Edna's paternal grandparents were John and Mary Ellen Pugh. John was a railway superintendant, Mary Ellen was born in Oakengates Shropshire. Edna's mother (Ethel Mary Pye) was born in Market Drayton Shropshire and moved to Manchester at the age of seventeen. Ethel worked for John Pugh as a clerk, it was John who introduced Ethel to Harry. Harry and Ethel were married on 23rd October 1922.
Edna was born on 6th October 1923 at number 12 Kenyon Street Gorton, Manchester to Ethel and Harry Pugh. She moved to Didsbury in 1926 and on to East Didsbury in 1934.
Edna went to Beaver Road Elementary School in Didsbury. At 11 she moved to Withington Girl's School where she remained until at age 15 she moved Loreburn Commercial College to train as a secretary. At 16 Edna began work as a junior shorthand typist with W.W. Jones Dooley, a shipping and forwarding company.
In 1942 (aged 18), Edna joined the Wrens and saw service in India, Ceylon and Singapore serving under Louis Mountbatten in the South-east Asia command. During 1944 she met her husband Jerry in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Edna returned home in April 1946 and married Jerry on May 24th 1948.
Edna and Jerry's first home was in Scunthorpe but after 12 months they returned to the north and made their home at Parrs Wood Avenue in East Didsbury.
Edna worked for the British Electricity Authority (later becoming the C.E.G.B.) in various secretarial roles where she continued to work until her retirement in March 1982.
Edna and Jerry's first child (Peter) was born in St. Mary's hospital Manchester on June 14th 1952. On October 7th 1955 their second child (Gillian) was born, also at St. Mary's hospital.
In August 1959 the family moved to a new estate in Cheadle Hulme.
In December 1964, when his wife passed away, Edna's father (Harry) came to live with the family. At this time, Jerry started to become ill and Harry was a tremendous support to Edna and the children. On 15th July 1968 Jerry sadly passed away after a long illness.
In January 1971 Edna, Harry and the children moved to a bungalow on Midway in Cheadle Hulme.
In 1974 her son Peter graduated from Leeds University with a degree in Social Science and Public Administration. Later that year he married Gillian Etchells. The family now had 2 Gill Dawsons - how confusing!!
In July 1976 Edna's father Harry passed away after a short illness. and in August 1976 her daughter Gill married and Edna was left on her own for the first time - quite a traumatic time.
In the following years, Edna took many holidays both abroad and on cruise liners with her long-time friend Biddy
In 1982 at the age of 59 Edna retired and enjoyed her new-found freedom. She now had time to tend the garden which she loved.
Her freedom was not long lasting, her daughter Gill moved back home in October 1982 after separating from her husband.
In August 1985 Edna was alone again when Gill moved into her own home.
Gill married her second husband Paul in July 1986 and moved south to Basingstoke in 1988.
Coincidentally, Edna knew both her daughter-in-law and son-in-law to be before their respective spouses when she worked with them both at the C.E.G.B.
Her first grandchild, Gemma, was born to Peter and Gill in September 1983. Edna now has 3 additional grandchildren, Kate (born to Gill and Paul in December 1987), Andrew (born to Peter and Gill in June 1988) and Lauren (born to Gill and Paul in January 1992).
Edna has spent many happy hours whilst staying with Gill and Paul in Basingstoke where she remains a frequent visitor. She has been a caterer, a child minder, a builder's labourer and many, many more things while Gill and Paul renovated their home.
Edna has enjoyed a good relationship with both her daughter-in-law's parents (John and the late Marguarita) and her son-in-law's mother (the late Doris). Edna and Doris enjoyed many holidays together before Doris became ill.
In June 1996 Edna moved to her current home at Whitegates in Cheadle where she regularly plays host to the Basingstoke branch of the family during their trips up North.
Edna still attends the Masonic fellowships, she regularly meets old C.E.G.B. colleagues and school friends for lunch and outings.
Edna is still very active - getting out and about in her 'baby' her bright red Ford KA. Despite the many losses in Edna's life she has always remained positive, up-beat and supportive. She is determined and independent and is much loved by the whole of the family.
Edna reaches the age of 80 this year. What a year her eightieth year has been.
She has seen the birth of her first great-grandson (Joshua) born on Tuesday May 6th to Gemma her eldest granddaughter.
Edna has taken 2 of her 3 planned holidays already - Eastbourne and Weston-Super-Mare and will be visiting Eastbourne again in November.
A party for family and friends
You will by now have received your invitation to the party. You can view the online version here.
We look forward to seeing you on October 5th.
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