Sadly in 1929 Elizabeth's only son Eric Edward Cheesman perished in the Gillingham Park Fete Tragedy. Eric was burned to death in a fire fighting demonstration which had gone horrifically wrong. Elizabeth was present in the park that night with her six year old daughter Molly and best friend Cicely Jordan. Together, they witnessed Eric's fate that night. It was Molly horrific screams of "Eric's burning, Eric's burning" that first alerted the crowds that the fire they were witnessing was real and not pretend as it should have been. Elizabeth's husband Edward was not present at the fete that fateful night.
Shortly after the death of their son, Elizabeth's husband Edward became ill. Sadly Edward would died just four years after Eric. Elizabeth needed constant care and help throughout these terrible years following the death of her son, her husbands illness and subsequent death. Her best friend Cicely Jordan would be constantly at her side to help Elizabeth cope.
Elizabeth and Molly would continue to live at the Watling Street home for several years after the death of Edward. Following her daughter Molly's marriage to Leslie Blomfield in 1946, she would move to King's Lynn in Norfolk with the newly married couple. Elizabeth would only have one grandchild, Hilary Blomfield. Hilary would be born with Cerebral Palsy but would excel despite her challenges. Elizabeth passed away in 1968 at the age of 77.
Tragedy would once again touch this family with the unexpected death of Hilary in 1985. Hillary, then a school teacher became very ill one afternoon and passed away the following morning. Molly, who had lost her husband in 1982, passed away in 1988.
Sadly in 1929 Elizabeth's only son Eric Edward Cheesman perished in the Gillingham Park Fete Tragedy. Eric was burned to death in a fire fighting demonstration which had gone horrifically wrong. Elizabeth was present in the park that night with her six year old daughter Molly and best friend Cicely Jordan. Together, they witnessed Eric's fate that night. It was Molly horrific screams of "Eric's burning, Eric's burning" that first alerted the crowds that the fire they were witnessing was real and not pretend as it should have been. Elizabeth's husband Edward was not present at the fete that fateful night.
Shortly after the death of their son, Elizabeth's husband Edward became ill. Sadly Edward would died just four years after Eric. Elizabeth needed constant care and help throughout these terrible years following the death of her son, her husbands illness and subsequent death. Her best friend Cicely Jordan would be constantly at her side to help Elizabeth cope.
Elizabeth and Molly would continue to live at the Watling Street home for several years after the death of Edward. Following her daughter Molly's marriage to Leslie Blomfield in 1946, she would move to King's Lynn in Norfolk with the newly married couple. Elizabeth would only have one grandchild, Hilary Blomfield. Hilary would be born with Cerebral Palsy but would excel despite her challenges. Elizabeth passed away in 1968 at the age of 77.
Tragedy would once again touch this family with the unexpected death of Hilary in 1985. Hillary, then a school teacher became very ill one afternoon and passed away the following morning. Molly, who had lost her husband in 1982, passed away in 1988.
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