Edward Stanley Robbins

Edward Stanley Robbins, my father, was born to John Robbins and his third wife Elizabeth (nee Pimble) at 16, Alton Street, Ross-on-Wye. His two younger brothers Harold (b 1906) and Hugh (b. 1907) were both also born in this house. Alton Street figures prominately in my family history as at separate times my father, mother, a brother and a sister also lived on this street. Alton Street was also the site of the local workhouse which unfortunately also features in several of my ancestor’s stories. (Learn more about Alton Street here.)

On the 1911 census Stan, as he was usually known was still living at Alton Street with his mother, father and five of his brothers, John (age 37), Arthur (20), Hubert (11), Harold (4) and Hugh(3). Stan, then aged 8 is described as being “at school”.

The school he attended was Ross Board school located on Cantilupe Road. Made from the local old red sandstone the school was first opened in 1874 and served as the town’s Primary school for many years. In fact it was the school that myself and all of my brothers and sisters attended for our early years education. In 1968 the building was described as being “seriously unsafe” and was closed immediately, being completely demolished the following year.

As children we thought our father was really clever as he told us he passed an exam at 13 in order to leave school and take up employment. However it transpires that this was not an uncommon event as under the Employment of Children Act 1903, anyone reaching their 13th birthday who had reached a certain grade standard in their school work could obtain a “Labour Certificate”. In addition to reaching the grade they had to have regularly attended school over the previous five years.

This is a copy of my father’s actual certificate allowing him to leave on his thirteenth birthday and certifying he had competed 350 attendances at school each year for the last five years. So in reality he didn’t have to pass an exam but did have to show that he had a basic education. Throughout his life he showed that he had a good grasp of maths, running the savings club (Thrift Club) at several local pubs as well as being excellent at scoring for darts and cribbage. One memory that I always had was watching an episode of the TV quiz show “Double Your Money” where the contestant was answering questions on Mental Arithmetic. Dad was able to answer most of the questions before the contestant right up to the £1000 jackpot (the highest prize in those days)!!

I’m not sure where my father worked immediately after he left school but I know at some time he worked on the fields around Bridstow especially at Baynham’s farm. Here he helped with hay making and enjoyed the daily glass of cider taken at the end of work. (This probably gave him the taste for it in later life.) Both my brother (Ernie) and his son (Andrew) also worked these fields.

By the time of the 1921 Census, Stan, now aged 19 was living with his mother, father and two younger brothers at Marsh Cottage, Ross. This I believe was situated on the Gloucester Road just past the railway bridge at Hildersley. Both the bridge and the cottage are no longer there. His occupation at this time was described as a Tanner’s Labourer at the Rubber Chrome Leather Company in Ross.

Ross Tannery, located just off Overross Street was purchased in 1909 by the Rubber Tanned Leather Company. The company had developed a special leather tanning process using rubber that made the end product especially suitable for making/repairing boots and shoes. They advertised in newspapers and periodicals throughout the country such as the one shown from “Cricket and Football Field”. Unfortunately despite all the advertising the product didn’t appear very successful as in 1931 the company went into liquidation and once again the Tannery and all its equipment was put up for sale. Whether my father left their employment before this or as a consequence of the business going bust I do not know.

My Grandfather, Stan’s father, John Robbins passed away in July 1928 while the family were living at 32, Redhill Cottages in Ross-on-Wye. According to the Electoral Rolls of 1928 and 1930 my father lived here with his mother and two younger brothers. Just a little further down the road at 17,Redhill Cottages lived the French family, George French, his wife Elizabeth and most importantly their elder daughter Hannah Elizabeth Ann (my mother). I don’t know whether my dad first met my mother here but its a fair assumption that their relationship blossomed as three years later in November 1931 they married at Ross Register Office. The couple moved just around the corner to 1, Holmdale on Archenfield Road where they welcomed their first child, my eldest brother John George ( like all the children in the family known by the second of his christian names, George) in June 1932. Their second child Edward Stanley (known as Stanley) was born on January 1st 1935 at 10, Brampton Road in Ross, the home of Mum’s Uncle Tom (Tom Barnett). I’m not sure why the family were living here at this time but shortly afterwards they relocated to 17, Over Ross Street.

