The Finches of No.55

Jane Finch in 1961, aged 92, reading the Surrey Mirror

Jane Finch (nee Mills)

Jane Mills was born in Reigate on 16th September 1869. She was the sixth child and second daughter of William and Eliza Mills.

Jane was christened at St Philip's, the Nutley Lane Church (a Chapel of Ease, which had been built by two ladies in the neighbourhood for poor people to use).

When she grew older, Jane attended the Wesleyan Sunday School in Nutley Grove which is now a private house.

Jane left school at the age of 13 and started to work as a housemaid. She worked for the Allinghams, a prominent family in Reigate. Later she became parlourmaid to Dr John Walters (the founder of the East Surrey Hospital), it was here that she met her future husband John Finch who was Dr Walters' Groom.

In 1897 Jane and John were married in Reigate Parish Church.

Jane and John's first child, William George was born in 1898. On 12th July 1899 they had a daughter, Elsie Marion. Their second son, John Edgar arrived on 9th February 1902, Edward on 5th July 1905 and Beatrice Ellen on 9th January 1910. Sadly, William died of diphtheria on 13th April 1908, aged only 10.

In 1914, the First World War started and John enlisted, although he was 46 years old.

It was while John was in the army that Jane was offered No. 55 Nutley Lane where she lived from then on.

When John was de-mobbed, he returned home to the house in Nutley Lane where he settled down to a peaceful life with Jane, their two younger children and John Edgar who was still living at home.

On 16th September 1969 Jane was 100 years old. She had outlived her husband and three sons. She had two daughters living, 14 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

Jane Finch on her 100th birthday

At the age of 100, Jane was still very active and was keenly interested in everything around her. She spent her time pottering in her garden, reading the local and daily papers, watching television and chatting about old times with the many friends and relatives who visited her daily. She was affectionately known as Aunt Jane.

Photo of John Finch and Jane Mills on their wedding day, 19 October 1897 standing outside her old home, 37 South Albert Road. The Best Man on the left is Alfred James Mills (Jane's brother). Bridesmaids from left to right: Elsie Culver, Hilda Booker and Nellie Hack

John Finch

After the war, John worked at Buckland. He had to leave home at five o'clock in the morning as 23 horses had to be fed and groomed before they were taken from their stables at seven a.m. to work.

One morning, on his way to work, John was stopped by a policeman who asked “Where do you think you are going to my man?” John replied pertly “Follow me, and you'll find out.” which the policeman did. When they arrived at the stables, John turned to the policeman saying “Well, now you are here you might as well make yourself useful and fetch me some water!” There is no record of what the policeman said.

John died 19th February 1946 and was buried in Redstone Cemetary.

John Edgar aged about 10

John Edgar

John worked with his brother, Edward, at Hethersett as a gardener. John Edgar started courting; he had become attracted to a pretty, dark haired girl who shyly waved to him from her window when he passed her house on the way to Hethersett.

His sister, Nellie, was used to carry messages between them. John Edgar and Charlotte Rivers were married at Reigate Parish Church on 16th April 1927. By then John Edgar was working as a gardener at a large house in Reigate, which belonged to J Arthur Rank, earning £2/15/0 a week.

John Edgar died 16th January 1961.

Baby Beatrice (Nellie)

Beatrice Ellen (Nellie)

At the age of 20, Nellie who had been working as a dressmaker in Reigate, had changed her occupation and now worked for Matthews the greengrocers.

Nellie married Norman Dodd in September 1941 and the newly married couple decided to live at number 55 Nutley Lane so that Nellie could continue to look after her parents (Jane was now 72 and John 73).

The Photograph, taken in 1911, shows baby Beatrice, sitting on her sister, Elsie's lap, with Edward beside her and John Edgar behind

Edward aged about 10

Edward Finch

Edward, the third son of John and Jane Finch, was born 5th July 1905 and lived at No. 55 with his parents from 1917. Edward worked at Hethersett as a garderner.

Edward married Margery Chaplin in 1935 and they had five children.

Edward died 4th August 1959.