| Biography | Frances Alison Garnett (but always known as Nancy) was born at Prestwich, Lancashire 31 August 1892, daughter to Frank Garnett, a merchant in grey cotton cloth, and Betha Garnett (nee Bardle). Nancy also had a brother, Jerry Knowles Garnett, who was also born at Prestwich, Lancashire 16 April 1895.
By 1901 the family were living in Burbage, Buxton, Derbyshire, by 1908 they were living at Cheetham’s Close, Park Road, Buxton, by 1911 the family was at Cold Springs, Manchester Road, Buxton, and by 1921 West House, Manchester Road, Buxton. Nancy had French and German cousins, who she visited just prior to the First World War. Nancy was also friends with Vera Brittain, whose family lived at Haighleigh, Manchester Road and Melrose, Park Road, Buxton during this period.
When the First World War broke out in 1914, Nancy began working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse for the Red Cross. During the war she worked at Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, Barlow Fold Hospital, Poynton, Cheshire, and the Canadian Special Red Cross Hospital, Buxton [Buxton Museum]. She nursed Belgium, Canadian and British troops.
In 1919, Nancy visited Belgium and visited many of the places affected by the war.
After the war, Nancy became engaged to, and subsequently married, Douglas Norman Spafford, c.1890-1961, at St John the Baptist Church in Buxton on the 14 June 1922, who had been her neighbour, living at The Beeches, Park Road, Buxton. In 1939 she and Douglas were living at the New Rectory, Liverpool, where Douglas was a clerk in Holy Orders.
Nancy died in October 1980 in Tyne and Wear. |
| Source | All England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
All England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
1901 and 1911 Census.
1939 England and Wales Register.
Derbyshire, England, Church of England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932.
Buxton Directory, 1908 (reference 914.251 BUX).
Find a grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213996171/jerry-knowles-garnett [accessed 22 May 2024]. |