Ada Annie Stafford

When interviewed by Martin Stevenson in 1973, Joyce (Stafford) Theaker could recall little about the January 15th 1941 air raid which killed both her parents. ‘One minute she was taking refuge with her frightened mother under the stairs of 31, Hutton Street, the next 19 year old hosiery worker Joyce woke up in hospital encased in plaster from chest to ankle and suffering from a shattered thigh and internal injuries…

They told me later the body of my father, who had been standing on the front door step, was found behind a chimney pot on the other side of the road. My mother had an injury on her head.’ Joyce’s married sister Ivy and husband were fortunate to leave 31, Hutton Street a few minutes before the attack.

Joyce Stafford lived with Ivy and George at Trent Road upon release from hospital. She was rushed back for an appendectomy on the eve of May 9th’s air raid which severely damaged Ivy’s house, an emergency which probably saved her life. Despite being temporarily blinded by dust and the severity of her injuries, Joyce Theaker made an excellent recovery.

Buried Nottingham Southern Cemetery (Wilford Hill), Grave Reference: J32

Nottingham Evening Post, In Memoriam, Saturday May 15th 1942:

STAFFORD. - Treasured memories of our dear mother and father killed through enemy action, January 15th 1941. Their end came sudden, it made us cry, but the hardest part of all they did not say goodbye. Sleep on dear ones, take your rest, on earth there's trouble, in heaven rest. Loving daughters Ivy, Joyce, son-in-law George.