 Mereway Road Twickenham. Father Henry John Thorne, Railway Engine Driver.
Witnesses were W G Powell (brother) and Henry J Thorne (father).
The service was conducted by Elsie M Powell (Adjutant) - sister in law of the groom

Death
Name: Barbara Kate Powell Birth Date: 20 Mar 1921 Date of Registration: Jan 2004 Age at Death: 82 Registration district: Leicester Inferred County: Leicestershire Register Number: D7E District and Subdistrict: 605/1D Entry number: 166

Auntie Babs went to Archdeacon Cambridge School. But in 1932 she went to Thames Valley County School in Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham. This was a new Grammar School that had opened in 1928 under the headship of Mr H W Bligh. He remained its head until 1959 when he retired (at the end of my first year at the same school). Thames Valley is now called Waldegrave School and is a girl's comprehensive school.

The photo of her wedding (see husband) was taken at her in-laws at 37 Devon Avenue, Whitton. After the war Babs and Alf lived in Whitton for several years before moving to run Meadow View Farm in Ham Street, near Ashford Kent (about 1950-51). The main business of the farm was pig rearing. Alf also ran a haulage company.

Eventually they moved to Nottingham, living at 29 Earlsfield Drive in Rise Park, Bulwell (north of the City).

The picture is of Babs, daughter Marion and her mother

On Ancestry.co.uk
British Postal Service Appointment Books
1938, March 10
Nomination Paper Reg No. - 23666
Thorne, Barbara K
situation to which appointed - Tpnst ????
location - LTS (London Telephone Service)
Minute no. - A14494

On Ancestry.co.uk
British Postal Service Appointment Books
1939, January 27
Nomination Paper Reg No. - 8352
Thorne, Barbara K
situation to which appointed - Tpnst ????
location - LPR (London Postal Region)
Minute no. - A14494/38
observations - 6704/42/T

On Ancestry.co.uk
British Postal Service Appointment Books
1940, June 19
Nomination Paper Reg No. - 8352/39
Thorne, Barbara K
situation to which appointed - Tpnst ????
location - LTR W Area (London Telecommunications Region)
Minute no. - A14494/38

National Register 1939
Ref: RG101/0933A/006/31 Letter Code: BUDK
51 Mereway Road, Twickenham M.B., Middlesex, England
1 Henry J, Thorne, dob 8 Oct 1885, sex male, occ Loco Driver (heavy w, marital status Married, schedule 44
2 Harriett L, Thorne, 5 Nov 1886, sex female, occ Unpaid Dom Duties, marital status Married, schedule 44
3 Barbara K Thorne (later as Powell), 20 Jan 1921, sex female, occ GPO Telephones, marital status Single, schedule 44

Babs married Alfred Thomas "Alf" POWELL, son of Alfred Thomas POWELL and Catherine Sarah ROBERTS, on 24 Jan 1942 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England.¹ (Alfred Thomas "Alf" POWELL was born on 23 Jul 1917 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, died on 12 Jul 1980 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England and was buried in Jul 1980 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.)