Bernard Mallinder 1921-1995

Bernard Mallinder was the son of Thomas Mallinder 1886-1943 Paternal Line. During his youth Bernard enjoyed cycling across the moors with his friends. He later worked with his brothers, Vincent and Tom, in his father's fruit and vegetable business. During the second world war he worked in the REME ( Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). At this time he was 'billeted' to Gravesend in Kent where he met Kathleen Griffin who was living at 63 Mayfield Road in Northfleet, Kent. They married in 1945 and spent the first few years of their marriage back at Bernard's home in Chesterfield. They moved to 36 St James Avenue, Gravesend in Kent; about 1956. Bernard worked as a mechanical fitter at the Imperial Paper Mills and was made redundant about 1975. About 1978 they moved to 4 Ivy Close in Gravesend and Bernard worked in maintenance at Darenth Park Hospital until his retirement.

Birth

The birth certifcate records Bernard being born 23rd August 1921 at 594 Sheffield Road, Whittington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. His father is recorded as Thomas Mallinder and his mother is recorded as Alice Mallinder formerly Smith. Occupation of father is recorded as 'blast furnace ironworks moulder'.

1939 Register

The 1939 Register provides a snapshot of the civilian population of England and Wales just after the outbreak of the Second World War. He is listed as a 'fruit and fish salesman' and 'lorry driver'. He was working at his father's shop with his brother Thomas.

Q3 1940 Photo provided by Trish

From the left: Bernard 19 years old, Thomas (Bernard's brother), probably Muriel (Thomas' wife), unknown.

Marriage

Bernard married Kathleen Griffin in 1945 at Northfleet Church in Kent, marriage register ref: Vol. 2 a Page 3970. From left to right, John Griffin (father of Kathleen), Alice Maud Mallinder nee Smith (mother of Bernard), Bernard, Kathleen, Josephine Griffin (sister of Kathleen), William John McCarthy (step brother of Kathleen), Hannah Elizabeth Griffin (formely McCarthy nee Davidge, mother of Kathleen).

Children

  1. Elizabeth

  2. Bernard

  3. Michael Peter, b. 11th April 1953 at 2 Avenue Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield. d. 28th December 1954 at Royal Hospital, Chesterfield aged 20 months. Cause of death, Meningitis.

  4. Margaret

  5. Paul

The photo was taken about 1960, my eldest sister Elizabeth, my brother Bernard, my sister Margaret and me in the pram.

Wife

The birth certificate records Kathleen's birth as 9th September 1920 at 79 Charles Street, Abertysswg, Rhymney Valley, County of Monmouth, Wales. A view of the road Kathleen played in with her house on the left side. The name of father recorded as John Griffin (his previous surnames were O'Toole and Twohill) and Mother as Eliza Hannah Griffin, late McCarthy formerly Davidge. The occupation of father recorded as Coker at Colliery Coke Ovens.

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The picture of Kathleen is probably about the age of ten. This is her First Communion certificate from 1928. In 1933, aged 13, Kathleen was sent to work as a domestic servant at Cranleigh School for boys in Surrey. Mum told me how the Great Depression dreadfully impacted her village in Wales; the money she earned was sent home to her mother and father in Wales. Her family moved from Wales to 63 Mayfield Road, Northfleet in Kent for employment and economic reasons. During the second world war mum was an ambulance driver. In 1945 she married and moved to Chesterfield to be with Bernard in the family business. The death certificate records Kathleens's death 22nd June 1994 at 4 Ivy Close, Whitehill Lane, Gravesend. Her cause of death was primary Carcinomatosis and secondary Breast Cancer

Death

The death certificate records Bernard's death 23rd October 1995 at Joyce Green Hospital Dartford. His cause of death was Carcinomatosis. The grave is located at Northfleet Cemetery situated on Springhead Road; buried with his wife Kathleen.

Notes of Interest

This is the fruit and vegetable shop business that dad (Bernard) worked in with his father and brothers. Note the green curved door on the side, this was the entrance to the back yard where 'Bob' the horse lived! Mum (Kathleen) worked in the shop from 1945 and Dad's mother was living upstairs; she would knock on the floor to call mum! It is located at 2 Avenue Road, Chesterfield.

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