Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- CWGC and other headstones -
- Ventnor Cemetery : Florence and Hilda Norman -

MY DEAR FRIENDS AND PARISHIONERS,
Once again our town has suffered much by enemy action, and the past month has brought sorrow and loss to many of our people. The sympathy of all of us goes out to those who have lost their dear ones, and to those who have been injured of bereft of their homes, and among them are not a few of our own parish and congregation. But Ventnor people are as brave and plucky as any who have suffered in like manner in other towns, and there seems to be in one and all the determination to carry on steadily whatever comes.

(not all the letter has been transcribed)

BURIALS
Jan 21 William Arthur Phillips, aged 51 years
Jan 21 Maria Theresa Phillips, aged 22 years
Jan 22 Florence Norman, aged 80 years
Jan 22 Hilda Norman, aged 52 years

Some Topical Reflections By B.W.R.
Mrs. Florence Norman, when she married, linked up with families which were associated with Ventnor in its hey-day. Her father was Leonard Grant, of Melbourne House, Esplanade, who was more often addressed by the name of his house than by his Christian name. Her husband was Mr. Frank Norman, eldest son of the late Mr. Mark Norman, who combined a fishmonger's business in High Street with his profound study of nature and geology. Mark Norman's "Geology of the Isle of Wight" is a notable book. The genius of the writer was undoubted. No one wrote with more authoritive knowledge of the rise of Ventnor. He was one of its earliest pioneers, and describes somewhere how he walked to Ventnor in search of work, and later, having hawked fish in the streets, established the business which flourished so long on the premises now occupied by MacFisheries. Mr. Norman's piquant reminiscences in the local Press would easily be worth reprinting. Dr. J.L. Whitehead, author of "The Undercliff of the Isle of Wight," had the highest admiration of Mr. Norman's talents. Both of them - and they were often strong opponents in debate - sat on the old Local Board. It is remarkable that a man of Mr. Norman's gifts should have risen to eminence without any early schooling. He was entirely self-educated. It is remarkable too, that he should have mastered such an abstruse subject as geology to be able to write about it in a manner which was accepted by the highest geologists in this country. The funeral of Mrs. Norman and her daughter on Friday followed that of Mr. and Mrs. Gull. They were simple and impressive ceremonies. Tom Gull was known for his transparent honesty of character and good nature. After leaving private service in Miss Fisher's employ, he bought a taxi and plied to and from the station. Here among his colleagues, as well as in the A.R.P. duties he afterwards took up, he showed the same steady and always courteous demeanour, and was easy to get along with because of his sincerity and regard for his fellow men. These two events closed a week in Ventnor which will long be remembered for the poignancy of its nature bringing bereavement to many we love.

(not all the report has been transcribed)

Page 3

Air Raid Victims Buried

The funerals of four victims of the recent raid on the Island took place on Friday afternoon.
The first was that of Mr. and Mrs. T. Gull. The Rector of a neighbouring parish officiated and gave a sympathetic address on the useful life which the deceased couple had spent, much of it in the parish. Mrs. Gull was always kind and helpful to the sick, while her husband had fulfilled his duties as only one would expect.
The only personal mourner was Mr. Reuben Batchelor, of Copnor, Portsmouth (son-in-law). The coffin was borne to the graveside by members of the First Aid and Rescue Parties, the bearers being Messrs. E. Phillips, L. Creese, A. Lale and A.G. Goff, and Messrs. C. Drudge, J. Milligan, H. Cooper and E. Morgan.
Others present included representatives of the local District Council, British Legion, Ancient Order of Foresters, British Red Cross Society, the local A.R.P. officer and members of the staff, together with a number of private residents.
The breast-plates revealed that Mr. Gull was 67 years of age and his wife 72.
There were a number of beautiful floral tributes.
Following this service the funerals took place of Mrs. and Miss Norman and were conducted by the Vicar of the parish. The mourners were Messrs. Harry Grant and Roger Grant (brothers), and Mr. C.W. Grant (nephew). Public representatives were again present, and several W.V.S. workers and the demolition party followed the coffins. Except that Mr. H.F. Grant carried a small posy, there were no flowers. In both instances the bodies were interred in the same grave.
Mrs. Norman was aged 80 and her daughter was 52.

Ventnor Looting
... Frederick Tomlin (32) who had been discharged from the Army on medical grounds, pleaded guilty to looting a woollen jumper valued at 5s., from the same premises. Mrs. R. Flux identified the jumper as belonging to Mrs. Florence Norman, who, with her daughter, occupied a flat over the shop and were both killed. Tomlin was fined £3.
All three were working for a demolition company at the time of the offences.

(not all the report has been transcribed)