Vera Hodkinson, daughter of Richard Hodkinson and Lavinia Nancy Crook, was born 10 Nov 1916 in Bolton, Lancashire. Vera had one sister named Edna. Her father died when the girls were young, leaving their mother a widow.
She married Charles Herbert Allen, son of Alexander Cyprus Allen and Hilda Elizabeth Sacker. Their marriage was registered Mar Qtr 1946 in the Nottingham Registration District.
No known children were born to this marriage.
************************************************************
Many people who knew Vera would be surprised to learn that she was in fact a Lancashire Lass by birth. This is not because she feared the ire of Yorkshire folk but because circumstances changed for Vera at the age of four when her father Richard who was a tenant Publican died suddenly leaving her mother Lavinia, sister Edna and herself without a home at short notice.
Lavinia decided the best course of action was to return to familiar turf in Nottingham. Many friends and family urged Lavinia to put Vera and her sister into an orphanage but Vera’s mother retorted, “Over my dead body.” It was a story Vera would return to many times in later years with deep love and gratitude for the hard work and love shown by her mother as she grew up.
It became apparent when Vera and her sister Edna were at school that they showed academic promise and both passed their scholarships and went to Grammar School.
One of Vera’s hobbies at this time was ice skating. A few years ago an elderly male friend expressed surprise that Vera had been a skater to which she replied, “I know it’s hard to believe but I was young once you know!”
On leaving school Vera became a secretary and worked for some of the best known names in Britain such as Boots, Rolls Royce and Vickers.
When in her twenties Vera spotted a well-dressed gentleman on her regular bus to work. They were not to meet until a couple of years later at an Evening Class. Vera was a person who always liked to expand her horizons so she was drawn to an evening class called ‘Sunspots’. Having an interest in travelling to warmer climes she thought she would enroll. As she sat in anticipation of an interesting evening full of the delights of exotic locations she quickly discovered that it was in fact an Astronomy Class!
This however proved to be fortuitous as she transferred to another class for Ramblers. At this class she spotted once again the gentleman on the bus, Herbert, and they quickly became inseparable and eventually husband and wife.
Vera and Herbert were initially keen walkers and she vividly remembered when on a walk up Kinder Scout that her group were confronted by angry gamekeepers with shotguns. Although not fully established if this incident was instrumental in their decision, she and Herbert changed to cycling instead and in particular a Tandem enjoying journeys as far away as the Low Countries.
When first married Vera and Herbert lived in Middlesbrough (Herbert’s home town) and later Stockton; both towns situated in the north east of England. It was at this time that Vera had her first brush with the Rock world when she and Herbert rented out their property to an Irish band – they were apparently very well behaved!
Eventually Herbert found a new job in Leeds in 1963 and Vera entered a new phase of her life. Although initially reluctant to set down roots in Leeds Vera sought and acquired a secretarial post and settled down in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Many new interests and hobbies followed which included membership of the Towns Women’s Guild, dancing, gardening and her special interest-French Classes, which also involved exchange visits with a French family. Many friends were established over the years as Vera had a naturally friendly and sunny disposition.
Holidays with Herbert continued both in this country and many abroad until his death just after Vera’s retirement. Fortunately Edna, her sister, was able to accompany and encourage Vera’s adventurous spirit on many subsequent holidays.
It was in her seventies that Vera developed a serious health problem. Many people with this condition would have crumbled, but Vera was stoical and managed to make a full recovery after surgery.
As Vera approached her eightieth decade her sense of fun continued and she still went out and about and latterly with OPAL (a group for mature people who are young at heart). Her close friends and neighbours provided support in various ways as she became less agile and she was always grateful for this.
Our lasting memories of Vera are of a happy and positive friend contented with many vivid and pleasurable experiences and recollections.
Source: Vera Hodkinson Allen Eulogy by Jan Robson, 15 May 2014
She married Charles Herbert Allen, son of Alexander Cyprus Allen and Hilda Elizabeth Sacker. Their marriage was registered Mar Qtr 1946 in the Nottingham Registration District.
No known children were born to this marriage.
************************************************************
Many people who knew Vera would be surprised to learn that she was in fact a Lancashire Lass by birth. This is not because she feared the ire of Yorkshire folk but because circumstances changed for Vera at the age of four when her father Richard who was a tenant Publican died suddenly leaving her mother Lavinia, sister Edna and herself without a home at short notice.
Lavinia decided the best course of action was to return to familiar turf in Nottingham. Many friends and family urged Lavinia to put Vera and her sister into an orphanage but Vera’s mother retorted, “Over my dead body.” It was a story Vera would return to many times in later years with deep love and gratitude for the hard work and love shown by her mother as she grew up.
It became apparent when Vera and her sister Edna were at school that they showed academic promise and both passed their scholarships and went to Grammar School.
One of Vera’s hobbies at this time was ice skating. A few years ago an elderly male friend expressed surprise that Vera had been a skater to which she replied, “I know it’s hard to believe but I was young once you know!”
