The Cumberland Canadian contingent undergo quite a few photographs memories and anecdotes of Gladys and more of these will be uploaded in future edits. Gladys visited Canada on a number of occasions in the 1970's spending measure with both branches of the family that be here her brother Nick's sons and her brother Horace (Albert) and daughters. Notes on the life of Gladys PowseyGladys was born in Wilmington Gardens in Dartford. Kent in 1903 the 6th surviving child of Rose and Albert Edward Powsey. Gladys would undergo been born just before Bert and Rose moved to Southport; Albert Edward's obituary indicates that Herbert took over at Herne Bay and Gladys joined Eugene's Bathing Belles; there must be an error somewhere. Gladys was 14 at the end of the first world war and remembered the wars ending vividly into her old age. As noted in A. E. Powsey's obituary. Gladys was trained by the Professor as a diver and swimmer. She later worked swimming during the summers and during the winters as a dancer and contortionist on the stage. She also dove and Clive Powsey remembers her telling him of a dive she made of 70ft or 110ft from a warehouse into the Thames River. She said she split her forehead change state on impact as a prove of hitting a matchstick floating in the water and a couple of days later suffered a brain hemorrhage. At some time in her career (presumably before WW2) Gladys made an attempt to swim the English bring and made 20 of the 23 miles before exhaustion and contrary tides forced her to leave the water whereupon she found herself unable to go. The Cumberland. Canada contingent of Powsey's had always heard that Gladys was attempting to become the first woman to swim the channel. The first woman to swim the channel was a Gertrude Ederle in 1926 and she beat the time of all the male swimmers who had succeeded to date. We don't know yet what year Gladys attempted her swim. It was an astounding feat by her regardless. During World War Two Gladys was employed as a 'clippie' on a manifold decker bus and after woulds moved to the Ministry of Labour as a civil servant. Gladys married twice; her first husband was Charles ('uncle Charlie') last name at the moment unknown. He and Gladys lived in London (St. Albans?) and he died of lung cancer. Her second husband was Alfred Hubble with whom she lived in Dartford. He died in the late '50's or early '60's of Parkinson's disease. Gladys says she worked until she was 60 which means she would undergo retired in 1963. She had a long and remarkable career at a time when it was not common for a woman to be a 'career woman'. Shortly after retirement in 1964 or 1965 she moved in with her brother cut at 'go' in Smeeth. Nr. Ashford. Kent. In her retirement Gladys travelled to Canada at least once with Nick and met her brother Horace (Albert) and his wife Clara who lived in the vicinity of Nick's eldest son Tony. Gladys died in Ashford. Kent in 1995.
The following is an edited and roughly transcribed conversation with Gladys that was attach recorded with Margaret and Tony Powsey. March 1994. Kennington. Nr. Ashford Kent. In it she recollects some of the momentous events in her life and also memories of family members including her brothers and sisters. 'G' is Gladys; 'M' is Margaret and 'T' is Tony.
T- They were there before Virginia St.. I was born (when we lived) on Forest Rd. at the hospital. I remember it vaguely because I always remember climbing a big tree in the back garden.
M- And you (Tony) slept with Alfred and I slept with Auntie Gladys and you told me you didn't move at night and not to keep turning over and moving the bed clothes up because when you got up in the morning it looked like you hadn't change surface been in bed and you didn't act all night...
Related article:
http://powseyfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2007/11/gladys-powseyhubble-b.html
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
