124 – Treating Margaret’s Cancer, Part 1: 21 December 2024

While I busied myself with the Postcard research to try and cope with the reality that Margaret was dying, Margaret’s cancer did its best to ensure that she did in fact die.  From the perspective of the cancer, there was nothing personal.  The cancer surely bore no malice towards Margaret.  It simply wanted to grow and thrive, but the place it chose to grow and thrive was inside Margaret’s body.  As the cancer grew, Margaret steadily came closer to death.

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 I took the photo shown above in 2001 when Margaret was 51 years old and so full of life.  She definitely had no cancer inside her when we had out housewarming celebration in late 2001.

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I also took this photo of Margaret in 2001.  I had almost forgotten how healthy she looked back then.

 

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The surgeon had another look at Margaret’s tumour on 28 November 2020.  This again involved overnight hospitalisation.  The surgeon’s report on that operation says this.

Findings The ampullary lesion was seen in D2.  It was villiform and covered by bile stained material.  On EUS, there was a 1.8 x 1.2 cm oval lesion at the ampullary region and extended into the distal CBD by 1.8 com.  The lesion obstructing the CBD, causing it to dilate up to 10 mm.  The lesion is limited to the ampula/ CBD only.  The PD was not affected and was normal in calibre (1.2 mm)” [EUS = Endoscopic Ultrasound; CBD = Common Bile Duct; PD = Pancreatic Duct]

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When the surgeon operated to check on the progress of the cancer in November 2020, he took a tissue sample.  This sample was then examined by a pathologist who said this.

Conclusion 1.      Ampullary biopsy: ulcerated, moderately to poorly differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma arising from high-grade adenomatous surface. 2.      Distal CBD biopsy: moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma

By 28 November 2020, the cancer was thriving; it was destroying Margaret’s body and Margaret was most certainly dying.

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In early December 2020, the oncologist suggested radiotherapy and chemotherapy as a possible way of trying to slow the growth of the cancer.  He thought it might gain Margaret an extra two to four months, but candidly told us it might not actually postpone her death.  The oncologist had previously told us that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not possible at all given the location of Margaret’s cancer in her ampullar. 

Margaret agreed to give the treatments a try, but stipulated what chemotherapy drugs she would not allow to be used.  Margaret had been a cancer nurse for 30 years and had intimate knowledge of the side effects from the various chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer.  There were some side effects that she would not put up with even if it might mean a slightly shorter life for her. 

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy started on 7 December 2020. 

Chemotherapy was administered by means of a plastic bag on Margaret’s arm.  The bag had a pump which slowly administered the chemotherapy drugs over a 7 day period until the bag was empty.  The chemotherapy from the plastic bag dripped into a plastic tube which was inserted into Margaret's body.  The tube snaked through her body to a location next to her heart.  We went back to the clinic every week to have the empty chemotherapy bag replaced by a new one. 

Radiotherapy was administered once per day mostly on five days every week.

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In week one, Margaret received radiotherapy on the following dates:

·                                Monday 7 December 2020; ·                                Tuesday 8 December 2020; ·                                Wednesday 9 December 2020; ·                                Thursday 10 December 2020; and ·                                Friday 11 December 2020.

 

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In week two, Margaret received radiotherapy on these dates:

·                                Monday 14 December 2020; ·                                Tuesday 15 December 2020; ·                                Wednesday 16 December 2020; ·                                Thursday 17 December 2020; and ·                                Friday 18 December 2020.

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In week three, Margaret received radiotherapy on these dates:

·                                Monday 21 December 2020; ·                                Tuesday 22 December 2020; ·                                Wednesday 23 December 2020; and ·                                Thursday 24 December 2020.

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In week four, Margaret received radiotherapy on these dates. ·                                Monday 28 December 2020; and ·                                Tuesday 29 December 2020.

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In week five, Margaret received radiotherapy on these dates

·                                Monday 4 January 2021; ·                                Tuesday 5 January 2021; ·                                Wednesday 6 January 2021; ·                                Thursday 7 January 2021; and ·                                Friday 8 January 2021.

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In week six, Margaret received radiotherapy on these dates.

 

·                                Monday 11 January 2021; ·                                Tuesday 12 January 2021; ·                                Wednesday 13 January 2021; ·                                Thursday 14 January 2021; and ·                                Friday 15 January 2021.

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Week seven was the final week of both the chemotherapy and the radiotherapy.  In week seven, Margaret received radiotherapy on the following dates.

 

·                                Monday18 January 2021; ·                                Tuesday 19 January 2021; and ·                                Wednesday 20 January 2021.

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In total, Margaret received 29 doses of radiotherapy, plus the continuous infusion of chemotherapy over a period of six week and three days.  The chemotherapy bag was removed on 20 January 2021 when Margaret had her final dose of radiotherapy.