On leaving school Vera became a secretary and worked for some of the best known names in Britain such as Boots, Rolls Royce and Vickers.
When in her twenties Vera spotted a well-dressed gentleman on her regular bus to work. They were not to meet until a couple of years later at an Evening Class. Vera was a person who always liked to expand her horizons so she was drawn to an evening class called ‘Sunspots’. Having an interest in travelling to warmer climes she thought she would enroll. As she sat in anticipation of an interesting evening full of the delights of exotic locations she quickly discovered that it was in fact an Astronomy Class!
This however proved to be fortuitous as she transferred to another class for Ramblers. At this class she spotted once again the gentleman on the bus, Herbert, and they quickly became inseparable and eventually husband and wife.
Vera and Herbert were initially keen walkers and she vividly remembered when on a walk up Kinder Scout that her group were confronted by angry gamekeepers with shotguns. Although not fully established if this incident was instrumental in their decision, she and Herbert changed to cycling instead and in particular a Tandem enjoying journeys as far away as the Low Countries.
When first married Vera and Herbert lived in Middlesbrough (Herbert’s home town) and later Stockton; both towns situated in the north east of England. It was at this time that Vera had her first brush with the Rock world when she and Herbert rented out their property to an Irish band – they were apparently very well behaved!
Eventually Herbert found a new job in Leeds in 1963 and Vera entered a new phase of her life. Although initially reluctant to set down roots in Leeds Vera sought and acquired a secretarial post and settled down in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Many new interests and hobbies followed which included membership of the Towns Women’s Guild, dancing, gardening and her special interest-French Classes, which also involved exchange visits with a French family. Many friends were established over the years as Vera had a naturally friendly and sunny disposition.
Holidays with Herbert continued both in this country and many abroad until his death just after Vera’s retirement. Fortunately Edna, her sister, was able to accompany and encourage Vera’s adventurous spirit on many subsequent holidays.
It was in her seventies that Vera developed a serious health problem. Many people with this condition would have crumbled, but Vera was stoical and managed to make a full recovery after surgery.
As Vera approached her eightieth decade her sense of fun continued and she still went out and about and latterly with OPAL (a group for mature people who are young at heart). Her close friends and neighbours provided support in various ways as she became less agile and she was always grateful for this.
Our lasting memories of Vera are of a happy and positive friend contented with many vivid and pleasurable experiences and recollections.
Source: Vera Hodkinson Allen Eulogy by Jan Robson, 15 May 2014
Vera Hodkinson, daughter of Richard Hodkinson and Lavinia Nancy Crook, was born 10 Nov 1916 in Bolton, Lancashire. Vera had one sister named Edna. Her father died when the girls were young, leaving their mother a widow.
She married Charles Herbert Allen, son of Alexander Cyprus Allen and Hilda Elizabeth Sacker. Their marriage was registered Mar Qtr 1946 in the Nottingham Registration District.
No known children were born to this marriage.
************************************************************
Many people who knew Vera would be surprised to learn that she was in fact a Lancashire Lass by birth. This is not because she feared the ire of Yorkshire folk but because circumstances changed for Vera at the age of four when her father Richard who was a tenant Publican died suddenly leaving her mother Lavinia, sister Edna and herself without a home at short notice.
Lavinia decided the best course of action was to return to familiar turf in Nottingham. Many friends and family urged Lavinia to put Vera and her sister into an orphanage but Vera’s mother retorted, “Over my dead body.” It was a story Vera would return to many times in later years with deep love and gratitude for the hard work and love shown by her mother as she grew up.
It became apparent when Vera and her sister Edna were at school that they showed academic promise and both passed their scholarships and went to Grammar School.
One of Vera’s hobbies at this time was ice skating. A few years ago an elderly male friend expressed surprise that Vera had been a skater to which she replied, “I know it’s hard to believe but I was young once you know!”
On leaving school Vera became a secretary and worked for some of the best known names in Britain such as Boots, Rolls Royce and Vickers.
When in her twenties Vera spotted a well-dressed gentleman on her regular bus to work. They were not to meet until a couple of years later at an Evening Class. Vera was a person who always liked to expand her horizons so she was drawn to an evening class called ‘Sunspots’. Having an interest in travelling to warmer climes she thought she would enroll. As she sat in anticipation of an interesting evening full of the delights of exotic locations she quickly discovered that it was in fact an Astronomy Class!
This however proved to be fortuitous as she transferred to another class for Ramblers. At this class she spotted once again the gentleman on the bus, Herbert, and they quickly became inseparable and eventually husband and wife.
Vera and Herbert were initially keen walkers and she vividly remembered when on a walk up Kinder Scout that her group were confronted by angry gamekeepers with shotguns. Although not fully established if this incident was instrumental in their decision, she and Herbert changed to cycling instead and in particular a Tandem enjoying journeys as far away as the Low Countries.
