Gladys Wilton was born on Friday, 31st October 1924 in Mile End, London, to her parents, Annie Wilton (nee Collard) and Fred Wilton. She was named after her midwife, who took great care of Annie during the birth of their first child.
Gladys was the eldest sister of her brother Frederick, who was born in 1932, completing their small family.
Following the education of Gladys, she thrived in school and was notably a top performer amongst her peers. Her education ended at the age of 14, as was usual in that era. In 1939, when Gladys was just 15 years old, the UK joined WWII. As a family, we are unclear of the details between 1939 - 1943; however, Gladys was to leave London and join the Land Army and was stationed in Lydd, Kent, as a farm hand. Enjoying the work and forming new friendships, Gladys was often part of the hop picking team as well as a general farm hand.
Once the war ended, Gladys packed her belongings and travelled back to her home in London to be reunited with her mother.
In 1947, Gladys met and fell in love with Edward John Heath. They dated for about a year and married on 10th July 1948 at St. Saviours Catholic Church, Lewisham, London. They were surrounded by Family and friends, celebrating their love and union.
During their marriage, Gladys and Edward lived in different towns within London before settling down at 69 Kingsdale Road, Plumstead.
Gladys and Edward were married for 49 years until Gladys passed away in October 1997, following Edward's debilitating stroke just two months before.
After their wedding, Gladys and Edward lived in Lewisham, where they immediately planned their future and family dreams. After a short time, they were expecting their first daughter, Ann, in April 1949, followed by Susan in 1951 and Jane in 1958.
Each of their children went on to marry and have their own families.
With seven grandchildren, and at the point of Gladys' passing, they also had two great-granddaughters, Elizabeth and Georgia. Sadly, Gladys never met her other great-grandchildren, Harry, Ryder, and Dylan. They would have loved her as much as we did.
Baby Ann at 7 weeks old
On Tuesday, 5th April 1949, Gladys and Edward welcomed their first child, Ann Lilian Heath, who was to become their first of three daughters. Ann was born in Lewisham Hospital and returned to their home in Lewisham, London.
Baby Susan in 1951
On Monday, 15th December 1951, their second daughter, Susan Lydia Heath, was born at home in Tilson House, Brixton, London.
Jane building Sandcastles during the summer of 1966
Finally and completing their family, they welcomed their third daughter, Jane Elizabeth Heath, who was born on Saturday, 28th June 1958, at their new home at 16 Hollyhedge Bungalows in Blackheath, London. These were prefabs built to accommodate the thousands of families left homeless during the London Blitz during WWII.
Once Gladys returned from her Land Army posting in Lydd, Kent, she was employed with Littlewoods, where she remained until her marriage to Edward in 1948.
Being a woman ahead of her time, Gladys returned to work, part-time, to help with their income and to ensure she had her " teapot money". This is something that was encouraged throughout the family to ensure everyone wasn't 100% reliant on their spouses and gave them self-worth. To this day, all of us girls still do the same thing.
School Cleaner (1963 - 1965) Gladys worked as a school cleaner at Rockliff Manor Primary School, Bassant Road, Plumstead, London. This was very convenient as it was in the very next street to their home in Kingsdale Road, Plumstead.
Plumstead Abattoir (1975 - 1985) Plumstead Abattoir info
Gladys' role at Plumstead Abattoir was a meat processor. There were huge mincing machines, which were state of the art at that time, where the meat product would be emptied into and would be turned into either minced meat, Sausages or Burgers. Once these were produced, they were packed up and distributed across Co-Op shops.
Personal Ironing Service (1985 - 1997) After she retired from the abattoir, Gladys decided to set up her own ironing service, which she did for her neighbours right up until her passing in October 1997.
Our much-loved Gladys Annie Heath peacefully left us on Tuesday, 28th October 1997. It was peaceful but very sudden, which nobody was expecting. This was heartbreaking for all who loved her; she was the family matriarch, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.
On a crisp but sunny November day in 1997, Family and Friends said a sad farewell to the late, great Gladys Heath. We gathered at Eltham Crematorium, having a wonderful service to celebrate her life. There were readings and songs played that reminded us of the total love and devotion to her family.
Gladys was walked into the service to a piano piece played by her 5th grandchild, Lois. We will try to locate this music, which I think is on a cassette tape! and upload it to this tribute.
The poems and readings from Gladys' funeral are below.
Stop all the clocks - W H Auden (Read by Edward Hayward)
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows around the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
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How I love thee - Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Ready by Julie Dickerson)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God chooses,
I shall but love thee better after death.
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The Lord is my shepherd - Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd’ I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
He leadeth me beside the still waters
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
For his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
They rod and they staff, they comfort me
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
Me all the days of my life; and I will
Dwell in the house of the lord forever.
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Final Music
We chose the Inspector Morse Theme by Barrington Pheloung. This was one of Gladys' favourite programmes
Julie's memories - 2nd Grandchild
I have so many fantastic memories of my Nan, as there are seven grandchildren, there may be some crossover as more memories are added. Here is a small selection of mine.
When we were very small, we would go to Nan and Grandad's house every Friday evening after school. We were living in Welling, Kent, at the time, and Nan and Grandad were a walk away in Plumstead. Once we got to their house, we were given treats from Grandad, usually flowers for Nan and a bar of dairy milk chocolate and some sweeties for my sister Louise and I.
When we moved to Ashford, Kent, it was always an exciting journey by train. We would catch the train from Ashford station to Orpington, where we would be met by Grandad in his Ford Fiesta Van. We would get to their house and be greeted at the door by Nan, a quick hug, and then you are hit by the smell of delicious food cooking. Freshly cooked sausage rolls on arrival were heavenly. Even today, when I smell sausage rolls being cooked at home, the happy memories flood back.
When my Dad finally had a car, we would drive up to their house, racing to get there before our Aunt, Uncle and cousins; otherwise, we wouldn't get any sausage rolls!!
Nan taught me to knit, which I have been doing since the age of 5 years old. Thankfully I am a lot better now than I was back then. Her patience was immense, and it's quite clear that I've not inherited that gene. I can remember walking to the wool shop in Plumstead and being in awe of the amount of wool and what you could do with that. When we got back to Nan and Grandads, my sister and I would pretend we worked in a wool shop, arranging all the spare balls of wool my nan kept in her dresser.
While writing this, another memory pinged in my mind, one that my sister very well may repeat, and that was us polishing their coffee table until it was like an ice rink and then performing a dance on said table to the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovshy)
