Marjorie Milton

TO Wm. DONALD MILTON & ALICE MORRISON
BORN 10th JANUARY 1938

MARJORIE was born in a Nursing Home at North Shore Blackpool at a time when her parents, aged 25, were living at 408 WARLEY RD., Blackpool.



By the time she was 1 the family had moved to 11 IVY AVE., Blackpool.













From an early age she attended St. Marys Church Sunday School, gaining book prizes every year for good attendance.  Sunday School trips to such places as Heysham Fun Park, Wray Green and St. Michaels were long looked forward to.


Once of School age she was enrolled at Roseacre School and remained here until it was time to move to Senior School.  Among other activities, Marjorie was in the school choir.


Sunday School card presented on 3rd birthday

Wearing Roseacre badge



Shortly after her 6th birthday brother Les was born (3rd April 1944) and two years later a second brother James arrived, (10th July 1946).  Unfortunately James died at 7 weeks, and was buried with his father's mother Beatrice at Poulton Cemetery.

The only early holidays were a visit to relatives in the Millom/Haverigg/Broughton-in Furness area, once a year at most.
(It is a strange coincidence that husband to be, Neville Wiseman, spent all his early holidays in the Duddon Valley, travelling to Broughton in Furness en route.  They probably shared the same train from Blackpool- Preston then Preston to Barrow and Foxfield via Grange over Sands and Cark in Cartmel.)

From age 9-11 the Brownies was another interest, and from age 10 St. Johns Ambulance was joined.  At this time her father, Donald,  was also actively involved, as he had been since the late 1920’s.   It was perhaps because of her enthusiasm and her father's involvement that she was allowed to join at 10, as 11 was the youngest age normally.  To prove a point Marjorie won  “Cadet of the Year” during her second year.



Aged 11, Marjorie took, and passed, the 11+ examination which entitled her to attend Palatine Secondary Technical School which was then on Bennett Ave, off Palatine Rd., Blackpool.  Admission was by examination only and she commenced there on 13th September 1949, standing 4ft 8in high and weighing 5 stone 5lbs. as a member of “Shrewsbury House.”

By July 1951 she had moved up from 5th in class to 4th to 1st. From then on she appears to have always remained in the top three.

 

Palatine School Report for the term during which Queen Elizabeth 11 was crowned, Everest was climbed for the first time, and Blackpool FC won the FA Cup.



During her teens, Marjorie continued to support St. Marys Church in a number of ways apart from actual Church Attendance.  One year she was Rose Queen Attendant, and her interest in the Sunday School led to her becoming a teacher and, later, Superintendent.   

 

 



Having moved from Brownies to Guides Marjorie took part in annual camps, including one near Hornby.  She was also a member of the Church’s Girls Friendly Society.  When she was 14, brother Les joined the Cub Pack, so Marjorie went along to help with the Cubs, particularly with First Aid.  After 6 months Mrs. Pilkington, the leader, left and Marjorie took over the running of the Pack. She was now 15.  Again, according to the rules, she was technically too young to hold this post.  She was Akela of the 23rd Blackpool (St. Marys) Cubs for the next three years, and the pack were active at Cub Camps and local competitions such as Jungle Dancing, Football, (they won the District Cup), and Swimming.

23rd Blackpool Cubs with Akela (Marjorie) and brother Les holding the cup. The team also included John Walton, John Sunderland, John Cowgill, Michael Andrews, John Andrews, Harold Harper, Ashley Kent, Derek Browell and David Townsend



Involvement with St. Johns Ambulance was continuous from the age of 10 to 18, and a number of Certificates were gained, including the “Grand Prior Award”, the highest award available to young cadets.  Weekly meetings were attended at the back of Lytham Rd., near to Bloomfield Rd.

 

 

 


Many an evening, or weekend, would be spent accompanying younger brother Les on a fishing expedition to a local pond, pit or canal, or playing on the beach, or occasionally, further afield to Garstang, Train Spotting.

Certain Annual events were eagerly awaited and these included Bonfire Night at the corner of Faringdon Ave., (later on Squires Gate Lane), and the Annual Gypsy Fayre behind St. Nicholas' School on School Rd.

AS if the above were not enough, for a year or so Marjorie was an active member of St. Johns Church Girls Club, who operated from the Church Hall, off Church St. (No connection with St. Johns Ambulance).  This Club was very lively, and a number of members and leaders had connections with Palatine School.  They produced drama productions and participated in sporting events such as Rounders and Netball.

