Black Country Genealogy
DOREEN AND RON CHELMICK |
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The photograph above shows my paternal aunt Doreen Chelmick (nee Crutchley) on 25th August 1956, the occasion of her marriage to Ronald Chelmick (1926 - 2007). The image itself is a colourised rendering of the original monochrome photograph, as well as my aunt and uncle it also includes my paternal grandfather, Sidney Crutchley (1908 - 1981) and my uncle Raymond Crutchley (1950 - 2019) in the background. My aunt, Doreen Norma Crutchley was born at 48 Teddesley Street, Walsall on 7th February 1934. She was the second eldest child of my paternal grandparents, Sidney and Ada Crutchley (1908 - 2005). The photograph below is further colourised image of Doreen, taken a few years prior to her marriage to Ron, probably during the early 1950s. |
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Doreen married Ronald Chelmick at Saint Michael the Archangel church (shown in the photograph below), on 25th August 1956. Ron was a little older than Doreen, being born on 8th June 1926. Ron was the son of Alfred Chelmick, brother to William and Charles Chelmick, he spent most of his younger years in Aldridge near Walsall. The wedding photograph presented below is again a colourised version of and original image from Doreen and Ron's wedding day. It shows my aunt and uncle on what appears to be a warm and sunny afternoon in the late summer of 1956, as they prepared to depart Rushall parish church following their wedding ceremony.
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The following photograph is one of my own images of Saint Michael the Archangel, parish church of Rushall, taken on 25th September 2021. The church and its front aspect remain almost completely unchanged from the summer's day in 1956 when my aunt and uncle made their vows, at the beginning of what was to be a lifelong partnership.
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Prior to and during the Second World War surviving records show that Ron lived at 92 Birmingham Road, Aldridge, Walsall. As a result of his young age at the beginning of the war, he was a relatively late recruit into the armed forces, finally enlisting in the Territorial Army at Strensall, North Yorkshire on 3rd August 1944. Ron's 'Soldier's Service and Pay Book' from the late war era makes for interesting reading. At the time of his enlistment, the book shows that Ron was working as a machinist. It also gives his religion as "C of E" (Church of England), adding that his approved society was that of the Rechabites, the well-known temperance movement that actively promoted abstinence from alcohol. The particulars of Ron's military training are also recorded in his service and pay book. The entries indicate that Ron completed a thorough basic training programme, with his six weeks of primary training ending on 26th December 1944. He also took part in a gas chamber test on 30th November 1944, rifle course on 21st December 1944 and light machine gun training the day after the rifle course concluded. His service record also shows that Ron's considerable skills with the rifle earned him the right to wear the badge of a marksman on his uniform. Ron's military training continued on into 1945, when he successfully completed a ten-mile march in less than two hours, followed by 40 and 60 mile tactical marches, the latter apparently including live firing exercises. I have digitised Ron's 'Soldier's Service and Pay Book', an image of the faded front cover is presented below. The book can be viewed in its entirety via the following link: Soldier's Service and Pay Book
The colourised photograph below shows Ron during his days of military service during the late 1940s. I have no record of the location of this image, but the seen itself and Ron's uniform would suggest a hot climate. Ron served with the Somerset Light Infantry. |
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Doreen and Ron spent their entire working life in the employment of the Walsall based firm Crabtree Electrical Industries, both were immensely proud to their company and remained loyal employees until their joint retirement in 1991. Ron joined the company in 1940, between his enrolement and his retirement he was absent from the company for only three years, during which time he completed his national service. Doreen was first employed by Crabtree in 1950. The photograph below comes from my family's collection, it shows Doreen at work at Crabtree, possibly sometime during the 1980s. Doreen is working in what would appear to be a small quality control or testing laboratory. I believe Ron had a number of roles within the company during his many years of service, however, at the time of his marriage to Doreen in 1956 he was working as a tester of electrical gear. |
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The group photograph below shows Ron at work at Crabtree, with a collection of his colleagues. Ron is seated on the front row at the far left, he is the one wearing a white lab coat.
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Doreen and Ron retired from Crabtree in 1991, following a combined total of 92 years of loyal service. Ron was 65 years old when he retired, Doreen 57. Upon their retirement, the company management asked the couple what gift they would like, they asked for an aerial photograph of their home in Victor Street, Pelsall. However, in recognition of their long and distinguished service, the company did not limit their gift to a simple framed photograph. At the time of my aunt and uncles retirement in 1991 Crabtree was owned by Lord Hanson, who when informed of the event duly dispatched his own helicopter, a Bell 206B JetRanger II to Walsall for a special flight. This specia aerial gift was organised by Mr Peter Harper who was chairman of Hanson Industrial Services, he also traveled from London to greet by aunt and uncle ahead of their flight. The helicopter was landed at Walsall Arboretum extension, which is located close to Crabtree's main Walsall factory, known as the Lincoln Works. Once onboard Doreen and Ron were then taken for a lofty tour of their home town of Pelsall, accompanied by Crabtree colleagues as guests. In order to grant their wish for an aerial photograph of the couple's home in Victor Street, the pilot flew them there and Ron got to capture the image himself. The photograph below showing Doreen and Ron with the helicopter appeared in a local newspaper. |
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The news of Doreen and Ron's unusual retirement flight also made the local radio news. The audio recording of the story is available below.
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My aunt and uncle lived out their retirement together in the same Pelsall home they shared all of their married lives. I recall visiting them at their home many times during my younger years, there was always a warm welcome and as children they made sure we never left empty handed. One of my main memories is of Doreen and Ron giving my sister and I Christmas decorations from their own tree. I still have them. Doreen and Ron did not have any children. Later in life they did own a cat called Siddley, of whom they were very fond indeed. They spent many of their holidays together at the family caravan located on the Lyons camp in Rhyl, although in later years they did take a trip of a lifetime to Hong Kong and Singapore. The following two images show Doreen on holiday in Rhyl.
In addition to the annual summer holiday, days out together were always a feature of family life. The colourised image below shows Doreen and Ron during a visit to Blackpool to enjoy the town's world-famous Illuminations, sometime during the early 1960's. With Doreen and Ron are Doreen's parents, Sidney and Ada Crutchley, as well as Doreen's youngest brother Ray Crutchley.
One of Ron's great passions was his cars, he owned a number of models and brands over the years. The sunny photograph below shows Ron with one of his cars, at his home in Victor Street, Pelsall.
The colourised image below shows Doreen and Ron enjoying a drink together. The image is dated 10th August 1968, although this may be the date of development.
The following image shows Doreen in the kitchen of her childhood home, 131 Coalpool Lane, Walsall, having a dress altered. Making the alterations to Doreen’s clothing is her mother, Ada Crutchley.  Doreen died on 13th November 2006, Ron lived on for just another three months following the death of his wife, passing away on 24th February 2007. Both were cremated at Streetly Crematorium in Walsall, their memorial is shown below.
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