Over Ross Street starts at Fiveways and leads up from the old railway bridge (demolished in the 1970s) onto Ledbury Road and subsequently the M50 motorway. The house the family lived in is no longer there but was just past the bridge on the right hand side. Almost opposite was the public house known as the Mason’s Arms, which became a favourite watering hole for my father. The Robbins family grew at this house with George and Stanley being joined by Elizabeth Anne (Betty) in 1936, Annette Lorraine (Lolly) in 1938, David in 1941 and Jacqueline in 1943. My brother Reginald was also born here in 1940 but he unfortunately passed away on 15th April 1940 at just one month old. The cause of death being recorded as Broncho-pneumonia.

With the closure of the tannery my father had changed employment now working for Ross Urban District Council as a carter. His principal role was driving a horse and cart around the town collecting the rubbish, ie a dustbin man. When subsequently the council purchased a motorised vehicle to carry out this work my father was given the keys and told he was the new driver. As far as I know he never sat or passed any form of driving test so must have had Grandfather’s Rights (properly known as acquired rights) when the test was introduced.

He generally had a good work record, losing very little time due to illness and in fact was offered the role of council foreman at one stage. He declined this promotion as it would have entailed moving house to Redhill, an area that Mum did not want to live in. There was a time when he found himself in hot water with his bosses which resulted in a short suspension from work. This involved Dad taking a scheduled “tea” break in the yard of the New Inn (now The Eagle) public house, where the drink taken was not tea but a glass of scrumpy. Unfortunately for my father the yard was overlooked by the then council offices and he was spotted by a diligent council official which resulted in disciplinary action. To say that my mother was a little angry would be an under statement.

On the 1939 register, in addition to his work on the council he is listed as being a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service in Ross. He never talked about this role but as Ross’s involvement in World War Two was vey limited I suspect he had very little to do. One vital job he did perform during the war years was the collection of metals to assist in the war effort. As can be seen from the photo this included such things as railings, pot and pans and even metal ornaments. Dad often thought that many of these objects were far too good to be melted down and used to make tanks and aeroplanes which probably explains the origin of the many brass and silver ornaments that adorned our house when I was a child.

Shortly after Jacqueline was born the family moved from Over Ross Street to 6, Brampton Road, a three bed semi-detached council house. Once again the family grew with the addition of Denis Ernest (Ernie) in 1946, Kay in 1948, Kenneth (Me) in 1951 and finally Malcolm James (known oddly enough as Malcolm) in 1954. To help to pay for this large family my father would work at weekends in various pubs in the town as a cellar man or even a barman. One such pub being the King Charles in Ross. His reputation was such that he was once offered the tenancy of one local pub which did tempt my father but my mum put her foot firmly down and said no.

One of my memories was visiting Dad’s garage on a Sunday morning while he worked overtime cleaning his lorry. Around the walls of the garage were bundles of magazines, books and discarded toys that were felt too good to go to land fill. These were eagerly ceased on by my brothers, sisters and I and gave us many hours of entertainment throughout the week. Dad didn’t join us as we walked back home for Sunday lunch but instead walked to the local pub, probably the afore mentioned Mason’s Arms, for some liquid refreshment. He would arrive home, always late, for his warmed up dinner and immediately after fall asleep in his favourite seat. In his later years he would wait at the bottom of Brampton Street for a lift home from Margaret ( my brother George’s wife) which relieved him of the steep incline of Brampton Hill. Although my father liked a drink and was often a little worse for wear he was never a “bad” drunk, never violent or ever abusive. He was a “Belt and Braces” man in the true sense in that he wore both braces and a belt, that nestled slightly below his waist and stomach. The belt coming off to hit us was always used as a threat when we were naughty as children but to my knowledge this never happened, apart from a rumour when my brother Stanley was a child.

My father retired from work on the council when he was 65 in 1967. As well as a drink, Stan like many men in these times enjoyed smoking, his brand being Woodbines. It was probably this coupled the dirty work of dustbin collection that lead to his early death in 1970 aged just 67. I have managed to collect a few photographs of my dad throughout his life and these are shown in the gallery below.