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Information contained in these pages is intended for genealogical research only,
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Edwin John Fuller and Florence Ethel Victoria Atkins © Edwin was the son of Frances Georgiana (nee Robinson) and her husband Richard Fuller. Born on the 22nd August, 19031 at 6 Orchid View Road New Malden Kingston Surrey. His birth was registered by his Mother, in Kingston, on the 17th September, his father’s occupation was given as Railway Inspector. It is not known if, when, or where Edwin may have been baptized. It is assumed he attended school at some time, but again no records of this have yet been found. The 1911 Census7 has Edwin, age 9, and his family living at Winnall, 131 Blagdon Road, New Malden, but there is no occupation listed for him. Little more is known about Edwin's early life, but we do know that in 1916, at the age of 13, Edwin started what was to become a long and illustrious career. An older brother had sadly died from injuries received while fighting overseas in the First World War, this had left a vacancy at the All England Tennis and Croquet Club situated in Worple Road, a vacancy that Edwin soon filled. Initially employed to help look after horses and as a Ball-boy, one of Edwin' often told that one of his first jobs was to help clear unexploded shells from the courts5. However, once the war was over, his days were soon filled with mowing, weeding and rolling the courts, and along the way he developed what was to become a world renown method of keeping the tennis courts lush and green. In 1921, the tennis club became The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and moved to its present location at Church Road, Wimbledon, where Edwin had an enormous input into the development of the famous courts. Involved in the laying of the original Cumberland Turf in 1921, Edwin is reported as saying he could remember it was alive with Shrimp. The new AELTC at the current site in Church Road, Wimbledon was opened on Monday 26th June, 1922, with the first tournament being held, in July 1922. Reports of the time indicate this was a great success5. On August 7th, 1926, in St Andrews Church, Wimbledon, Edwin married Florence Ethel Victoria Atkins2. Edwin, a 22year old Bachelor, gave his his occupation as Groundsman, of 131 Blagdon Road, New Malden, and his father as Richard Fuller (Railway Inspector). Florence, a 22year old Spinster, occupation a Domestic Servant, gave her residence as 45 Herbert Road, Wimbledon. The record shows her father William Charles Atkins (Bricklayer) was deceased. Witnesses were Edwin's parents, R Fuller and F. G. Fuller, Florence's mother F. J. Atkins, along with H. L. Fuller and G. M. Atkins, it is not known exactly who these last two were. Florence Ethel Victoria was born on the 16th May, 1906, to William Charles Atkins and Fanny Julia (nee Mott), at 21 Palmerston Grove, Wimbledon1. The birth certificate shows her father's occupation was a Bricklayer (Journeyman), and that her birth was registered by her mother, in Kingston, on the 27th June, 1904. Florence was baptised in the Holy Trinity Church on 11 June 19048. The 1911 Census7 has Florence, age 6, living at 20 Palmerston Grove, Wimbledon, with her parents, siblings, an aunt and cousins. Although it is not indicated on the Census, as with Edwin it is assumed Florence attended school, but it has not yet been discovered where. It is believed Edwin and Florence lived with Florence's mother at 45 Herbert Road, Wimbledon for a short time after their marriage. However, by the time Edwin and Florence’s first daughter Joan Victoria was born in mid-1927, the family had moved to 71 Cannon Hill Lane, Merton, where they were soon joined by Peggy, 1928-2009. Sadly the small family only had a few short months together as, on the 18th April, 1929, Florence died4. She had been ill for many weeks, and died in the company of her family, at the home of her mother. The cause of her death was Cardiac and Mitral Valvular Disease and the Informant was her husband Edwin. Shortly before her death Florence was administered Holy Communion6. Cardiac Valve disease is characterized by damage to, or a defect in, one or more of the heart valves, causing poor blood flow which can eventually lead to congestive heart failure9. As Florence was so young when she died, it is possible her disease was caused by genetic factors (inherited). Buried on the 23rd April, 1829, in Grave No. LB513, at the Gap Road Cemetery Wimbledon3, Florence’s final resting place also contains the remains of her father William Charles Atkins, her grandfather John Henry Mott and her sister Alice10. There is no marker on the grave. Following the death of his wife, Edwin took Joan to live with his parents at Blagdon Road, while his younger daughter Peggy was taken in by one of Florence's family. Working steadily and constantly increasing his knowledge and skill, Edwin was appointed Head Groundsman at All England Lawn Tennis Club in 1937 and, along with his daughter Joan and his mother, moved into a small cottage, in Somerset Road located in the grounds of the club. Edwin and his family were to remain in this cottage until his death. When WWII broke out, Edwin was unable to enlist, so largely left to his own devises he concentrated on caring for the grounds and his daughter and mother. However, Edwin did join the local Home Guard. There was no lack of tasks for the Home Guard who during the time of the blitz became heavily involved in air raid duties. They trained regularly and participated in all manner of activities. Carrying out guard duty, assisting in rescue work, fire fighting, or rendering first aid and removing casualties11. Oral family history tells us Edwin wasn’t called out too many times, but he was reportedly said to have been a valued member of the group.
