Robert Speed Pallister [p.1.6.3.1.1.7.7.3]

Robert Speed Pallister was the third child of Robert Speed Pallister & Sarah Ann Dimmock born February 21st, 1914 at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope, Co Durham & christened March 18th, 1914 at St Paul’s, Ryhope.

His early years were at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope, the home of his grandparents Eliza & John Dimmock. He & his parents lived there until about 1920 when they moved to 82 Ryhope St South. The grandparents came to live with the family at Ryhope St South by 1929. By 1934 Robert& his family had moved to 13 West View, Ryhope, along with grandmother Eliza.

Left: Bobby & big brother Jack c1922. Right: Bobby (right) at wedding of brother Jack & Freda Earnshaw in 1938; also pictured Alan, Joan & Ada Earnshaw

Robert married Elizabeth Ann Ward on August 3rd, 1935 at St Paul’s, Ryhope. Robert, known as Bobby, was a colliery mason at the time of his wedding & was living at 13 West View, Ryhope. Elizabeth was living at 2 Taylor St, Ryhope. Witnesses at the wedding were John McCree Pallister, Robert’s brother, & Freda Mary Earnshaw who was to marry John McCree in 1938. Elizabeth was born August 9th, 1912, the daughter of Matthew Ward, a sawyer.

Bobby was best man at his brother Jack's wedding in 1938.

Robert (known as Bobby) was a brick layer like his father. He spent most of his working life at Ryhope colliery. Bobby & his wife Cissy, as she was known, lived at Ryhope all their married life.

Bobby & Cissy lived at 7 Thomas St South, Ryhope from 1937 until at least 1947. The 1939 register lists them at that address with daughter Beryl, & gives Bobby’s occupation as a colliery bricklayer & he was an ARP warden for Ryhope Colliery. An article in the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette of May 20th, 1938 reveals that Bobby had a serious accident at the colliery when he fell 20 feet from scaffolding in the machine store house. Having sustained injuries to his back & abdomen he was taken to Sunderland Infirmary & detained.

Cissy & Bobby later lived at 35 Esdale, Ryhope & after the children left home they exchanged houses with Bobby’s sister Vera & came to live at 1 Esdale, Ryhope.

Bobby enjoyed gardening but his major hobby was crown green bowling.

Cissy died in January 1984, aged 71.

Bobby died in April 1995, aged 81.

The children of Robert Speed Pallister & Elizabeth Ann Ward were:

p.1.6.3.1.1.7.7.3.1 Beryl Pallister born October 21st, 1936, christened November 11th, 1936 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, died April 1997 at Sunderland
p.1.6.3.1.1.7.7.3.2 Dennis Pallister