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In Loving Memory of my wife
Clare Phyllis Aitkins
Born 25th August 1910
Died as the result of an accident
on 28th December 1934
A lover of animals, her grave was decorated with beautifully sculptured animals and had a wedding portrait on the headstone that remained perfectly preserved, maybe, till the mid-1980s - it has all vanished!
(The first wife of Klyne Aitkins, Clare nee Spencer died when their car collided with a railway engine at a level-crossing in Alambagh, Lucknow not far from their home. Klyne remarried and had two sons, Klyne jr. who lives in Australia while the younger son, Robin Aitkins died (suddenly) at the age of 28, several years before his father. Robin (a close friend of mine) was buried on his father's birthday September 23, 1980. Klyne Sr was a railway engine driver.)
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(Photo taken on Nov 2, 2014)
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Sunday, March 24, 2013
Clare Phyllis Aitkins 1910-1934
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ReplyDeleteHi George,
ReplyDeleteI was so sad to read of the disappearance of all the special elements on this grave -- the triptych style screen at the end with the photo of her in her wedding dress and the arch at the south end through which one looked at the picture. When I was young, I used to spend more time at that grave than at the funeral I was supposed to be attending! It was made more interesting because her husband was a friend of my Dad, Malcolm Booth, who used to keep us amused with tales of Klyne's practical jokes.
By the way, is there still a grave somewhere near hers with a perfectly carved railway engine on it, down to the lumps of coal in the tender? I have fond memories of it from my childhood.
Cheers,
Glenda
Hi Glenda,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you! Yes, this grave will probably disappear completely. Everything has gone - the little animals etc. I remember Phyllis Fanthome's grave had a photograph but it didn't survive long. Charlotte later had the grave redone plain. Phyllis died in January 1971, my grandmother the next day and in July '71 my Aunt Ivy Hourigan was buried at the side of Phyllis. The grave with the steam engine was further down towards the wall on the same side. It's been gone many years.
Cheers
George