Ada Earnshaw [e.1.6.7.5]

Ada Earnshaw was the fifth child of Frederick Earnshaw & Mary Emily Stainsby born August 28th 1920 at 25 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown, & christened September 28th, 1920 at St Aidan’s, Grangetown.

After attending Bede Girls Grammar School, Sunderland she trained as a school teacher.

Young Ada at home at Leechmere Rd

On August 10th, 1945 she married her long-time boyfriend, Charles Cowell Berry, a career RAF serviceman, born January 5th, 1919 at Sunderland. She chose this date as it was the marriage date of her mother & father. They were married at St Aidans Church, Grangetown by the Rev Gurney Fox – it was his first wedding! A note from the Sunderland Echo at that time was as follows:

Grangetown Bride
The Reverend Gurney Fox officiated at the wedding at Grangetown, St Aidan’s Church today of Flying Officer Charles C Berry younger son of Mr and Mrs T Berry of 32 Guildford Street Sunderland and Miss Ada Earnshaw, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs F Earnshaw, 25 Leechmere Road South, Grangetown.

The bride has been a member of the teaching staff at Barnes Junior School. Given away by her father, she wore an ivory figured satin dress and veil held by a coronet of orange blossom. She carried red carnations. Miss Marjorie Cooper was bridesmaid and Sergeant W Berry best man.

Charles (known as Chas) Berry was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander after the 1939-45 war. For his bravery during the war he was awarded the DFC. Chas’s postings in the RAF took his family to a number of countries overseas. Ada resumed her teaching when they finally settled in Upavon, Wiltshire.

Chas, who at the end of his career was a Squadron Leader, died July 11th, 2003 in Wiltshire.

Ada died in 2013 in Wiltshire.

The children of Ada Earnshaw & Charles Cowell Berry were:

e.1.6.7.5.1 Patricia Marianne Berry born at Sunderland
e.1.6.7.5.2 Charles Anthony Berry born at Ripon, Yorkshire
e.1.6.7.5.3 Christine Marion Berry born at Cottingham, Yorkshire