MEMORY MONDAY
Before Christmas, I was contacted by Susan, niece of Francis Dudley Ward (known as Dudley), regarding her uncle’s forthcoming 100th birthday and his connections to Westwood Heath and Burton Green. Dudley currently resides in a care home in Kenilworth and was to be spending his special day in lockdown. Cards were sent from both Burton Green and Westwood Heath Residents Associations, conveying warmest wishes.
When lockdown is finally over, and it is safe to do so, a member of Westwood Heath History Group will meet with Dudley to learn more about his childhood memories and hopefully record them as part of an oral history project. Meanwhile, Susan was able to share something of his early life.
Dudley was born on 2nd January, 1921 at “Roslyn”, Cromwell Lane, to parents Thomas and Marion. Dudley’s grandparents, Samuel and Eliza Ward also lived locally. Samuel worked for Francis Dudley, 3rd Lord Leigh, as a shepherd and farm labourer and it is believed that Dudley was named after him. He was the eldest of three brothers; Seymour Graham was born in 1925. Their youngest brother died in infancy and is buried at Westwood Church.
Dudley recalls the green fields along part of Cromwell Lane, long since built upon. He can also remember his father, Thomas, working at the forge/workshop near Kirby Corner, where it is likely he served his apprenticeship in woodworking. His father was a talented carpenter, working as a coach builder after World War II. Dudley and Graham attended the village school at Westwood Heath until the young family relocated to Tile Hill.
Attached is a recent photo of Dudley. The black and white photo shows his grandfather, Samuel (left at the rear) attending a village fete in Tile Hill and also shows children, including a cub scout. This could well be a Westwood Vicarage event, as the building was situated there until the 1960s.
Please do contact us if you have any memories or photographs of the area that you would like to share. If you have an interest in the history of the area and would like to join us, perhaps to do a little research, you will be made very welcome. We are a very small and friendly group, currently meeting on Zoom – of course! – so please get in touch if you are interested.
Email address:- westwoodheathhistory@gmail.com