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Over that whole Christmas/ New year period that Margaret had her treatment, I thought I was living through a vile, foul horror story which had only two positive aspects – Margaret was still alive and I knew I would never again have to go through another Christmas/ New Year period like this.  I was only half correct.

I was correct in knowing that having Margaret alive was a massive blessing.  I continued to receive that blessing over the Christmas/ New Year period in December 2021/ January 2022 and in December 2022/ January 2023

I was incorrect in assuming I would never again have to live through such a vile Christmas/ New Year period.  The two remaining Christmas/ New Year periods that we were able to spend together were at least as awful as the 2020/ 2021 period.  Fortunately, back in 2020, neither of us knew what was in store in the future.

It is now nearly Christmas 2024 and my heart aches and aches.  She is no longer with me.

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Special guests at our housewarming in 2001 were Sue Marshall and her husband Chris Reilly.  Sue was a beautiful soul who died on cancer in 2004.  As this photo shows, she had lost her hair because of chemotherapy in late 2001.  Chris Reilly is still alive and despite being a special guest in our home in 2001, he cancelled both Margaret and me shortly after the events described in this blog.  He refused to come near me during Margaret’s funeral.  Sue Marshall died at about 2.30 am and we arrived at 3.00 am to remember and celebrate a wonderful, beautiful friend.  Chris Reilly managed to forget all those decades of friendship when Margaret received her terminal cancer diagnosis.

 

123 – Looking for the Hoylake School Part 3: 17 December 2024

Richard Rees Roberts and Eleanor Edwards married on 29 June 1887 in Mount Zion Chapel, Princes Avenue, Toxteth Park.  Mount Zion Chapel no longer exists.

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This is the Wesleyan Methodist Siloh Chapel in Cwm Penmachno where Richard Roberts used to worship in Cwm Penmachno when he was growing up.  The chapel still exists but it does not seem to be in regular use.

I took this photo on 19 September 2024.  The chapel is within walking distance of the residences in Cwm Penmachno hamlet.

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Although Mount Zion Chapel no longer exists on Princes Road, it has not been completely forgotten.  It and 8 other places of worship which once existed on Princes Road are remembered by this Plaque.

The Plaque gives some insight into the rich texture of the religious communities which once flourished on Princes Avenue.  The plaque says this about Mount Zion.

Mount Zion Wesleyan Methodist Church was situated on Princes Road between Eversley and Mulgrave Streets.  It was erected in 1880.  It later became a Chinese Methodist Church but was demolished in 1973 after a fire.

 

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Richard and Eleanor were married under the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.  Although their marriage took place by licence rather than by reading of the banns. Eleanor was definitely not pregnant.

When he married, Richard Roberts was recorded as being an “Accountant” who lived in Northbrook Street and his father Rees Roberts was supposedly a “Coal Merchant”.  Eleanor had no occupation recorded, but she was definitely a trained teacher by then.  Eleanor lived at 136 Tunnel Road and her father William was a “Foreman”.

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When he married Eleanor, Richard lived at 142 Northbrook Street, Toxteth Park.  

Although Northbrook Street still exists, it has been cut short.  It was in easy walking distance of Mount Zion on Princes Avenue.  As Princes Road splits into Princes Avenue and Princes Road, the first street on the left (north east) as you enter Princes Avenue, is Selborne Street.  The next street on the left (east) is Park Way.  Turn left (east) into Park Way and the first street on the right (south east) is Northbrook Street.  Northbrook Street used to run through to Mulgrave Street, but it now finishes in a dead end.

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Eleanor Roberts lived at 136 Tunnel Road when she married Richard.  She had a longer walk to reach Mount Zion Chapel in Princes Avenue.  

Follow Mulgrave Street north to the intersection of Mulgrave Street and Upper Parliament Street.  Turn right (east) at Upper Parliament Street and follow Upper Parliament Street to the intersection of Upper Parliament Street and Tunnel Road/ Lodge Lane.  Turn left (north) into Tunnel Road and number 136 is a short distance from the intersection.

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When the marriage took place, Richard Roberts was an “Accountant” and his Robert Rees supposedly was a “Coal Merchant”.  The fabrication that his father was a “Coal Merchant” reveals how much Richard had risen from his lowly position as the son of a slate quarry labourer.

Richard had educated himself and used his education to gain a better life.   In 1887 Liverpool, an Accountant” could never be the son of a slate quarry labourer, so his father’s occupation was enhanced on the marriage record.  Those who used Richard’s accountancy services would be comfortable because he supposedly came from the same social circle as they did - so they could trust him.  It might would have been disastrous if it became known that his father was an uneducated, poverty stricken quarry labourer and not a "Coal Merchant".

