Charles married Mabel Jackson on 4th September 1913. The wedding took place in Goole, Yorkshire. After their honeymoon on the South Coast, they returned to make their home in Cradley Heath. They had one son, Cedric.
The photographs of Charles and Mabel appeared, with a report of the wedding, in the County Express on 6th September 1913. There is a beautiful description of the bride's dress, with its "soft satin brocade, trimmed with pearls and Brussels lace."
The article refers to Charles's work as a councillor and trade unionist, and suggests that he was already very involved in the social life of the district. Both Charles and Mabel performed with the Cradley Heath and Old Hill Operatic Society. Mabel was often invited to sing solos at various meetings and functions. Their son, Cedric, recalled that his mother was invited, by London managers, to become a professional opera singer. She refused, being unwilling to leave her family.
Cedric remembers his father as "austere on the outside, but fun loving underneath". He speaks of a happy family life, and remembers going to the Workers' Institute with his father. When Charles was an M.P., Cedric remembers going to Westminster with him, and catching sight of Winston Churchill, complete with cigar!
The family had summer holidays in Polperro, sometimes with Charles' brother, Ewart and his wife. Letters that the Museum holds show the cost of the accommodation on one occasion, in 1931, was £4.15s (£4.75p) for five people.
Ewart was the youngest of the five brothers, and was employed by the Rowley Education Authority. George, the eldest, fought in World War I and died in 1916. Arthur was the manager of Dudley employment exchange. He died when he was only forty-four. Ernest was a civil service clerk at West Bromwich employment exchange. Charles also had four sisters.
Cedric joined the Squadron of the 11th Hussars in 1932. He served for fifteen years, and fought in France, Egypt and Palestine in the Second World War.
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| Reference: | 649 |
| Keywords: | |
| Archive Ref: | WI 1 - WI 2 |
| Updated: | Tue 17 Jul 2007 - 1 |
| Interpretation written by | Barbara Harris |
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