Page 69 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

GREYSTONES ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL VOLUME 8

Beatrice Gunning: A Greystones Life

Joan Jones

B
eatrice Gunning is a member of the Greystones
Archaeological and Historical Society, as many of those
reading this are, but what is special about Beatrice is that,
having celebrated her ninetieth birthday last December, she is
one of our oldest members. She lives at Malvern in La Touche
Place, the very same house where she was born way back in
1924.

Beatrice's parents were Patrick and Ethel Thompson, and
she is the eldest of three children. Her younger sister, Sybil, now
lives in Canada, and her brother, Billy, the baby of the family at
eighty-two years, lives in New Zealand.

Patrick Thompson’s father had been a member of the RIC
and was stationed in Laragh when Patrick was born, and shortly
afterward was moved to Tinahely, where Patrick grew up. He
served his apprenticeship in Crawford’s of Aughrim before
getting a job as manager in Stanley Stores on Doyles Corner
here in Greystones, and lived in Ivy Cottage before his marriage.

Beatrice's mother was Ethel Jago, born in Blundellsands in
Liverpool, England. Her father, William J. Jago, had joined the
Royal Navy but had transferred to the Coastguard Service and
was posted to Ballymoney, before coming to Greystones as head
coastguard. He died in early 1924 in Malvern, before the birth of
Beatrice.

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