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Richard Roberts and Eleanor Edwards had three children.

• William Rees Roberts was born on 21 July 1888 at 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  His birth was registered in the Toxteth Park sub district of the Toxteth Park registration district on 1 September 1888 by Richard Roberts of 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  Richard’s “Rank or Profession” was “Accountant”.
• Alice May Roberts was born on 5 May 1890 at 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool.  Her birth was registered in the Toxteth Park sub district of the Toxteth Park registration district on 11 June 1890 by Eleanor Roberts.  Eleanor’s address was 68 Kingsley Road, Liverpool and the “Rank or Profession” of Alice’s father was no longer “Accountant” but “Estate Agent”.
• Eric Rees Roberts was born on 25 October 1901 at 71 Temple Road, Tranmere.  His birth was registered in the Tranmere sub district of the Birkenhead registration district on 19 November 1901 by Richard Roberts.  The “Rank or Profession” for Richard when Eric was born was “Estate Agent’s Accountant” and Richard lived at 71 Temple Road, Tranmere.

This Table summarises the children of Richard Rees Roberts and Eleanor Edwards.

 

Richard Rees Roberts + Eleanor Edwards

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William Rees Roberts   Born 21 July 1888

Alice May Roberts   Born 5 May 1890

Eric Rees Roberts   Born 25 October 1901

 

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Kingsley Road, where the family lived when William and Alice were born, still exists and it is close to 142 Northbrook Street where Richard lived when he married Eleanor.  

Travelling to Mulgrave Street along what used to be Northbrook Street, turn left (north) into Mulgrave Street from Northbrook Street and then turn right (east) at Selborne Road - the first street which crosses Mulgrave Street.  Travel along Selborne Road to the intersection of Selborne Road and Kingsley Road.  Turn right (south) into Kingsley Road; number 68 is on the right hand side of Kingsley Road just before Eversley Street which is the first street on the right.

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By the time their son Eric Rees Roberts was born in 1901, Richard and Eleanor no longer lived in Liverpool on the north side of the River Mersey.  They now lived on the south side of the River Mersey in Birkenhead.

Tranmere is a suburb of Birkenhead and Temple Road still exists.  Crossing underneath the River Mersey using the Queensway Tunnel, travel to Borough Road (A 552) when the Tunnel emerges above ground.  Borough Road ceases to be part of the A 552 and diverges from the A 552 to the left (south east).  The A 552 continues as Singleton Avenue.  Diverge from the A 552 and continue along Borough Road; the fifth street on the right (west) is Temple Road.  Number 71 Temple Road is on the left (south) about 2/3^rd of the length of Temple Road.

 

122 – Looking for the Hoylake School (and Eleanor Edwards) Part 2: 16 December 2024

Richard Roberts and Eleanor Edwards were the couple who established the Newlands Hoylake School at Clydesdale Road, Hoylake, Cheshire.  Alfred Pearson’s Postcard was addressed to Eliza Hankin at “Newlands” in Clydesdale Road, Hoylake.  

Eleanor was certainly the driving force behind the establishment of the school.

I took this photo on 23 September 2024.  The house shown in this photo is located at 3 Clydesdale Road Hoylake, Cheshire.  I think the Newlands School was located in the residence on left hand side of the photo.

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Eleanor Edwards was born in Chalmers Street Liverpool on 18 September 1863.  Her birth was registered by her mother Eleanor Edwards (nee Jones) of 6 Chalmers Street, West Derby on 16 October 1863.  Eleanor’s father William Edwards was a “Railway Guard”.  Eleanor the mother of Eleanor Edwards was unable to read or write so she made her “mark” on the birth record.

Chalmers Street no longer exists, but it was located not far from the eastern end of Upper Parliament Street.  Travel east along Upper Parliament Street (A 562) to its eastern end and head left (north) along Tunnel Road (A 5089) to Widney Close, the first street on the left (west) along Tunnel Road.  Turn left (west) into Widney Close and turn right (north) when Widney Close forms a T junction with a street which is also called Widney Close.  The former location of Chalmers Street is on the left (west) approximately 50 metres from this T junction.  Chalmers Street used to run from east to west starting from what is now Widney Close.  This area is in the Liverpool suburb of Wavertree.

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Eleanor Edwards was recorded on 2 April 1871 with her parents at 10 Maynard Street, Toxteth Park, West Derby, Lancashire in the 1871 Census.  This is a summary of the 1871 Census return for that address.