When first married Vera and Herbert lived in Middlesbrough (Herbert’s home town) and later Stockton; both towns situated in the north east of England. It was at this time that Vera had her first brush with the Rock world when she and Herbert rented out their property to an Irish band – they were apparently very well behaved!
Eventually Herbert found a new job in Leeds in 1963 and Vera entered a new phase of her life. Although initially reluctant to set down roots in Leeds Vera sought and acquired a secretarial post and settled down in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Many new interests and hobbies followed which included membership of the Towns Women’s Guild, dancing, gardening and her special interest-French Classes, which also involved exchange visits with a French family. Many friends were established over the years as Vera had a naturally friendly and sunny disposition.
Holidays with Herbert continued both in this country and many abroad until his death just after Vera’s retirement. Fortunately Edna, her sister, was able to accompany and encourage Vera’s adventurous spirit on many subsequent holidays.
It was in her seventies that Vera developed a serious health problem. Many people with this condition would have crumbled, but Vera was stoical and managed to make a full recovery after surgery.
As Vera approached her eightieth decade her sense of fun continued and she still went out and about and latterly with OPAL (a group for mature people who are young at heart). Her close friends and neighbours provided support in various ways as she became less agile and she was always grateful for this.
Our lasting memories of Vera are of a happy and positive friend contented with many vivid and pleasurable experiences and recollections.
Source: Vera Hodkinson Allen Eulogy by Jan Robson, 15 May 2014
She married Charles Herbert Allen, son of Alexander Cyprus Allen and Hilda Elizabeth Sacker. Their marriage was registered Mar Qtr 1946 in the Nottingham Registration District.
No known children were born to this marriage.
************************************************************
Many people who knew Vera would be surprised to learn that she was in fact a Lancashire Lass by birth. This is not because she feared the ire of Yorkshire folk but because circumstances changed for Vera at the age of four when her father Richard who was a tenant Publican died suddenly leaving her mother Lavinia, sister Edna and herself without a home at short notice.
Lavinia decided the best course of action was to return to familiar turf in Nottingham. Many friends and family urged Lavinia to put Vera and her sister into an orphanage but Vera’s mother retorted, “Over my dead body.” It was a story Vera would return to many times in later years with deep love and gratitude for the hard work and love shown by her mother as she grew up.
It became apparent when Vera and her sister Edna were at school that they showed academic promise and both passed their scholarships and went to Grammar School.
One of Vera’s hobbies at this time was ice skating. A few years ago an elderly male friend expressed surprise that Vera had been a skater to which she replied, “I know it’s hard to believe but I was young once you know!”
On leaving school Vera became a secretary and worked for some of the best known names in Britain such as Boots, Rolls Royce and Vickers.
When in her twenties Vera spotted a well-dressed gentleman on her regular bus to work. They were not to meet until a couple of years later at an Evening Class. Vera was a person who always liked to expand her horizons so she was drawn to an evening class called ‘Sunspots’. Having an interest in travelling to warmer climes she thought she would enroll. As she sat in anticipation of an interesting evening full of the delights of exotic locations she quickly discovered that it was in fact an Astronomy Class!
This however proved to be fortuitous as she transferred to another class for Ramblers. At this class she spotted once again the gentleman on the bus, Herbert, and they quickly became inseparable and eventually husband and wife.
Vera and Herbert were initially keen walkers and she vividly remembered when on a walk up Kinder Scout that her group were confronted by angry gamekeepers with shotguns. Although not fully established if this incident was instrumental in their decision, she and Herbert changed to cycling instead and in particular a Tandem enjoying journeys as far away as the Low Countries.
When first married Vera and Herbert lived in Middlesbrough (Herbert’s home town) and later Stockton; both towns situated in the north east of England. It was at this time that Vera had her first brush with the Rock world when she and Herbert rented out their property to an Irish band – they were apparently very well behaved!
Eventually Herbert found a new job in Leeds in 1963 and Vera entered a new phase of her life. Although initially reluctant to set down roots in Leeds Vera sought and acquired a secretarial post and settled down in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Many new interests and hobbies followed which included membership of the Towns Women’s Guild, dancing, gardening and her special interest-French Classes, which also involved exchange visits with a French family. Many friends were established over the years as Vera had a naturally friendly and sunny disposition.
Holidays with Herbert continued both in this country and many abroad until his death just after Vera’s retirement. Fortunately Edna, her sister, was able to accompany and encourage Vera’s adventurous spirit on many subsequent holidays.
It was in her seventies that Vera developed a serious health problem. Many people with this condition would have crumbled, but Vera was stoical and managed to make a full recovery after surgery.
As Vera approached her eightieth decade her sense of fun continued and she still went out and about and latterly with OPAL (a group for mature people who are young at heart). Her close friends and neighbours provided support in various ways as she became less agile and she was always grateful for this.
Our lasting memories of Vera are of a happy and positive friend contented with many vivid and pleasurable experiences and recollections.
Source: Vera Hodkinson Allen Eulogy by Jan Robson, 15 May 2014
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