Joyce Olive BILLSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cremated: 31 08 2018, Wessex Vale Crematorium; Bubb Lane, West End, Southampton SO30 2HL

Notes:

Cremated:
Joyce’s Wonderful Life, by Celia Walker nee Mills.


Joyce Olive Mills made her dramatic entry to the world on the 18th November 1924 in Rugby; by a difficult breach birth (she was very proud to tell this). She felt that this had set a marker for her, as, in those days, so many such births ended in tragedy for both mother and baby, and so lived her life with determination and endeavour . She was the eldest of three children born to Len and May Billson. By her own account, she was a serious child who seemed to have an adult head on her from the word GO! She loved her brothers, Fred and Ron but always thought their games were too babyish for her! They both emigrated to the States in their 20s so she saw very little of them or their families during her life.
Her greatest love as a child was being at school. She was a voracious learner, Maths was her favourite subject, and she was always top of the class - something which she remained fiercely proud of her whole life. She attended Rugby High School for Girls and whilst achieving academic excellence, also enjoyed sports and being in the school netball team as goal shooter and captain; and in the hockey team, playing at right back.
Her school days were cut short after gaining distinctions in all her School Certificate exams (the equivalent of A star GCSEs) when her father wouldn’t allow her to continue her education. So, at 17, she left school to work in the accountancy offices of the local council in order to contribute to the household. This was her biggest, but only, regret of her life as she would have dearly loved to have gone to university to continue her studies and achieve her potential.
However, this cloud had a silver lining! The mother of Joyce’s best friend had taken in a lodger. A young man of 19, Ron Mills, had moved from his home in Hampshire to work as an apprentice in the electrical engineering industry which was based in Rugby. By his account, as soon as he saw Joyce he knew he was going to marry her and so began their friendship soon blossoming into romance and their marriage in 1946.
They lived in rooms for nearly four years but in 1950 when they announced the imminent arrival of Corin, their landlady refused to have a baby in the house and they had to move out and live with the Joyce’s parents. They desperately wanted their own house but had no deposit. This is when their Indian Adventure idea began to take shape. Ron had been offered a job with BTH in Calcutta to help the heavy electrical engineering industry after India’s recent independence. It was the answer to their prayers as it would allow them to accrue enough money for that all important deposit. So together with Corin, an 18 month old toddler, in 1951 they embarked from Southampton on a three-week sea voyage to India, First Class, all paid for by the Company. Mum’s recollection of this voyage was not a happy one as she suffered badly with sea sickness but still had to attend to Corin’s needs! The next stage of the journey was a 3 day sleeper train ride across India from Bombay to Calcutta. Again, another very trying time!
Life in India was very different. She had servants for everything, even an Ayah (nanny) to look after Corin! Joyce’s days were mostly spent socialising with the other European ladies. It was a life of luxury, but she admitted to being very bored with it! Whilst there, I was born. It hadn’t been a good pregnancy as Joyce had contracted dysentery, which continued for months after the birth. Her health was poor, and Ron couldn’t afford to send her to the hills to escape the heat of Calcutta, so the company flew her home, whilst Ron had to stay and complete his contract.
The journey home on a Lockheed Super Constellation required three stops for refuelling. During the stop in Beirut, Joyce, being so accustomed to having servants do all the fetching and carrying, she left 3 month old Celia in her carrycot in the airport café, only realising when a request came over the tannoy for a certain Joyce Mills to return and collect her baby! They finally landed at Heathrow, which then was just a collection of corrugated sheds, and were met by Ron’s father.
Her memory of the flight included noting that as they flew from East to West, the sun in front of the plane never set.
