Village resident dies

Peninsula Village resident Mr Charles Henry Flanders Pearce died on February 24, "surrounded by the things and people he loved and cherished," said his eldest daughter Ms Jayne Mote.

Mr Pearce was born on March 3, 1915, In Swindon Wiltshire, England.

Ms Mote said that the name Flanders came from the fact that his father was fighting there at the time of his birth.

"He did not meet his father until he was three years of age and was the youngest boy in a family of four children."

School years were not particularly happy or successful for him so he left at the age of 14 to work with a firm of electricians for the grand sum of five shillings a week.

In those days the wireless worked by an accumulator.

This was charged with electricity similar to a car battery.

The accumulators contained acid, which burnt his trousers and his first week's wages was spent on overalls, which cost four shillings and 11 pence.

His next job was with a company who made uniforms.

He was employed as a strap boy, repairing the leather straps, which operated the sewing machines and earned about eight shillings a week.

It was here that he met a young girl who was later to become his wife.

Charles fell for her immediately but it was not until they were both 18 some four years later they started walking out together.

Not long after this, Charles began working with the Great Western Railways.

Under union arrangements, all apprentices were automatically sacked upon reaching the age of 21 years.

During this period, the foreman and the shop clerk took notice of Charles, as his work ethics were great.

They suggested that he "could do better" and suggested he become a policeman.

This would take some years as he had a lot of study to do in order to pass the entrance examination. He was unemployed for a while but eventually managed to secure a series of short-term employment.

He then secured permanent work in another town with a motor firm as a plater improver.

The Second World War was already being talked about and he was transferred to the blacksmiths shop where he made Bren gun carriers.

By this time he had submitted his application to join the Wiltshire Constabulary.

The entrance examination was held over two days and he passed all subjects with flying colors, and so, he became a probationary constable in June 1939.

Initial training was for three months but he was required to remain on probation for two years.

By this time he was courting his beloved Margaret and after a courtship of six years they decided to get married.

Charles had to apply to the chief constable of Wiltshire for permission to marry Margaret.

Margaret in turn had to supply references to the chief constable as to her good character.

In addition, Charles had to provide evidence that he had sufficient savings in order to furnish a room.

Permission was eventually granted and they married in August 1941 aged 26.

As the wife of a police officer, Margaret had to give up her working life once they were married.

However, she was allowed to participate in war work and became a fire watcher.

Charles applied to join the Royal Navy once the war looked set to last a while.

This was turned down, as the police force was a reserved occupation.

After the war a police house became available to them and so they moved to a tiny village called Keevil.

Charles became 'the village bobby'.

The house had no electricity but they were able to purchase calor gas for lighting, which was delivered weekly in cylinders.

Naturally, there was no washing machine either, only a brick copper with a metal lining, with the water being heated by an open fire underneath.

Their second daughter Carole was born in Keevil in 1947.

Charles had to cover his beat by bicycle, in a series of shifts 6am to 2pm, 2pm to 10pm and 10pm to 6am.

There were no mobile phones or any other form of communication other than public phone boxes.

In order to ensure the police were doing their job properly, head office would ring a series of different phone boxes each hour and of course they had to answer.

Charles remained a village constable all his career, a position he said he loved but life was very hard being on call 24-7.

Retirement from the force was compulsory after reaching 30 years service.

In 1970 Charles signed on for one round trip as Master at Arms with the Shaw Saville shipping line.

By this time his eldest daughter had taken up residence in Australia.

This gave Charles an opportunity to see a little of the country and to meet his son-in-law of the time.

Upon his return to the UK he was so full of Sydney he and Margaret decided to come for a holiday.

Their visa allowed them to stay for 12 months.

Both gained employment, Charles as handyman for a private hospital in Ashfield and Margaret with Nock and Kirby's in the City.

They returned to England full of life in Australia.

They soon sold their home and immigrated to Australia arriving in July 1972.

It didn't take long before they had purchased a unit in Croydon Park and Charles returned to his old job as Handyman at Ashfield Private Hospital.

Over the years they embraced the Australian way of life, meeting friends who would become lifelong.

They played indoor bowls and enjoyed Saturday night dances at the local Club.

With friends they purchased a caravan and together spent six weeks every Christmas at Sussex Inlet.

Over the years they moved house a couple of times following their daughter and her husband and moved to Glenmore Park.

Jayne moved to the Central Coast in 1998 and at that time they didn't think they would move again.

In early 2001 Margaret's health started to decline, Charles cared for her as long as he could but eventually Margaret needed full time care and was placed in a home at St Mary's.

Charles visited every day but lost his driving license at the age of 90.

In 2004 Charles' own health started to decline and he could no longer care for himself.

He was spending more and more time with Jayne, but not ever with a desire to become a burden upon her family.

The hunt began for accommodation for Charles and he was introduced to Peninsula Village.

"I wish I could go in for a day to see what it's like before I make such a commitment," he said.

After a conversation with the Village it was decided that Charles would spend a week in respite with them.

He was installed at the first availability and left to his own devices.

His family said in order for him to make his own mind up they would not contact him unless he asked for help.

After a couple of days he phoned his daughters saying "this is a wonderful place I wish Margaret and I had known about it earlier, we would have come in together".

His name was added to the waiting list and when Don Leggett House opened in August 2005 he entered as a hostel care resident.

Once more he embraced his changed circumstances with enthusiasm and joined in the entire activities offered.

After a few weeks a vacancy in the nursing home became available and Charles was asked if he would like to have Margaret transferred from St Mary's thereby he could see her daily.

He readily agreed to the suggestion.

Sadly, Margaret only lived about six weeks.

Charles had always wanted to take out Australian Citizenship but could never persuade Margaret to do so.

On January 26, 2006, Charles became an Australian Citizen at a ceremony held in Hyde Park, Sydney.

This was televised and, as Charles was the oldest participant, he was interviewed for television.

"He was so proud the next morning walking into the dining room at Don Leggett House," said Ms Mote.

"The cheer went up "Good on ya mate!"

Charles continued enjoying his life at Peninsula Village and made several Doll's Houses, one for his great granddaughter, with the others being raffled by Peninsula Village.

"The staff at the Peninsula Village were wonderful and gave him fabulous care," said Ms Mote.

Source: Email, 3 Apr 2012

Jayne Mote, Umina

Photo: Jayne Mote