Peggy Kathleen Dudley ASHBY (1900-1977)

Peggy Kathleen Dudley Ashby (1900-1977) was a pupil at The Grove School, Highgate, and the younger sister of Juliet Sladden’s friend, Joyce.  She is mentioned in a letter written by Juliet on 25^th April 1915, saying that Peggy and Joyce were unable to return to school for a fortnight as they were in quarantine for German measles.

Peggy was born at Elmcroft, Gresham Road, Staines, on 9^th July 1900, the younget of seven children of Ernest Howard Ashby and his wife, Jane Mary.  Peggy’s father was a brewery director and came from a long line of Ashbys involved with brewing in Staines.  Peggy’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Ashby (1762-1841), had founded a brewery on Church Street, Staines, in 1796, and the company (from 1899 onwards known as Ashby's Staines Brewery Limited) lasted until 1936 when it went into voluntary liquidation.  Peggy’s father, however, died at the relatively young age of 52, on 8^th February 1912.  The family was by then living at Roscrea, Cherry Orchard, Staines, having recently moved from Gresham Road (when her eldest brother, Howard, died in 1919, the address was given as Roscrea, Knowle Green).

Peggy never married.  In 1939, Peggy was living at Ber House, Ber Street, Norwich, Norfolk, with the Sisters of Mercy; she was described as a Moral Welfare worker.

Peggy died at Irstead, Norfolk, on 20^th January 1977, aged 76.