22nd october 1910 ethel mary folkard to agnes mabel ribbans
norwich, norfolk to acle, norfolk
10 miles
the message
“Dear A
Just a card to wish you many Happy Returns of the 23rd. I hope you will be spared to enjoy many more.
With love yours ever
Ethel
Albemarle Eaton”
The sender
Ethel Mary Folkard (1891-1972) was born in Broome, Norfolk. She was the third of five daughters born to Isaac Folkard (1851-1945) and Amelia Spalding (1854-1932). Isaac was a Carpenter and Joiner.
In the 1901 census Ethel was living with her family in Broome. In 1911 she was working as a Housemaid at a house called Albemarle in Eaton, Norfolk. The property is mentioned at the bottom of the message which is why Ethel can be identified as the sender. Significantly, the cook at Albemarle in 1911 was Mildred Ribbans (1883-1942), the sister of the recipient of the card. In the 1939 Register Ethel was living with her widowed father in Loddon, Norfolk, who is now retired. Ethel did not marry. She died while still living at the house in Loddon.
the recipient
Agnes Mabel Ribbans (1881-1958) was born in Drayton, Norfolk. She was the second of six children born to Walter Ribbans (1857-1929) and Emma Matilda Brunning (1857-1949). Walter was a Carpenter and Joiner and in 1911 was working at an Organ Works.
In the 1891 and 1901 censuses Agnes was living with her family in Drayton. In 1911 she was working as a Parlourmaid at Acle Hall in Acle, Norfolk. In 1914, Agnes married Percy Frank Church (1884-1971) In 1911 Percy was listed simply as an Assistant and it could be assumed that this was to assist his father Joseph Daniel Church (1853-1933) who was a Corn Merchant.
In 1939 Ethel and Percy, now a Railway Checker, were living in Leicester, Leicestershire. Agnes’s death was recorded in Leicester in 1958.
the trees
Ribbans
Folkard
the places
Norwich, Norfolk to Acle, Norfolk
Norwich, Norfolk showing Eaton
Acle, Norfolk
what the card says to us
This is is a simple Birthday Card. Except that the story behind it has some more complex and unexpected relationships.
The card has been sent Care/Of Superintendent Basham at the Acle Police Station. At first glance this looks strange. Was Agnes is gaol? Or did the Police Station serve as a post collection point? Not at all because Superintendent Basham turns out to be the splendidly named Welcome William Basham (1858-1934). And it transpires that Welcome Basham was Agnes’s uncle as he was married to her mother’s sister Elizabeth Sarah Brunning (1856-1918) although it doesn’t fully explain why the card was sent there.
The relationship between Ethel Folkard and Agnes Ribbans appears to be solely through Agnes’s sister and Ethel’s co-worker Mildred. Although as they were both born in 1881, perhaps they knew each other from childhood.