Individual's Report

Albert was born in Holly Road, Weymouth on the 14th October 1907. He was the second of two children, his sister Mabel being born in November 1906. His father Albert registered his birth on November 2nd 1907.

Albert attended the Cromwell Road school in Weymouth, but I have no information regarding any later schooling.

After leaving school, Albert took up the profession of Butcher, and worked for many years in the butchers shop in the square at Easton on the isle of Portland.

I don’t know when he first met my grandmother, May Clara Reid, but I do know something of the circumstances in which they met. My grandmother had arranged to go to a dance with another man, who Albert knew, but he couldn't’ go and sent Albert in his place. Fortunately they got on well, and were married at Weymouth Baptist church on the 4th March 1934. At the time of his wedding he was living with his parents at 65 Newstead Road in Weymouth.

After getting married they set up home in Radipole Lane, Weymouth, and in 1942 May gave birth to their only child, my father Michael John Ayles. He was born in Victoria Maternity House, Victoria Terrace, Weymouth. Albert was now a butchers manager according to the birth certificate of Michael.

In 1947, Albert and May bought a house in Holly Road, Weymouth. This house was built to replace an original house that had been bombed during the war.

I know that my granddad paid a bit extra to have one of the original five bedrooms, built as an indoor bathroom.

I am told that, during the war Albert applied to join the Royal Air Force, but was turned down on medical grounds. To compensate he joined a local regiment of the Home Guard.
Albert was the informant when his father died in February 1948 and his address at that time was given as Holyrood Terrace.

At some point he changed the place of his work. He became a butcher for the Co-op and worked in a butchers shop on the Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, I remember it was on a corner, just up from Cromwell Road.

Albert retired from the Co-op in October 1972. I possess the letter sent to him upon his retirement, [ ] whereby the company says that he will receive a cheque to the value of £1 for each years service, although it does not say what the total amount was or how long the service was.

After retiring Albert still worked one or two mornings a week, and this continued until he suffered a stroke or fall in early 1976.

After this his health suffered and he spent the final months of his life, living on the ground floor, as he wasn't’ able to get up the stairs.

Albert finally died at home on the 10th of September 1977.

He was cremated at Weymouth crematorium