During 1941, Edwin met Violet Margaret Freeman, possibly at one of the Home Guard meetings, as it is believed Violet was an auxiliary nurse during the war. Edwin and Violet married in St Barnabas Church, Southfields, Surrey2, on the 27th September, 1942. Violet was born in Southfields, on the 12th November, 19051. Edwin and Violet had two daughters: Sylvia Ann and Hazel Iris, and life continued happily for the family at the Cottage, while Edwin continued building his solid reputation on his beloved Tennis grounds. On the 13th June, 1959, Edwin was honoured by being awarded a well-deserved British Empire Medal for his exemplary service to Tennis; it was presented to him by Lord Mountbatten. Although very pleased and proud to have received this great honour, as were his whole family, it didn’t make any difference to Edwin as he continued to look after the AELTC grounds and provide for his family in his customary quiet and dedicated manner. In August 1966, Edwin was again honoured, this time by the AELTC for his 50years of faithful service, and was presented with a Silver Tray and a Cheque. As the chairman of the club made the presentation, he is reported as telling Edwin the cheque was to be 'spent entirely on his chief hobby angling'. Edwin was a keen fisherman and spent as much time as his duties allowed following this passion. As a child growing up I can remember his 'stash' of bait kept in tobacco tins in the coal shed next to the cottage. Many a time, when the tin was disturbed you would be met by a hoard of hatched flies, to the dismay of us all. Sadly Edwin had little time to follow the chairman’s instruction regarding fishing, as just a few short months later Edwin had a heart attack at home and died suddenly and un-expectedly on the 10th December, 19664. The Informant was his wife Violet and she registered his death on 12th December in Merton. Only 63, and unbeknown to everyone Edwin, who had always lived an active outside lifestyle, had been a walking time-bomb, resulting in his death by Coronary Infarction, Coronary Ischaemia and Arthero-Sclerosis. Athero-Sclerosis, usually progresses very gradually over a lifetime, thickening and narrowing the arterial walls by the build-up of plaque and fatty deposits, impeding the flow of blood and starving the heart of oxygen and vital nutrients it needs (also called 'ischemia'). Blood clots form more easily on blocked arterial walls and can ultimately lead to a Coronary Infarction (a Heart Attack) 9. Edwin was cremated on the 15th December, 1966 at the Putney Vale Crematorium, and his ashes were later placed under a tree at the nearby Roehampton Cemetery in Kingston, Surrey, and Crocuses were planted in his memory. Not an outwardly religious man, Edwin never-the-less had an intense faith in God, a faith that only comes from a lifetime of deeply caring for God's wonderful creations. Edwin believed he was the 'luckiest man God ever created’, and with a deep understanding of nature he unassumingly and lovingly used his natural gifts in many ways. Over the years Edwin became known as the 'world expert on turf' and his advice was highly respected and sought after from all parts of the globe. The Wimbledon Tennis Museum at the AELTC has a life-size statue and a display, honouring his time at the club. Shortly after Edwin’s’ death, Violet moved to live with her daughter Sylvia and son-in-law Maurice, where she remained, living a full and active life, visiting her brother in South Africa, and in 1975 she visited her step-daughter Joan and family in Australia. In 2001, when due to health issues and a failing memory, it became apparent Violet needed full time care, and had to be placed into a Care Home. At the age of 97, on 27th February, 2002, Violet died in the Care Home4, she was cremated a few days later, and her ashes placed under the tree next to Edwin. The family planted some Violets in amongst the Crocuses in her memory. I hold some very clear and precious memories of my grandfather Edwin and of my grandmother Violet. I spent many happy times in the wonderful environment of the tennis grounds as I grew up. Both Edwin and Violet were the most gentle and generous of people, with an unending supply of love and guidance, and their unassuming and simple approach to life had an enormous and lasting influence on my own approach to life and especially to my values.
Oral Family History I also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of family members who willingly contributed their knowledge and memories of Edwin & Florence. |
