Irene Laycock was born, 3 February 1918, in Saltaire to Frank Laycock & Edith Harney. Frank served in WW1.

In the 1921 Census they were living at 41 Mary Street, Saltaire. Frank was a cloth passer working for Henry Mason, Victoria Works, Shipley. Edith was a weaver at Saltaire Mills.

Irene attended Albert Road School, Saltaire.

Report in the Shipley Times 15 December 1928: -

It is pleasing to note that the name of Irene Laycock, a pupil at Albert Road School, Saltaire, is amongst the list of prize-winners in Waterman's national handwriting competition. Nearly 14,000 schools and 800,000 pupils competed.

In the 1939 Register Irene was a stationer manufacturer’s assistant, living with her parents at 41 Mary Street.

Irene married George Clifford Allott, of Baildon, 6 September 1941 at St. Paul’s, Shipley. They lived with Irene’s parents at 41 Mary Street in Saltaire.

Known as Clifford, Irene’s husband served in WW2.

Clifford died 2 November 1995 in the district of Leeds. In 2003 Irene was living at 15 Weetwood Court in Leeds. It is unclear as to when or where Irene died.

 

John James Ambler was born, 27 June 1862, in Windhill. He worked for the Windhill Industrial Cooperative Society for over 50 years. Starting as a boy aged 12 in April 1875, he was manager of No. 5 branch at 30 Caroline Street, Saltaire, from 1885 to 1909, when he was transferred to the branch in Windhill.

John married Julia Ann Jackson, 23 May 1888, at St. Paul’s, Shipley. Julia was born 5 June 1864 in Saltaire. They had two children – William Vernon born in 1890, and Doris Mabel, born 13 November 1896.

In 1911 and 1921 they were living at 30 Scarborough Road, Shipley.

John’s wife, Julia, died 29 October 1937. She was laid to rest with members of her family in St Paul’s Lower Churchyard, Shipley.

In the 1939 Register, John was retired and living at 4 Wellington Crescent, Shipley.

John died 1 April 1952 at 86 Beamsley Road, Frizinghall. There was a funeral service for him at St Paul’s, Shipley. He was cremated at Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford. His remains were buried alongside his wife.

 

George Avis was born, 14 April 1853, in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, to Thomas Avis & Sarah Shepherd.

In 1871 George was a servant baker living with Henry Pond and his family in Newmarket, Suffolk. Living in Windhill and working as a baker, George married Elizabeth Chapman, 14 April 1872. She was born, 1 November 1853, in Bury St. Edmonds. They had 11 children. In 1881 they were living at 32 Aire Street, Windhill, with George working as a drayman. In 1891 they were living at 24 Jane Street, Saltaire with George working as a warehouseman.

They lost their daughter, Ivy Evelyn, when she died, 31 March 1899, aged just seven. She was buried in Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley. In 1901 the family where living at 71 George Street, Saltaire, with George working as a warehouseman. They lost their daughter, Clarice Mabel, when she died 31 October 1901 aged just three years and seven months. She was buried with her sister. George died 18 November 1901.

Report in the Shipley Times 22 November: -

Sudden Death at Saltaire.

An inquest was held on Tuesday (19 November) afternoon, at Sir Titus Salt's Hospital, before Mr Coroner Hill, on the body of George Avis, aged 49 years, warehouseman, of 71 George Street, Saltaire.

From the evidence given it appeared that the deceased had never had occasion to call in a doctor and had not complained of feeling unwell except during the last three weeks. Recently a daughter died, which seems to have preyed on his mind somewhat, and he had been very depressed.

He left home on Monday (18 November) morning, about 9 a.m. and returned just after 7 in the evening, His wife asked him if he would have his tea, when he replied that he had had it, but as his clothes were rather wet he would go upstairs and change them. Accordingly he went upstairs, and after he had been absent about hour Mrs Avis sent a child to see if her husband had changed his mind and gone to bed. The child came down and told her mother that father was on the bedroom floor. Mrs Avis at once went upstairs and found her husband laid on his back on the floor, quite dead, and all that he had done was just to unbutton his waistcoat, so that he must have fallen almost immediately after getting upstairs.

Dr Emerson was sent for but being out at the time he arrived in about half-an-hour, but all he could do was to pronounce life extinct. The doctor stated that the excessive grief of the deceased on the death of his child might have aggravated the disease of the heart from which he might be suffering, and thus have accelerated death, which in the doctor’s opinion was due to syncope. Dr. Emerson said he was quite sure that deceased had not caused his own death.

The jury were satisfied that death had taken place from natural causes and returned a verdict that effect.

George was buried in Nab Wood Cemetery alongside his two daughters. By 1929 his was widow was living at 3 East View Terrace, Otley. She died here, 5 March 1940, and joined George and their daughters. In her will she left £1,717 10s 7d.

Two of their spinster daughters were buried with them when they died at 3 East View Terrace – Sarah Elizabeth, 10 May 1960, aged 87 and Edith Mary, 18 August 1961, aged 78.