Bridget Florence Key - Florrie

Florrie was born on 7th April 1911 in Clonmore, Co Tipperary - Bridget Florence Key, daughter of Tom and Mary Key (nee O'Brien).

Florrie went to school in Marlfield primary before going to the Convent School - she had to walk three miles to get there. 

In the 1920's, with the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Irish Civil War the family were gradually sent over to England to live and work.  Florrie was sent over to England in 1924, returning back to Ireland, returning permanently in 1925.  More information on Florrie's parents and brother and sisters  and the scattering of the family out of Ireland to follow,

She lived in England in the first instance with her Uncle and Aunt, Arthur and Bridget Finnis (nee O'Brien) in Swansea.  Florrie was very close to Captain Finnis and he was known to her as 'Daddy Finnis'.  Florrie soon moved to St Albans to join other members of her family - brothers and sisters - who were living near her father's sister Aunt Annie Shadbolt.

It was whilst living in and around St Albans that Florrie and her sisters Lily and May befriended George Bernard Shaw - often cycling out to his house in Ayot St Lawrence.  It is an interesting footnote to think about the timing of the Key family's exodus from Ireland - the Irish War of Independence followed by the Irish Civil War - and George Bernard Shaw's reputation and role as a leading voice and rallying point for Irish Nationalists in England.

Florrie worked for much of her life 'In Service' that is to say as a domestic help in large houses of doctors, surgeons - professionals.  This included time in houses in Highgate (home of a Jewish Surgeon) and at 67 Wimbledon Hill, Wimbledon and to Jean M Bugles as a Nanny (there is a picture of her with Jean at Middleton-on-Sea in August 1936).

Florrie met her future husband Edward Alan Fordham at the wedding of friends Donald and Betty Wade.  He was best man and Florrie was a bridesmaid.  There is a picture of them both standing in the background at the wedding and also a stunning picture of Florrie as bridesmaid (picture right).

Edward Alan Fordham, only son of George Edward Fordham and Edith Woodcock was known for most of his life as Alan or Felix (named such in adult life, because like the cartoon cat, he  kept on walking)

Alan proposed marriage in St Patrick's Chapel, Westminster Cathedral on 2nd June 1937 and on 16th January 1938 Felix married Bridget Florence Key in St Winefred's Catholic Church, Wimbledon.  The witnesses were Florrie's brother Fred Key and her best friend Anna Peacock.  The best man was Donald Wade.  The wedding breakfast was held at 67 Wimbledon Hill, Wimbledon - the house in which Florrie was living and working in service.

When they got married Felix and Florrie lived on Balham High Road where Veronica Florence was born on 10th September 1938.  However, war broke out soon after and Felix was called up.  

The house was badly bombed on 15th October 1940 (and was featured in a war publication) and so Florrie and Veronica were forced to move in with Alan's parents in Links Road, Tooting.  This arrangement did not last for long and by January 1941 Florrie had moved with Veronica to live with Doreen Key (her brother Arthur's wife) in Braintree, Essex, where second child Adrian Edward was born on 17th January.

How long Florrie was in Braintree is unclear but by 1994 she is evacuated out to Lancashire (possibly near her husband's Aunt and Uncle, Kate and Frank Cocks?) where her third child Alan Arthur was born on 11th November 1944 at Queen's Hydro Hotel, Clovelly.

It is difficult now to imagine the strain the war placed on families.  Clearly it was traumatic based alone on the risk of the serving soldiers, but Felix was in a situation whereby his wife, with a young daughter, was bombed out of her house in Balham, moved in with his parents (and they didn't make her very welcome!), before she evacuated out to Essex (whilst pregnant with Adrian) and then Lancashire (where Alan was born).

Throughout the war Felix kept in close and constant touch were he could sending formal army postcards, christmas telegrams and writing to the local Baptist Minister in Gloucester Road, Teddington asking him to keep a helpful and watchful eye over his wife and small children.

By 1944 Felix had arranged for the family to move to 79a High Street, Teddington - his parents and sister had moved to Gloucester Road, Teddington - and it was in this house that Felix and Florrie were to remain, never moving again.  For a time after the war many British families had former German prisoners of war living with them and Felix and Florrie were no exception.

Florrie being Irish was a Catholic and Felix resolved to convert and was received on 2nd April 1941 into the Catholic Church at Christ the king, Leeds (where he was on military posting) and took first communion on 4th May 1941 at the Sacred Heart, Teddington. 

 Florrie retained a close and detailed interest and pride in her family and kept in touch with her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.  She was a keen correspondent and subscribed to the Nationalist newspaper.  However she did not enjoy good health and for much of her later life was often confined to her bed.  She passed away on 13th February 1970 and was cremated at West Middlesex Crematorium.