Ann St John# Wright

  Notes:

Birth details from birth cert. Fathers occupation given as Rubber Planter.

From Wendy H;The Times May 1 1917. Births. ST JOHN WRIGHT on 27 April at 'Bancroft', Mitten Road, Bexhill on Sea, the wife of C.St John Wright, of a daughter. Malay papers please copy.
Bancroft appears to have been the Griffiths family home (rather than the Wright) as this is the address her Uncle Oswald gave on his marriage in 1910.

According to Ann's (curtailed) biog "I was christened at St.Peter's Church, Bexhill. Great Auntie Ina (qv) was at that time living in Bexhill - at the Little House in Jameson Road. So she and Dulce Watson (qv) attended the christening. My maternal grandmother, Mrs. Agnes Louisa Wright was there, and her daughter, Kate. My mother's brother, Cyril, was there and his wife, Gladys, and Yanie, his brother Oswald's wife, who was my Godmother (as was Auntie Kate). My father must have returned to Malaya on his own, probably because my mother and I would not be allowed to sail out during the war."

1919; From Wendy; Wright, Violet St John (29) and Wright, Ann St John (1) travelled first class on the Yokohama Maru 1919. They embarked at London and the ship was bound for Japan, they disembarked at Singapore and their final destination was the Federal Malay States. Christopher not on list.
This matches Ann's (curtailed) biog "

1920; From Wendy; Ann is listed on the SS Laomedon which she boarded in Singapore. Arrived London 11 April 1920. There are no other Wrights or familiar names on board nor any nannies or governesses listed. However the list is not alphabetical and she appears within a family group consisting of William Gibson Stewart, Railway Manager Malay Federal States, his wife Sarah and their 19 year old son Jean-Paul. Their nationality is Scottish and UK address 22 West King Street, Helensburgh, North Bute. Ann's is 12 Bedford Ave, Bexhill. So it looks as if she was put in their care for the journey. If Ann stayed in England this could sort of tie up the with the story of her coming back to UK with her 'ayah'.
BUT; This is fully 4 years before her mother died, so why is Ann travelling back by herself ...... ???.....
..... because (Ann's biog) her mother had left her father. Also according to the biog "I was sent home by sea to my paternal grandmother at 12, Bedford Avenue (now 18 I think) Bexhill. The Ayah brought me home. Grannie, Auntie Kate and Uncle George met me in and Uncle George carried me off the ship at Gravesend. (Hand written addition saying Uncle George always liked to tease her about this later in life)."

1921 Census; Living (age 4y1m) with Agnes and Kate at 12 Bedford Avenue, Bexhill. both parents alive.

Ann Biog, 1920; "Grannie, Auntie Kate and I stayed for the summer at Tunbridge Wells, having sub-let the house. Grannie's sister-in-law, Julia, lived in Tunbridge Wells, with her husband (Henry) Anderson Bryden, who had shot wild life in Africa and who also often went to Norway. Anderson and Julia had son Ronald and a daughter, Olive (actually Olivia). Olive was unmarried, and an artist. She and Kate had been at school at Eastbourne together. Ronald was a medical doctor. Medicine was very strong in my father's family. Grannie's husband, brother and father were all doctors and Uncle George would have liked to have been a doctor but it could not be afforded."

Largely raised in Bexhill-on-Sea by her grandmother Agnes.

Education;
(From Wendy H) Probably went to St Catherine's Primary School in Bexhill, where actor Patrick Cargill was a contemporary. Probably cousins Diana, Bardie and <> also went to same school. The senior school the sisters went to was possibly Thornbank in Bexhill.
BUT: have reports for Ann in Summer 1931 and Christmas 1933 from St.Ives, Bexhill.
Report from Wadhurst Sprint 1934 ; so sounds like she was only there for 6th form.
Afterwards Attended Wadhurst School (HAVE 1935 exam papers), then Teacher Training. "Wadhurst College, a boarding school for girls, at South Park in Mayfield Lane was opened c 1930 by Miss Mulliner. Its numbers grew and other large houses were acquired to house the girls, namely Durgates Lodge, Aston House, and Wigram. In the 1980's the Legat Ballet School joined the establishment and in the early 1990's Wadhurst College was amalgamated with Micklefield School from Seaford and became known as Micklefield Wadhurst. In 1997 it had a further change and is at present known as Bellerbys". Not sure who paid the fees ?!? Possibly Bardie StJW (same age as Ann) was also a pupil at Wadhurst at the same time. Have sent email to Bellerbys FP assoc - they no longer own the Wadhurst properties and have no details from that period.

1935 was approved of "her fitness to teach children preparatory subjects".

Career;
Taught at Wadhurst School very shortly after leaving it as a pupil.
A 1936 letter from a school friend implies that Ann was teaching nr Tiverton in 1935.
1937; Prize winner at Cheltenham Technical College Secretarial Diplomas, 'First class'.

