John Dilnot SLADDEN (1878-1966)

John Dilnot Sladden (1878-1966), known as Jack, was the eldest son of Julius and Eugénie Sladden.

Jack Sladden was born at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, on 19^th November 1878.  He came to Badsey as a young baby in April 1879 with his parents.  Jack had his early schooling in Richmond, staying with his Aunt Polly (Mary Anna Robinson) at Marshgate House.  He was then educated at Christ College, Brecon.

After leaving school, Jack became a civil servant, moving to London in the late 1890s.  In 1897 he was living at 21 Beresford Road, Canonbury; in 1901 he was living at 22 Burgoyne Road, Harringay.  He then moved south of the river and was to be found living at 162 Rosendale Road, Dulwich, in 1906; at 94 West Hill, Sydenham, in 1907; at 43 Peak Hill, Sydenham from 1907 to 1910.  He was now living with his siblings, Kathleen, George and Cyril.  In mid 1910 they moved to 12 Charleville Circus, Sydenham, where they lived for a number of years.

Jack was 35 on the outbreak of war but was not called up when conscription was introduced in 1916 as the Civil Service would not release his from his job.

At the age of 46, Jack married Winifred Letitia Hawkins, known as Wyn, at Golders Green, London, on 16^th June 1925.  They had one daughter, Anthea Katherine Letitia, born at Golders Green in 1926.

On retirement, Jack and Wyn moved to Brackenden, Poole, Dorset.  Wyn died there in 1957 and her ashes were buried at Badsey.

Following Wyn’s death, Jack moved to 158 Quinton Road West, Birmingham.  He died at The General Hospital, Kidderminster, on 20^th February 1966 and his ashes were buried at Badsey, as too were those of his daughter, Anthea, who died in Essex in 2000.  The following report appeared in the Parish Magazine of April 1966:  “Mr Jack Sladden was known as a fairly frequent visitor to Badsey, his boyhood home.  Mr Tom Knight remembers him well as a fellow choirboy.  He had been very frail for some years, but had a great affection for this place, where he has always been warmly esteemed.”