Phyllis Matthews nee Janes

click Families for other local families

click Janes for others in this family

Research by Joan West and after conversations with Phyllis. Also click 1944 Evacuees by Phyllis Janes

Phyllis Lilian Janes was the daughter of Harold & Clara Janes. The house was built about 1932.

Phyllis spoke warmly of her parents and her grandparents and she was close to her two brothers, particularly Keith, whom she helped a lot in later years

Ron Janes, Phyllis's older brother, married Ann Goodchild from Ilmer and moved to Princes Risborough.

Keith Janes, Phyllis's younger brother married Veronica Beecham from Bushey. He worked at Promised Land Farm

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Phyllis Janes was born in 1944. She went to Lacey Green School. Mrs Guerney was the headmistress and Phyllis was happy there.

Phyllis married Colin Radley In 1962. They had two daughters as follows :-

Jackie Radley

Deborah Radley

In the night the police came to her door to say Colin had been killed in an accident in his lorry. It was July 1972. It was a most terrible shock. They were living at Kia Cottage, Main Road, Lacey Green at that time. Colin was 33 years old.

Phyllis remarried in October 1973 to Martin G Matthews, born in North Yorkshire.

Phyllis and Matt had 1 child as follows :-

Jody Matthews

Researcher's note.

Phyllis is a pleasure to listen to. She seems to have had the ability to make the best of wherever life has taken her.

For 13 years she was the caretaker of Lacey Green School.

She enjoyed working with the horses at the Home of Rest for Horses, only leaving when she felt she was needed more at home. Click Home of Rest for Horses also 1982 Horses killed in I.R.A. Bombing and 1984 Sefton comes to Lacey Green (biography) and 2011 Home of Rest for Horses Updated for more about the Home of Rest for Horses

She then became 'Mum' to the firemen in Aylesbury Fire Station, where the men were often to be found in the kitchen with Phyllis rather than in their own sitting room. She was very happy there - just being her usual self !