Thomas Wall was the fourth child of Paul Thomas Wall & Louisa Freeth born February 26th, 1888 at Litchurch & christened May 6th, 1888 at Derby.
At the time of the 1891 census Thomas was living at home with his parents & older sister Gertrude at 44 Bloomfield St, Litchurch, Derby.
By 1901 the family had moved to 43 Hope St, West Bromwich, where Thomas was a scholar.
In 1911 Thomas was boarding at 7 Christ Church Villas, Malvern Rd, Cheltenham, with Amelia & Walter Robinson, an upholsterer & family. Thomas was still single & was a school teacher.
Thomas married Ruth Cresswell on December 26th, 1912, at St Philip’s, Birmingham. Witnesses at the wedding were Alice Cresswell & Harry Cresswell. Ruth was born October 26th, 1887 at West Bromwich, the daughter of Elizabeth Southall & Daniel Cresswell, an iron moulder.
As well as attaining a BA in Cambridge & B.Sc. in London, Thomas trained as a teacher at St Paul’s Training College, Cheltenham. He became a lecturer in Mathematics & Chemistry at Technical School, Cheltenham in 1913-1914. From 1914-1916 he was an assistant master in Cambridge. Thomas was in military service from 1916-1919 and following this he moved to Eastbourne where he became headmaster by 1920. From 1920 to 1930 he was Inspector of Schools for Nottingham Education Authority. Thomas was Chief Inspector of Schools for West Ham Education Authority from 1930-1933 & eventually became the Director of Education for Middlesex.
The 1939 register shows Thomas & Ruth living at 167 Bath Road, Heston & Isleworth, Middlesex. Thomas was Secretary for Education for the Borough & Ruth served as an auxiliary nurse. Son Robert Thomas was a student of aeronautical engineering & living at home. Son Patrick was living with Ruth & William Collett, a retired schoolmaster, at Woodhill, Crowthorne, Berkshire. He was still at school.
Son Robert Thomas became an aircraft engineer & in 1948 gave his address as 167 Bath Rd when he obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate. It stated that he held a current Kenya aviators licence. Robert married a 68 year old widow, Mary Scott Russell Riley (nee McKendrick), on March 16th, 1979 at the Register Office, North West Surrey. A witness at the wedding was his brother Patrick David Wall. At that time Robert was a 59 year old aircraft engineer. They were to live in Nairobi, Kenya until their deaths. Robert died in 1994 & Mary died in 1999.
Thomas & Ruth’s son Patrick David, known as Pat, became an eminent British neuroscientist & was described as the world’s leading expert on pain. He was repeatedly short-listed for a Nobel prize. Pat married 3 times & despite being a chain-smoker lived until the age of 76. For Patrick’s obituary see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_David_Wall
Thomas died on August 7th, 1976, aged 88 at 39 Parklands Court, Hounslow. His estate was valued at £12,487.
Ruth died on May 21st, 1978, aged 91, at 39 Parklands Court, Hounslow, Middlesex. Her estate was valued at £14,297.
The children of Thomas Wall & Ruth Cresswell were:
w.8.5.4.1 Robert Thomas Wall born March 14th, 1920 at 31 Vicarage Rd, Eastbourne, Sussex & christened May 2nd, 1920 at St Mary’s, Eastbourne; died May 11th, 1994 in Nairobi, Kenya
w.8.5.4.2 Patrick David Wall born April 5th, 1925 at Nottingham; died August 8th, 2001 in London