5th august 1913 kate ada bishop to charles william berry
st james, westminster to holmbury st mary, surrey
25 miles
the message
Front
“5th August 1913
I went to see the Queen Victoria Statue outside Buckingham Palace on Monday. It is lovely. Grandma is coming up to see me tomorrow.”
Back
“c/o Sir Francis Laking
3 Cleveland Row
St James
SW
How are you? dear. Still having a good time. I should like to see you cooking. What fun. I am getting on very well dearie.
Lots of love from Auntie Kit”
the sender
Kate Ada Bishop (1877-1971) was born in Maidstone, Kent. Her parents were William Bishop (1852-1912) and Sarah King (1854-1934). William has no occupation listed in 1911 but in 1901 he was a Stone Quarryman.
In 1881 Kate was living with her parents in Maidstone. In 1891 the family had moved to Sevenoaks, Kent. In 1901 she was in service in Bromley, Kent working as a cook for Alexander Thomson, an East india Merchant. In 1911 she was working as a cook in Maidenhead, Berkshire for Mary Anne Laking, a lady of Independent Means and the sister of Sir Francis Laking, who was the doctor to Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. It is Sir Francis Laking that Kate appears to be working for when she sent this card in 1913.
In January of 1933 Kate travelled to Canada to marry Henry Tebby aka Henry Moss (1861-1944), a Farmer originally from Oxfordshire. Kate was his third wife.
Kate’s death was recorded in Ontario, Canada in 1971.
the recipient
Charles William Berry (1901-1981) was born in Faversham, Kent. His parents were Louis Arthur Berry (1880-1947) and Elizabeth Bishop (1879-1968). In 1911 Louis was a Railway Porter.
In 1911 Charles was living with his parents in Dorking, Surrey. When this card was sent he was presumably still in Dorking as it was sent to a nearby Scout Camp.
In 1924 Charles married Nellie Irene Piper (1902-1980). According to the 1939 Register they were living in Sevenoaks, Kent and Charles was a Public Service Vehicle Driver.
Charles’ death is recorded in Bromley, Kent in 1981.
the tree
the places
St James, Westminster to Holmbury St Mary, Surrey
St James, Westminster showing Cleveland Row
Holmbury St Mary, Surrey
what the card says to us
The picture shows a view of the Banquetting Hall at the Tower Of London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London) but this does not appear to have any connection with the family.
Kate Aa Bishop is Charles Berry’s aunt. It has to be presumed that the Grandma referred to is Kate Ada’s mother Sarah Bishop nee King (1854-1934). It might be that if Kate Ada is newly employed in the St James area that it offers new opportunities for sightseeing.
Kate Ada is a cook which probably explains why she is interested in seeing Charles cooking.