 

At Palatine School also, Marjorie was involved in a number of activities.   She represented the school at swimming, and took an active part in Athletics, Rounders and Netball.
A schooltrip to Shippam, near the Cheddar Gorge, included visits to Gloucester, Cheddar Caves and Bristol Zoo.  On return Marjorie won a £3 prize for writing up the story of the trip.  With adult wages at under £10 per week this sum came in as a useful addition to the family budget.
After having been a Prefect for some time she was appointed as the Head Prefect, the equivalent of Deputy Head Girl.
Scholastic highlights at Palatine were:-

Year 1   Moved up from 'C' Stream to 'B' Stream
Year 2   Moved up from 'B' Stream to 'A' Stream.
             Geography Prize.  History Prize.  Form Prize.
Year 3   French Prize.
Year 4   Music Prize.  French Prize.  History Prize.

School Photo. Marjorie on front row, third from left.





In 1955 a Pre-Nursing Course was taken at Palatine, after which she left school having obtained 9 G.C.E. Certificates.

As it was not possible to start Nursing Training until the age of 18, Marjorie filled in the period October 1955 to January 1956 working for Boots Chemists, (Xmas counter and then organising in the stock room)

On 10th January 1956 Marjorie celebrated her  18th Birthday.





She was now old enough to go nursing, and, having been accepted by Edinburgh Royal Hospital, she left home that same month.

 

 

 

Headmaster's letter

 

First day at Edinburgh Royal.  Marjorie is second left on back row.

 

Preliminary training was carried out at Edinburgh West End.

During the initial training period at Edinburgh one day a week spent on the wards, and the rest in training lectures.  This lasted 12 weeks, and after successful exams it was then a transfer to full time on the Wards.  Every 12 weeks a move was made to a new Ward, to give a range of experience.  Night duty, when scheduled, lasted for three to four months.


At the end of the first year Marjorie was sent to work for a spell at East Fortune TB Sanitorium.  Another posting was for three months at Edinburgh Sick Children Hospital.
After 3 years based at Edinburgh Royal, Marjorie, in March 1959, qualified as an R.G.N., a Registered General Nurse, the Scottish equivalent of an S.R.N. (State Registered Nurse) in England.


An additional year as a Staff Nurse had then to be undertaken to be entitled to Edinburgh Royals own award, the “Pelican Award”. 
Most of this extra year was spent in Gynecology “Gyny Theatre”





During the time at Edinburgh holidays were few and far between, consisting mainly of infrequent visits home by bus or train.
One holiday consisted of leaving Edinburgh late evening by bus for Kendal, staying for a few hours at Kendal Police Station, (the Police met the bus after she had written them asking for ideas of where to stay from 1am until 7am), busing to Bowness to be met by her father and spending the day with Mum, Dad and Les at a Caravan Site, and part of the time in a rowing boat, before returning back to Edinburgh the same night.
Another, longer, break was taken with friend Sandy, at Sandy’s home on the shores of the Solway Firth at Carsluith.

Whilst in Edinburgh Marjorie was a regular attender at Charlotte Chapel Baptist Church on Rose St., and an active member when time allowed, of the Youth Group. She also spent some time helping with a Cub Pack, but this was difficult as “Off duty” hours would only be announced a few days in advance.
Throughout most of this time, accommodation was in a Nurses Home, with the last year in a shared flat.  Hours of work were normally 7.15am to 6pm three hours off from 10am to 1pm, or, alternatively 7.15am to 8.30pm with 2pm-5pm off.
One day a week was permitted off, plus a half day on Sunday to allow for Church attendance.

 

 



In 1960, during the last year at Edinburgh, as Staff Nurse, Marjorie nursed a lady whose husband was a Church of Scotland Minister at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Rome (Maclean).  She was given, and accepted, an invitation to holiday in Rome, and the Maclean family did her proud, introducing her to several Embassy parties and B-B-Q’s, and showing her the sights, sounds, markets etc.  This was the first occasion that a member of the MILTON family holidayed abroad !!!
On finishing at Edinburgh Marjorie returned home to Blackpool, where the family had recently moved from IVY AVE., to 112 St. ANNES RD., a Newsagents.  They occupied a second floor flat above the shop.

Almost immediately she then commenced at Preston Royal Hospital, and after 6 months sat, and passed Part 1 of the Midwifery Exams.
The next 6 months studying Part 2 was spent employed at Glenroyd Maternity Hospital, Whitegate Drive, Blackpool (where mother ALICE was later to work as receptionist).