After the best part of a year living with her in-laws in Gosport, Joyce’s beloved Ron returned, and they moved to Sheffield where he had secured a job. They were able to put a deposit on their first house using the ‘India’ money and this was where Brian was born. Her little family now complete, Joyce found herself, for the first time, with no support network of servants or family but her strength of character saw her through a hectic life with three small children.
After a couple of years spent in Sheffield, Joyce and Ron moved back to Rugby to another new house in Old Bilton where their young family grew up. During this time she was an active member of the local Townswomen’s Guild, and was Chairwoman several times. Once the children were all at school, and still relatively short of money, Joyce made the decision to pick up her education. At aged 40, she learnt to drive and then attended Coventry Teacher Training College, taking a two-year accelerated course to become a teacher. True to form, she gained a distinction for her Certificate in Education.
Joyce then worked as a junior school teacher and revisited her love of netball by coaching the school netball team. They were very successful and won lots of their matches – something which she was rightly proud of. Her teaching career spanned 20 + years and included specialising in special needs education in which she gained several promotions. She loved teaching and like everything she turned her hand to, made a great success of it. She said it had made up for just a little of her disappointment at not going to university!
As her children became adults, she welcomed their partners, Lynne, Paul, and a few years later, John and June with love and warmth, enfolding them into her family. They held a special place in her heart.
In 1977, Joyce became a grandmother first to Emma, and then quickly followed by Matthew, Elena, Zoe and finally, James. She and Ron absolutely loved this new role and were the most wonderful grandparents who doted on their grandchildren who loved them back in equal measure! Many happy times were spent at their house in Pratts Bottom..... a place name which still gives much amusement to everyone!
After retiring from teaching, Joyce and Ron enjoyed several happy years travelling abroad for holidays in Cyprus, going to the theatre, concerts, the opera and the ballet, visiting museums and galleries and generally enjoying the freedom to do what they liked when they liked!
Unfortunately, this lifestyle was cut short by Ron having a heart attack and his health deteriorated considerably. It hit Joyce hard and she suffered greatly with anxiety. The next 10 years were difficult for her but she showed her strength and managed to carry on, although it did take its toll. After her beloved Ron died, Joyce became very depressed and the next 5 years were her darkest, experiencing loneliness (she’d never been on her own) and never really recovering from her loss.
Over several years, Joyce once again warmly welcomed new members to the family, Emma’s partner, now husband, Chris, Matthews’s wife, Belle, Elena’s husband John, James’ wife Sarah and recently Zoe’s partner Darren.
2 years before Ron died, their first great grandchild, Daniel was born, closely followed by William! A source of great joy to them both. After Ron’s death, Joyce was blessed with more; Along came Poppy, Isabelle, Jenson, Benjamin, Keeka, Harriet, Josie, Edith, Joshua and Esmee. They have all brought new, untold joy and love into her life. She was so proud to boast that she had 12 beautiful great grandchildren!
Joyce was first and foremost a home maker, a family woman, a beloved wife, a caring and loving mother, a devoted grandmother and great grandmother. During the last years of her life, her greatest joy came from knowing that her children were happy and successful good hearted people who held the same ideals by which she lived her life and that they in turn have raised their children to be the same, who are also in the process of doing likewise with their children. We are her legacy, a family who love, care and support each other no matter what.
Rest in peace, our lovely Mummy, Nana, Great Nana. You may have gone from view but you’ll never leave our hearts. We all loved you very much and trust that you and your beloved Ronnie are together now for all eternity.
'Til we meet again …….



