Mabel Gladys Peacock

Born 1923, died 1999
Junior Nurse at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution, 1941-2
Researched by Dauna Coppin

Mabel Gladys Peacock was born on 29th December 1923. Her parents were Wilfred and Georgina (née Moore) who had married on 11th June 1917. Wilfred was serving in the army at the time, as a Private in the 4th Gloucestershire Reserves during the First World War. Before Mable was born, Wilfred and Georgina had sadly lost twins John and Lily, who had been born and died in March Quarter of 1920. However, by the 1921 census, they were living at Overy Road, Burnham Sutton, Norfolk with a 1-month-old son, Mabel’s older brother, Wilfred.

When Mabel was aged 16, she was working as a domestic worker for the Hillier family at Honey Pot Farm, Dereham. Her parents were running the Red Lion Pub in Beetley where her 18-year-old brother, Wilfred, was a farm worker.

Mabel worked as a nurse at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution from 22nd June 1941 until at least April 1942, when she is last mentioned in the Guardian’s Minutes. It appears that Mabel may have not taken naturally Nursing: She was first appointed as a Junior Nurse on a three-month probation period, but the trial was extended for a further month on 8th September. The trial was extended by another month on 13th October. It is not certain when Mabel left this employment.

Two years later, on 18th March 1944, Mabel married Percy Alderton at St Margaret’s Church in Lyng. Their only daughter, Brenda, was born on 31st December 1947. Brenda, herself, married Alan Marsham in 1967 before sadly passing away at the age of 48 in April 1995.

Nothing further is known of Mabel. She died, aged 75, in Norwich, in 1999.