At the conclusion of this period the letters S.C.M. had been added after her name. (State Certified Midwife).




1961 saw Marjorie working as a Staff Nurse for a year at Glenroyd.
In January 1962, at the age of 24, she had been accepted by the Midwifery Teacher Training establishment at COOMBE HILL near New Malden London, to try to gain Teacher Training qualifications.  The College was a splendid old, large, private house in its own grounds close to Richmond Park and Coombe Hill Golf Course.  The qualification was duly achieved and Marjorie became the youngest ever to earn the right to the letters M.T.D. (Midwifery Teachers Diploma).

She was now

MARJORIE MILTON  R.G.N.  S.C.M.  M.T.D.


It was around the time that Marjorie finished exams that she obtained her first mode of transport, a Lambretta 150 Scooter from John Halls.  This was used for work, in all weathers for a year or two.  It was also used on epic trips to visit friends in Edinburgh.  Pre Motorway, and with gradients and bleak places like Shap it was a long 200 miles on a Scooter.

In due course the Scooter was superseded by the first car, a “Standard” purchased from Jo Haslem (from whom cars were still being purchased over 30 years later).



Having now completed nearly 7 years of training/exams, Marjorie commenced back at Glenroyd Maternity Hospital but within a few weeks a phone call from Preston Royal was received requesting her to take over the roll of Midwifery Tutor at that establishment.  She accepted, and remained here in that roll from 1962 to 1969, after she was married.

It was around now, on January 8th 1963, two days before Marjories 25th Birthday that her dad, Donald died.

The family moved from the shop at St. Annes Rd. to Rangeway and, later, when Les was at University, to Holbeck Ave., Blackpool, which Marjorie and her mother had purchased.

Alice, who had enjoyed few holidays, was persuaded to accompany Marjorie on a camping holiday to Devon, which was enjoyed and survived despite the weather.

For two years of the time spent at Preston Royal, Marjorie lived in, and, having a very senior post, she experienced the luxury of having her meals brought to her room, bed made and even finding a water bottle in place on cold nights.  During this period the two ladies in charge of the Maternity Hospital, Misses Beech & Phillips, retired and Marjorie effectively and efficiently ran the whole Department.

A week on a sailing instruction course at Newton Ferres was a great success, and this was repeated the year before marriage, with husband to be, Neville.


By now Marjorie was the proud owner of a Morris Minor, OFV 12.  This vehicle was owned for a number of years.

 

At Mowbreck

Scouting wise Marjorie was again heavily involved in “Cubbing” and was “Akela” of the 26th Blackpool All Saints.  Needless to say All Saints were soon winning everything before them, including such events as the District Commissioners Flag Competition.  Marjorie had the knack of getting parents and others enthusiastic and actively involved.

It was at Cub Camps, and other Scouting related events, as leaders, that Marjorie and Neville first met.
Cub Camps and Cubmasters Camps were generally held at Mowbreck Site near Wesham, and later at Waddecar.  Several groups would combine leaders and take 4 or 5 boys from each group.  A full programme of activities would be organised, as would a detailed menu.  Each person would be allocated their own area of responsibility.  Camps were often under canvas.


Both Marjorie and Neville were friendly with two other Cub Leaders, Hazel Bingley and Tony Shaw.  When Tony & Hazel married, they regularly made a foursome at cards, (usually Auction Solo). The stakes were usually pennies and Tony kept a record.  The winning pair over a year perhaps won around 75p, but had to provide supper and wine from the winnings.  The away team usually took a party four can of beer and a large block of chocolate.  The home team provided supper.  Play ceased when match of the day appeared on the TV screen.

Tony had at one time gone out with Marjorie before she went to Edinburgh and helped her at 23rd Blackpool St. Marys Cubs.  After she left, Tony took charge of the Pack, met Neville, and introduced him to Scouting, whereupon Tony left the Group and Neville took over as Leader.  At this time ALICE MILTON, Marjories mother, was on the parents committee and Neville would visit Ivy Ave where he also met DONALD. They didn’t know that they were all to be “In-Laws” as at this time Marjorie & Neville had never met, apart from attending the same Sunday School for many years.

Marjorie and Neville, having first met around 1964, become engaged in August 1966 (after England’s World Cup Victory) and married on 19th November 1966 at St. Marys Church, Lytham Rd., Blackpool