A Poem for my Nanna by Emma Bolton.

We had a wonderful Nanna
One who never really grew old
Her smile was made of sunshine
and her heart was solid gold.

We had a wonderful Nanna
In her cheeks pink roses you'd see
Her eyes were as bright as shining stars
And tha'ts the way she will always be.

We had a wonderful Nanna
We're all here to wave her goodbye
So Nanna, cuddle up with Grandpa
With that chocolate box in the sky!

Joyce married Ronald George MILLS on 24 Aug 1946 in the Parish Church, Rugby. Ronald (son of Major William George MILLS, R.E and Eileen Grace FRANCIS) was born on 20 Jul 1923 in 67, North St, Gosport; was christened on 17 Oct 1923; died on 16 Jan 2007 in Southampton General Hospital. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Corin Vincent MILLS was born on 22 May 1950 in St. Mary's Maternity Hospital, Harborough Magna, Warks.; was christened in the Parish Church, Alverstoke.
2. Celia Rosemary MILLS was born on 7 Jul 1953 in Calcutta, India.
3. Brian Alexander MILLS was born on 2 Jul 1956 in 36, Alms Hill Road, Eccleshall, Sheffield.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Post War; Engineers draughtsman at BTH in Rugby (British Thompson Houston)
• Census: 1901, 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham
• Census: 1911, 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham
• Military: 1918, 68, Hydethorpe Road; Absent Voters Lists 1918 The voters details for the 1918 General Election were initially supplied by the next of kin of the household of the soldier to local voter registration officers. Once this process was completed, the names of those in the army were sent to the Adjutant General’s Department of the War Office, who then arranged to send voting cards to soldiers who were in the United Kingdom and ballot papers to men in France, Flanders and Italy. Men serving in more distant theatres of war were allowed to vote through use of a proxy voting form.

Notes:

Birth:
Description: 1901 Census - Born in Brixton Hill

Died:
Description: Cardiac arrest & Peripheral vascular disease

Just prior to his death he had to have a leg amputated.

Leonard married Adelaide Victoria May WILSON on 18 Aug 1923 in Streatham, Surrey, England. Adelaide (daughter of Joseph Frederick WILSON and Sarah Elizabeth WOOD) was born on 22 Oct 1897 in 1 Mary's Cottages, Eastcote Street, Stockwell, London.; died on 14 May 1965 in Rugby. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1901; Address:
  17, Paradise Road, Stockwell, London

Notes:

Died:
Jun Q 1965 9c 894 Rugby

Notes:

Married:
Sep Q 1923 1d 1167 Wandsworth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: a Paper Hanger

Notes:

3 Leigham Terrace, Wells Lane, Streatham @ Birth.
Court Road, Streatham @ Marriage
Most of his married life lived at Hydethorpe Rd. Balham. Leonard Sidney Billson, possibly born there.
After his wife died LSH Billson brought him back to Rugby to Eastlands Road. It is believed that Ted didn't want to move away from London.

Birth:
Neither Leigham Terrace or Wells Lane exist in 2002.
The Leigham Arms pub used to be in Wells Lane and is still there today on Wellfield Road, between Valley Road and Streatham High Road.

Buried:
Unmarked - believed to be a pauper's grave.

Edmund married Sarah Anne HARRIS on 19 Apr 1897 in The Parish Church, Chipping Norton. Sarah (daughter of Elisha HARRIS and Phoebe HARVEY) was born on 18 Nov 1869 in Chipping Norton; died on 5 Apr 1950 in 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1891, 6, Ruddell Crescent, Hampstead

Notes:

Spring Street, C/Norton @ Marriage

Birth:
Description: 1881 Census states she was born 1867

Census:
Description: Cook (Domestic Servant)

Died:
Description: Cerebral thrombosis

Informant LSH Billson

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1891, 67, Cottage Grove, Lambeth
• Occupation: 1900; Coachman

Notes:

Thought to have been born in Jersey ? (Not borne out by 1901 Census)
Irishman. Coachman on one of the stages of the London to Brighton Stagecoach.

Birth:
Name: Joseph Frederick Wilson
Registration Year: 1864
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration district: Petworth
Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 297

Census:
Description: Coachman

Died:
Name: Joseph Frederick Wilson
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Registration Year: 1902
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 38
Registration district: Lambeth
London
Volume: 1d
Page: 221

Sarcoma of Tonsils & Exhaustion

Joseph married Sarah Elizabeth WOOD on 20 Jul 1890 in St, Paul's Church, Stratford, West Ham. Sarah (daughter of William WOOD and Jane HEARN) was born on 13 Jun 1859 in Stratford, Essex. (Stratford Bow, London); died on 30 Apr 1935 in Chipping Norton (at Jessies/Iris's house); was buried on 30 Apr 1935 in Worcester Road Cemetery, Chipping Norton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Parlour Maid
• Census: 1891, 67, Cottage Grove, Lambeth

Notes:

Parents were Publicans

Birth:
FreeFormatDate:4th Quarter

Description: Iris reckoned born 1857

Died:
Description: dropsy

Notes:

Married:
Description: witnessed by Richard Wood & Sarah Jane Bottomley

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Gardener
• Census: 1861, Park House, Parsons Green Lane, Fulham
• Census: 1871, 5, Beulah Terrace, Leather Bottle Lane, Croydon; Living with William Reeves & family. Recorded as a Gardener.

