Geoffrey Isherwood Higson

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Chemist

Birthplace Lancashire Southport Place of Death Jersey Date of Birth: March 4, 1893 Date of Death: September 19, 1985

Biography

Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Geoffrey Isherwood Higson

Gender: Male

Date and Place of Birth: 04/03/1893 at Birkdale, Southport, Lancashire(1) (5)

Date and Place of Death: 19/09/1985 at St. Clements, Jersey (4)

Nationality: British

Biography

Childhood:

Geoffrey was the eldest of three children born in Lancashire. He had a brother, Percy John Higson, born 1897 (1) (3), and a sister, Cicely Ellen Isherwood Higson, born 17/02/1901 (1) (5)

In 1901 the family were living at 11 Westbourne Road, Birkdale, Lancashire, although it is written as Westbourne Avenue in the Dornock Farewell (1)

Parents: Father: Daniel Higson born 1864 in Lancashire

Mother: Helen Linaker Isherwood, born 1866 in Lancashire (1) (2)

Parent’s occupations: Father was a solicitor (1) (3)

Schools / universities attended and years of attendance:

Occupation: Chemist (1) (5) (6)

Place of residence at Gretna: 100 – 102 Vancouver Road, Eastriggs (7)

Job title at Gretna: Chemist

Marital status: Married

Spouse name (including male name): Veva Porter born 10/08/1903 (5)

Date of marriage: 1927 (2)

Place/Parish of marriage: Hartlepool (2)

Children: Possible children – Jane born in Stockton 1929 (8) (9)

Helen Margaret born in Stockton 1931 (8) (9)

Travels: Geoffrey travelled frequently to the U.S.A. where he had business with Imperial Chemical Industries (6).

In 1940 he was on the list of “ Aliens Arriving at Canadian Seaports”, together with his wife Veva and also with two children, Helen M. and Jane. (8)

In 1941 he flew with Trans Canada Airlines into La Guardia Field, New York , from Toronto,to spend one week in the U.S.A. He gave his residence as 0926 Boulevard N.W., Calgary, Alberta.(6)

Awards/recognitions: N/K

Trivia / any other information: Geoffrey is described as being 5 ft. 8 ½ inches tall with brown/grey hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion (6)

In 1916 he was serving in France but was sent back to workas a chemist at H.M.Factory, Gretna. He left France on 10th September and was working at Dornock by 14th, where he was in charge of the Drying Stoves. (7)

There is information about Geoffrey and his time at Gretna written in the Dornock Farewell (7)

Geoffrey Isherwood Higson was born on 4th March 1893 at Southport, Lancashire to Daniel and Helen Linaker nee Isherwood.

1901- living at 14 Belgrave Road, Birkdale. Father a solicitor. Eldest of 3 children. 2 domestic staff residents.

1911- 11 Westbourne Road, Birkdale. 12 rooms. One of 5 children. Chemical student.

WW1 – employed at H M Factory Gretna as a chemist living at 100-102, Vancouver Road, Eastriggs. Appears on Electoral register and in The Dornock Farewell with a home address of 11, Westbourne Avenue, Birkdale, Southport.

1921- Geoffrey Isherwood, Frederick William, Alexander Kirkwood and 51 others are on the record in St Pancras, London (this could be University of London)

January 1927 married Veva Porter in Hartlepool, Durham –

1939- ‘Kirklands’, Stockton Road, Eaglescliffe, Durham. – chemist heavy chemical industry

Name and address appeared in the Dornock Farewell (held in the archive collection at The Devil’s Porridge Museum)