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Doris Olive Bone was the third child of Thomas Henry Bone and his wife Annie (1) Woodhurst. She was born in 1902 at her parents' home in Hendon [Birth Index: Hendon 8a 343, 1902 (Sept)].
The following details were kindly supplied by a descendant.
Doris Olive was a bright and lively woman and became employed by The Great Northern Telegraph Company in London. She worked alongside young trainees from Denmark and The Netherlands, giving her the opportunity to broaden her mind and appreciate other cultures.
Later, she became an assistant nurse in a London hospital and recalled how she gave extra comfort to the unwanted children there. She was a woman of great kindness, compassion and generosity.
It was during this time that she met Arthur Ernest Bailey. He was born on March 17th 1905 [Birth Index: Pancras 1b 117, 1905 (June)] - possibly at 39, Dickinson Street in St. Pancras - to parents Arthur Albert Bailey and his wife Edith Ellen (nee Thorne) who had married in 1897 [Marriage Index: Pancras 1b 105, 1897 (June)]. Upon leaving school he had joined a local building company called Dove Bros., initially as an office boy. He was working there when they met.
Doris and Arthur were both members of a cycling club and although he was a shy serious young man, while she was outgoing and loved entertaining, it became quickly apparent that they were suited and had the same ambitions. They married on March 26th 1927 at St. Paul's Church in Haringey [Marriage Index: Edmonton 3a 705, 1927 (March)].
When WW2 broke out, Arthur joined the Home Guard and performed incendiary duties in London until he was 'reserved' for building aerodromes for the U.S. Airforce in Norfolk. While he was away, sometimes for many weeks, Doris helped in the WVS and in various charities. By sheer hard work and with the exceptional support of his wife, Arthur rose to become Director of Dove Bros. The company specialised in the restoration of churches and major memorials in both London and the countryside. Their work included The Mansion House, Church House and the lengthy building of Guildford Cathedral.
Arthur became an Associate Member of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors in May 1954 and a Member of the Institute of Builders in June 1956. In September 1956 he was granted the Freedom of the City of London. In May 1959 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Builders. He also gave lectures at the Building Exhibition in Earls Court, and it is believed he was Master of his Freemason Lodge in the mid-1960s.
Doris Olive died at her home in Rickmansworth on February 5th 1961. Arthur's love letters were cremated with his beloved wife. He subsequently remarried, and died at Epsom on July 8th 1969.