 

Name	Family Relationship	Marital Status	Stated Age	Calculated Year of Birth	Occupation	Where Born
William Edwards	Head	Married	45	1826	Railway brake man	Flintshire, Wales
Susannah Edwards	Wife	Married	46	1825	Railway brake man’s wife	Corwen, Wales
Eleanor Edwards	Daughter	Single	7	1864	Unstated	Liverpool, Lancashire
Julia C Edwards	Daughter	Single	6	1865	Unstated	Liverpool, Lancashire

 

Although Maynard Street, Toxteth Park, like Chalmers Street, no longer exists, it was close to Devonshire Road, where Eleanor’s mother Susannah Jones was recorded in the 1861 Census.  Head east along Upper Parliament Street (A 562) to the intersection of Kingsley Road/ Crown Street.  Turn right (south) into Kingsley Road and then turn left (east) into Selborne Street (second street on the right after entering Kingsley Road).  The third street on the left (north) is an unnamed dead end street.  Maynard Street used to run from east to west parallel to Selborne Street from about the end of this now unnamed street.

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Eleanor Edwards was recorded on 3 April at 24 Longfellow Street, Toxteth Park, Lancashire in the 1881 Census.  This is a summary of the 1881 Census return for this address.

 

Name	Family Relationship	Marital Status	Stated Age	Calculated Year of Birth	Occupation	Where Born
William Edwards	Head	Married	54	1827	Railway goods guard	Ysceifiog, Flintshire, Wales
Susannah Edwards	Wife	Married	55	1826	Unstated	Corwen, Merionethshire, Wales
Eleanor Edwards	Daughter	Single	17	1864	Pupil teacher	Liverpool, Lancashire
Julia C Edwards	Daughter	Single	16	1865	Milliner	Liverpool, Lancashire

 

Longfellow Street Toxteth Park, where Eleanor was recorded in 1881, does still exist and it was a short walk from Maynard Street, where the family lived in 1871. 

Follow Selborne Street east to the intersection of Selborne Street and Lodge Lane (A 5089).  Turn right (south) into Lodge Lane.  The second street on the left (east) is Longfellow Street.  Number 24 Longfellow Street is on the right (south) side of the street before the intersection of Longfellow Street and Newstead Road.

In the 1881 Census, Eleanor Edwards had commenced training as a primary school teacher.  She was a recorded in this Census as a “Pupil Teacher”.

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The Pupil Teacher system was established in England in 1840.  Under the Pupil Teacher system, children finished elementary (primary) school at age 13 and were apprenticed to train as teachers in their primary school for a 5 year period. During the 5 years, they had to work as teachers during school hours and also receive 1.5 hours of instruction five days every week from the school principal.  This teacher training instruction was supposed to occur either before or after school hours.

Pupil teachers were paid a starting salary of £10/-/- in the first year; yearly increases of £2/5/0 took their salary up to a maximum of £20/-/- per year. Teachers who were responsible for instructing pupil teachers, were paid an allowance for doing this. 

To be eligible for consideration as a Pupil teacher, candidates had to:

·         Be age 13;

·         Be able to read fluently;

·         Write neatly and spell correctly;

·         Have knowledge of elementary geography and the first four rules of arithmetic;

·         If female, they had to be able to sew and knit;

·         Teach a junior class satisfactorily;

·         In Anglican schools, Pupil Teachers had to be able to repeat the Catechism and be             acquainted with the outline of Bible history.

There was a specified syllabus for each of the five years of pupil teacher training, with annual assessment of progress.

After completion of the five years training, pupil teachers were assessed by examination. If successful, the Pupil Teacher could enter a training college to continue education and training for two years.  Alternatively, the Pupil Teacher could work either as an assistant teacher or as a provisionally certificated teacher.  Pupil teachers who went to the teacher training college received a Queen’s Scholarship which paid a maximum of either £20/-/- or £25/-/- per year.  The scholarship money was paid to the training college.

 By the date of the 1881 Census, Eleanor was age 17 and she was due to turn 18 on 18 September 1881.  Assuming she commenced the pupil teacher training at age 13, her pupil teacher training period ended on 18 September 1881.  I have found no information about the school at which Eleanor undertook her pupil teacher training.

At the end of her pupil teacher training, Eleanor would have been eligible to be granted a Queen’s Scholarship to undertake an additional two years of training at a teacher training college.  Based on where she lived, it is likely that Eleanor attended Padgate Teacher Training College, Warrington.  Padgate was then located in County Lancashire.

As yet, I have found no records for any additional teacher training undertaken by Eleanor, but it is certain that she did undertake further teacher training.  That Eleanor established her own school confirms that she did the two years of additional training after she had finished her apprenticeship as a Pupil Teacher.

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Like her husband Richard Rees Roberts, Eleanor Edwards was brought up in abject poverty. Because of great talent, she left that poverty behind.

While researching this work, I developed great respect for Richard Rees Roberts and for Eleanor Edwards.  What they had in life, they acquired through extremely hard work and talent.