Notes:

Known as Sidney Henry on Marriage Cert of his son

Birth:
Mar Q 1854 1c 1[_8]0 Shoreditch

Census:
With William and Ann Reeves, recorded as Sidney Henry Reeves instead of Billson

Died:
June Q 1896 1d 451 Wandsworth

Informant - Beatrice Billson

Sidney married Emily BUTLER on 9 Mar 1874 in Lambeth. Emily (daughter of John BUTLER and Eliza BOWYER) was born about 15 Mar 1854 in Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex.; died on 7 Oct 1943 in Los Angeles, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1881; Domestic Servant
• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth
• Occupation: 1901; Mangle? Wash - working at home
• Address: Dec 1910; Address:
  156, Robson Road, West Norwood, S6
• Census: 1911, 56, Robson Road, West Norwood; With her were Cyril and Lily Maud, both single.
• Address: From 1920 to; Address:
  2211 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA.
• Address: Feb 1920; Address:
  52, Knight's Hill, West Norwood, London
• Emigration: Jun 1920, America
• Census: 1930, 1939 17th St ? Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Notes:

In the 1901 Census online the transcript spells the surname with only one L and her sons and daughters birth place as Strestham.

Birth:
Mar Q 1854 4a 269 Witham

Address:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Address:
Description: according to Herberts immigration papers

Address:
Description: with her son Herbert Henry Billson

Address:
Description: according to Cyril's immigration papers

Emigration:
She sailed from Southampton bound for Ellis Island on the SS "Royal George".
Her final destination was to be with her son Herbert Henry who emigrated in 1910.

The immigration papers describe her as being 65 years old, a housewife, 5' 3" in height with normal complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.

Census:
Description: US Federal Census

Notes:

Married:
Mar Q 1874 1d 538 Lambeth

On his marriage certificate Sidney records his father as George William Billson. As Sidney was only a year old when his real father Henry died it's likely that he was brought up by George

Description: with Edmund, Beatrice and Arthur

Description: 1891 Census

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Labourer and became a Leather Grounder or Glover

Notes:

Birth could be 1832?
Possibly one other child making six.

Died:
Dec Q 1899 3a 597 Chipping Norton

Elisha married Phoebe HARVEY in 1858 in Chipping Norton. Phoebe (daughter of ? HARVEY and Grace ?) was born in 1838 in Chipping Norton; died in 1895 in Chipping Norton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
FreeFormatDate:1st Quarter

Notes:

Married:
Sep Q 1858 3a 1011 Chipping Norton

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Horse Trainer

Robert + Augusta Emma WILSON. Augusta was born in 1842 in Marylebone; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Mar Q 1842 1 212 Marylebone

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1851, Martin's Yard, West Ham
• Occupation: 1881; Licensed Victualler (Hallsville Tavern, Hallsville Road, Canning Town)
• Census: 1891, 174, Balaam Street, Plaistow, West Ham

Notes:

Census:
Description: Publican

Died:
Mar Q 1897 4a 166 West Ham OR Sep Q 1897 4a 95 West Ham - Not proven

Probate 4th Oct 1897 to Jane Wood, Widow.
Effects - £2279 15s 2d

William married Jane HEARN in 1861. Jane was born about 1835 in Barnet, Hertford; died on 31 Mar 1914 in 54, Gurney Road, Stratford, Essex. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1861; Address:
  24, Western Street, West Ham
• Census: 1901, 16, Chobham Street, West Ham
• Census: 1911, 54, Gurney Road, Stratford, Essex; Living with her daughter Emily's family

Notes:

Census:
Description: Living on her own means

Died:
Mar Q 1914 4a 38 West Ham

Probate 29th April 1914 to John William Saunders and Henry Robert Smith, Licensed Victuallers.
Effects £2053 5s 1d
Resworn £1778 5s 1d

Notes:

Married:
Sep Q 1861 4a 51 West Ham

FreeFormatDate:Census

Census:
Description: Beer House Keeper