Geoff Carrington
| Born: 2 Nov 1911 | Died: | Married: Beryl Allfrey | Mother: Phoebe Chettleburgh | Father: James Carrington | Descendant: |
| Census | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 |
James Geoffrey Carrington was born on the second November 1911 at 47 Southwell road, Norwich. His parents were James Carrington (a licensed victualler) and Phoebe Annie Chettleburgh (pictured with Geoff below left).
He married Beryl Allfrey and had three daughters Pauline Anne, Hazel Joy, and Sylvia Jean.
James, Geoff, Phoebe and Maud Geoff (back, center)
When his parents both died, the orphaned Geoff was suspected of having tuberculosis and sent to the Eastby Sanatorium in North Yorkshire (Bradford Poor Law Sanatorium at Eastby nr Skipton, which opened 3rd Nov 1903 with 33 beds). Later it turned into a boys home.
When the sanatorium turned into an orphanage the lady who bought it also lived at an estate at Kirkconnel Hall, Ecclefechan near Lockerbie in Scotland (DG11 3JH), and because of this connection after Eastby Geoff was sent to work there in the forestry.
Kirkconnel Hall has since become a hotel, and Geoff later went on holiday there, although he never mentioned to his children that he had once worked there.
Mr H. Arnoth Collington from Kirkconnel Hall subsequently wrote a reference (scan here) for Geoff:
KirkConnel Hall, Ecclefechan, Dumfries-Shire 14/7/34 I have known Geoffrey Carrington for some years & since May 1932 he has worked for me. Firstly as Assistant to the Estate Foremen, during which time he had a plot of ground which he cultivated as a flower garden with great success. Since March 1933 he has had the charge of the whole garden, vegetable & flower with lawn, paths, etc. He has given me great satisfaction. His vegetables were excellent & he got prizes for peas and runners at a local show. I have great pleasure in recommending him as a steady, industrious & conscientious worker and I wish him every success in any work he undertakes. H. Arnoth Collington
In 1939 Geoffrey J. Carrington (birthday 2nd November 1911, occupation gardener) was living at 127 Havelock Road , Brighton C.B., Sussex, England, with the Groves family.
Also in the house was:
- Frederick W. Groves (born 8th April 1882, electric train driver)
- Dorothy M Groves(Kirtlan) (born 12 May 1897, state registered nurse)
- A closed entry
- Anne Barnett (4 Dec 1866, Unpaid domestic duties, widowed)
- Kate Peacock (16 Feb 1860, Incapacitated, widowed).
Family narrative says that while in Brighton he built the rockery at Preston Park.
He lived at Studley College in Studley Warwickshire. It had a horticultural college and an agricultural college.
He didn't go back to Norfolk until around 1949, when he took his family to live there, working for the Norfolk County Council horticultural station as a lecturer.