Alice Towers

ALICE TOWERS
Born Warrington 24th April 1890
to JOSEPH & SARAH

Alice was the youngest of the family and was born 24th April 1890 at Bostock St. Warrington.

Alice was still at home when the rest of the family had left.

Her mother SARAH died when Alice was quite young, so she continued to live with her father who, as previously stated, was a strict and hard man.  She is believed to have stayed in Warrington, a place she always referred to as “the land of milk and honey”, until she was aged 14, and, at the first opportunity, left home to move to Manchester to be near other siblings.

At some time in her travels ALICE became an excellent cook, and her baking ability was considerable.  It is unlikely that she acquired these skills whilst working for “Lyons Café” in Manchester, as she worked there as a lift operator for up to 12 hours per day.

Old Time Dancing was Alice’s main interest outside work, and it is likely that this is how she met her husband JAMES “JIM” MORRISON, who was also heavily into Old Time Dancing and was at one time an instructor.

JAMES MORRISON

JIM MORRISON was a Cycle Mechanic working repairing Bikes,
possibly at Dean St. Manchester for a firm who were Raleigh Agents.
His father was WILLIAM MORRISON, a Draper, possibly from the DUMFRIES area of Southern Scotland, who may have done a little Lay Preaching, and Jim’s mother was probably called MARY.

Apart from his Old Time Dancing JIM was a good Billiards player, and enjoyed a Pint.  He is reputed to have been red headed, bad tempered and selfish.

JIM and ALICE married at CHORLTON REGISTER OFFICE in CHORLTON, MANCHESTER, on 16th March 1912.  She was 21 and he was about 8 years older.
At the time of marriage JIM was living at 72 MAWSON ST., CHORLTON on MEDLOCK, and ALICE at 13 PRINCES ST., HULME.

A year after they were married JIM & ALICE had a daughter ALICE MORRISON, born 1st March 1913 at which time they were living at 43 GEOFFREY ST., South Manchester

In December 1915 JIM attested for the army and he joined up on 23rd August 1916, Medical Category B1.  His Specialist Military Qualifications are given as “M.T. Driver”, presumably Motor Transport.
He served in France and medals exist. It appears that he was indeed in the Motor Transport Department.


On 16th July 1919 James was granted 28 days “furlough” or leave.
The Protection Certificate issued 16th July 1919 is stamped by the Post Offices at which weekly pay was cashed for the following four weeks.  Not surprisingly three of these were cashed in Manchester, as this is where Jim and family lived. Uncannily the fourth encashment was on 30th July 1919 at Lytham Rd Blackpool.  This at a time that there were no Blackpool connections whatsoever.  Perhaps they just came to Blackpool for a day out.

 

 

 

On 13th August 1919, at the end of the four weeks leave, and as the war had ended, JIM was demobilized and transferred to Army Reserve and on return to England he was suffering from having been “Gassed” and he was ill for quite some time.  His address on Army Pay Records is 45 AVON ST., CHORLTON on MEDLOCK, MANCHESTER.

Jim & Alice Morrison

No time was lost on celebrating Jim’s return from the war in July 1919, as, 9 months later, on 10th May 1920, a second child was born, James (Jim) Towers Morrison.  The latest addition was not at first in the best of health and was aged two before he could walk properly, being small in stature. Young James was, like his father, known as “Jim”.  His second name “Towers” was, of course, his mothers maiden name.

Around 1925 the family moved to ROBINS LANE, CARLTON, BLACKPOOL, and SOUTH VIEW, BLACKPOOL RD., CARLTON.
Four years later, on 29th April 1929, at the age of 47, JIM MORRISON died of TB, a disease from which he had suffered for some time.
At some point in his life he was in a Sanitorium at BADELEY, near NORTHENDEN, MANCHESTER.

From 1st May 1929 his widow, ALICE MORRISON, was awarded a War Pension of £1.6s.8d (£1.34) per week, plus 10/- (0.50p) per week per child.  The children were aged 16 (ALICE) and 9 (James)

 

Alice Morrison (Nee Towers)

After her husbands death ALICE worked at “Greenwoods” Bakers of Castle Gardens, Carlton.
She also operated a Bed & Breakfast business at Castle Gardens.  Holidaymakers brought their own food, so cooking often involved doing several different meals all at the same time.  Many of the guests were friends from the Manchester vicinity.

Later ALICE took in lodgers.
For a number of years until he died in 1961 Frederick James Gregory lived with the family as a friend/boarder.

Alice still looked after son Jim by cooking and baking on a daily basis.  She still pursued her interest in Old Time Dancing, and she enjoyed playing whist a lot.  For many years she had a pet budgie, and at times she owned a cat.

 

 

After her daughters marriage in 1935 she continued to live in the Carlton/Cleveleys area, with son James (Jim) Towers Morrison.
In 1944, at the age of 24, Jim secured employment at I.C.I LTD Hillhouse, Thornton, and he put in over 30 years service there, receiving a long service award in 1974.  He was a process worker until an industrial accident caused caustic burns to an eye when he then transferred to the Dispatch Department.  His main interests were “anything Scottish”, Maps, Music and being a Sidesman at the Methodist Church at West Drive Cleveleys.

Jim never married, but at the time of his death in 1977 he was seeing a lady regularly, and enjoying travelling around with her in his little mini.  Unfortunately Jim only outlived his mother by some 6 weeks, dying on 29th April 1977.
Jim's estate, including the property he had just inherited, went to his sister ALICE MILTON.

James Towers Morrison

 

 

Alice Morrison (Nee Towers)

1890 - 1977


At the time of her death on 19th March 1977, aged 86, ALICE was living at 2 MILTON AVE., CLEVELEYS, a property she had managed to purchase.  She left her small savings accounts to her daughter ALICE MILTON, and the property at Cleveleys to her son Jim.  As it happened, Jim himself died at work 6 weeks later, so the property then passed to ALICE MILTON.

 

 

Possibly around 1974 at the time of Jims presentation for long service.