Archive for Eleanor Little born 1901

Eleanor Ruth Little was born on September 9th 1901 at Netley Marsh, Southampton.  Her Father, John Whitfield, was a Baker and died of TB when Eleanor was about 8 years old and the family, consisting of her indomitable mother and two sisters and herself were left in very difficult circumstances – “on the Parish” as it was then known.  Eleanor often told about the family of her mother taking in laundry and making shirts for half a crown – or 12½p – a dozen for which she even had to provide her own buttons!  Eleanor often heard the sewing machine working at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning as her mother struggled to support the family.  They emerged strong and determined, made so by their own efforts – no counselling in those days!

A lucky escape occurred in her early childhood when she was rescued by a neighbour after falling in the river near her house.

Eleanor came from a long lived family on her mother’s side – the Andrews family of Bramshaw in the New Forest.  Her mother was one of 14 children, all of whom lived to old age. The family dispersed to many parts of the globe – Australia, South Africa and Canada.  The Andrews family were much associated with Bramshaw church – one of the three churches left in the new Forest by William the Conqueror when he was preparing the area as his hunting ground.  Many of the family were Vergers and Churchwardens.  Records show that in 1564, 2 felons entered the enclosure of Alice Andrews and stole two oxen, so the family is a very ancient one!

At the age of 13, Eleanor entered “service” in the home of the Victualler of the Naval Hospital on Southampton Water, and went to London with the family.  While there, she saw a post advertised as a nursery maid to the children of the Honourable Mrs Geoffrey Howard, the daughter of Lord Methuen.  She lived with the family in their London home in South Kensington, which is now the Russian Embassy.  While in London, she witnessed the first Zeppelin raid and saw the Zeppelin which was shot down.

Later, she went with the Howard family to Castle Howard in Yorkshire.  Here her experiences were many and varied; the work was hard but the house was a happy place, as in the Howard’s household, the staff were much valued and treated with great kindness and respect.  Eleanor’s particular “charge” was Mark Howard who was killed shortly after D Day and is buried in Bayeux.  Family members managed to visit his grave and photograph it for her.  She has kept in constant touch with Dame Christian Howard, the eldest child of the family who is a deaconess and a honorary Dean of York Minster.  About 20 years ago, it proved possible to take Eleanor to stay with Christian near Castle Howard and she was given a personally conducted tour of the castle.  The late rector, Ian Campbell, was very interested in Eleanor’s stories as he had met Christian Howard at Synod.

A story she loved to tell the family was of a time when Mr and Mrs Howard were away and Eleanor was with the children at Corsham Court – Lord Methuen’s home.  A new nursery maid had arrived bringing with her a copious supply of nits which she passed to the entire family!  Eleanor was frantic until told by Lord Methuen:

“Don’t worry Ellen – everyone in The Army has nits!”

After her marriage to Frank, the birth of 3 sons followed in rapid succession.  In 1931, they all went in Frank’s old car to visit the Howards and, on their arrival, Frank was asked by one of the Howard children:

“Frank, where is your chauffeur?”

The family moved from Wantage to Weymouth and finally to Kingswear in 1933 where Frank was a Great Western Railwayman but who worked on the buses!  He and Eleanor and the boys were all involved in many village activities – the church, the choir, the Scouts and, Eleanor, with the mothers’ union and W.I.  Such were her organising skills that she was known in the family, and elsewhere, as “the Queen Bee”!

In 1943, a great blow was dealt to the family by the death of Bert, Eleanor’s second son, who was killed aged 17 in the bombing raid on the shipyard at Noss, on the River Dart.  His death naturally took a great toll on the family, but they picked up the pieces and all continued with their many interests and involvement in village life.

Eleanor and Frank always took great interest in their children, grandchildren and, finally, great grandchildren.  Frank died in 1978 but Eleanor still continued with her family and village interests.  Her sense of adventure took her on holiday to Egypt at the age of 81 and a photograph of her riding on a camel has been preserved in the family archives.  She was always willing to help in any way she could and was never known to turn down any request if she was able to be of assistance.

After living in her own house and (more or less !) looking after herself until she was aged 95 – for the last few years of her life she lived at St Kilda’s Residential Home in Brixham where the care she has received was absolutely outstanding.

The family feel that her passing marks the end of an era – she was the matriarch and of a generation the like of which will not be seen again.  She made her mark in family and village life and is sadly missed by those who have been fortunate enough to know and love her.  Her generation experienced great hardships, but lived through rich and radically changing times.  In her case, this contributed to the building of a strong and sometimes stubborn character, determined not to give in under the weight of many burdens.

Note:  Eleanor (this photo taken in 1988) was mother to Reg and Frank (Jack) Little and husband to Frank Arthur Little.  Grandmother to Robert, Peter & John Little and to Jackie Sutton.