Was Secretary at County Hall, Glos. when met Thomas. Wendy has found several references to her being involved in amateur dramatics around this time ; and MTGP says Tom was also involved ; although perhaps backstage ; correct (supporting documents).

From Wendy H;The Times 23 April 1940. Marriages GEORGE POWELL : ST JOHN WRIGHT. On April 18 1940 at St Lawrence Church, Cheltenham, Thomas George Powell, of Bath & Gloucester to Ann St John Wright, of Swindon, Cheltenham.

Witnesses at wedding were Gladys Griffiths (Ann's aunt), Kate George-Powell (Thomas' sister) and Arthur St John Wright (Ann's Uncle). Her father and mother were both dead by this time (father earlier the same year).

From Wendy; Gloucestershire Echo ; April 20th 1940; Swindon Wedding; "Mr.T.G.Powell and Miss A.St.John Wright. The marriage took place at St. Lawrence's Church, Swindon, Cheltenham, on Thursday, between Thomas George Powell of Bath and Gloucester, and Ann St.John Wright, of Swindon, Cheltenham.
Mr.George Powell is the only son of Mr. Thomas (should be James!) G. Powell, of Bath, late County Surveyor for Wiltshire. Miss St.John Wright is the only child of the late Mr. and Mrs. C. St. John Wright, of the Malay States.
The wedding took place at the residence of the bride's aunts, Mrs.Griffiths and Mrs.Locke, of The Old Cottage, Swindon.
The bride, who was given away by her uncle, Colonel A.St John Wright, O.B.E., wore a blue two-piece suit with a fuchsia coloured turban and a silver fox fur. She carried a bouquet of white carnations tied with a fuchsia ribbon.
The bridesmaid was Miss Betty Evans, who wore a maize-coloured frock with matching bandeau and carried a bouquet of anemones. The best man was Mr. R.A. Downs, of Gloucester. (Bob Downs was a colleague of Tom's according to MTGP, not sure about Ms Evans).
The ceremony was performed by the Rev. R.J.Northcott, Vicar of Holy Apostle's, Cheltenham. Afterwards a reception was held at The Old Cottage and the bridal couple left for the Lake District, the bride wearing a grey coat and skirt and navy-blue accessories. On their return they will live at Stow-On-The-Wold.
Many cheques and beautiful presents were received from numerous friends, and among the many guests were:- Mrs.Griffiths (aunt), Colonel and Mrs. A. St. John Wright (Uncle and Aunt), Miss K.St. John Wright (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Miller (cousins), Colonel and Mrs. Watson (cousins), Miss Sonia Watson and Mr. Cyril Watson (cousins), Mrs.Bushe Salmon (great-aunt), Mrs Locke (aunt), Flight-Lieut R.A.Bell Syer (uncle), Mrs. and Miss George Powell, Miss Evans (bridesmaid), Colonel and Mrs. Gordon Smythe, Major and Mrs. Cunynghame, Mrs.Lomer, Mrs.Gloster, Mrs. and Miss Hedley Davies, Mrs.Millar, Dr. and Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs.Carpenter, junr., Mr. and Mrs. Downs, Mrs.Pugh, the Rev. R.J. Northcott, and others".
See Tom's page for breakdown of guests.

Was godmother to Tessa Bogue (qv), her cousins dau.

1944 (Daphne birth congrats telegrams) was living Bell Cottage, Stow On the Wold.

Later (1960's/70's) Secretary to the Leeds City Librarian

Keen amateur poet - many (100s) published, frequent subject matter a comical twist on current events. Often in the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post, The Lady. Also had poem's on Radio Four's Women's Hour.

Also keen family historian, although most of her research has vanished, what there is has been used as the basis for her family here.

In the early 1950's about 50% of her (modest) share portfolio was in P.Phipps & Co (qv) shares !

Residences;
Bexhill-On-Sea
Then moved to Griffiths' in Glos after Agnes died.
At time of wedding gives address as 'The Old Cottage, Swindon' (N of Cheltenham) Gloucestershire - this was Uncle Cyril Griffiths' house.

Marriage Residences;
2 different addresses in Stow-On-The-Wold
345 Easterley Road, Leeds - 1944 - 19??
50 The Drive, Gledhow, Leeds 8 - 19?? - 1957 (?)
28 Gledhow Avenue, Leeds 8 1957? - 2005
2005 - Death; Nursing home in Roundhay

Ann married Thomas James# George-Powell, son of James# George-Powell M.I.C.E., M.I.M.C.E. and Alice Maud# Grant, on 18 Apr 1940 in St.Lawrence Church, Swindon Village, Glos. (Thomas James# George-Powell was born on 27 Jun 1904 in The Rowans, Bletchingley, Surrey, christened in 1904 in Pocklington, East Riding and died in Jan 1990 in Leeds.)