HELENA TIVEY (nee Clarke) life history

Helena Tivey (nee Clarke)
Born 1898 / 9 - died 1924 aged 25

Parents Henry Clarke, a groom at Calke Park and Edna / Edney a laundrymaid at Calke Abbey.
Married in 1920 to Arthur Marson Tivey. (my Grandad)

Three daughters Molly (1921) Edna (1922) and Helena (1924).

During the First World War was in the WAAC (Women’s Auxilary Army Corps) at Harrowby Camp in Grantham and Catterick. Went to France as part of duties.

Died in 1924 of Encephalitis Lethargica (sleeping sickness) when baby Helena 2 weeks old.

Helena, the second eldest of three daughters worked in service at the Manse on Station Road, Melbourne. Her sisters Mary Jane (Jinny) and Evelyn both worked at Calke as Laundry Maids. The family all lived and worked around Calke Park. At one time at a place called ‘White Lea’s.

Edna remember’s visiting for holiday’s but was never allowed near Calke Abbey itself. Those working there got to work via a tunnel so they were not seen by the gentry !

Helena and family lived in the bottom of the two cottages called the ‘Dog Kennels’ belonging to the estate. Evelyn lived in the other one – she eventually moved when the Staunton Harold Reservoir was constructed and it was thought the cottages would be submerged under the new reservoir (this didn’t happen and they are still occupied today). The cottages are along a private road overlooking the Staunton Harold Reservoir.

Helena’s sister Jinney had Dorothy (Wilmore) and Evelyn (Mrs Lyons) was Kate Dumalow’s grandma. Unsure how her father Henry Clarke died but by 1911 census her mother Edna/Edney was a widow aged 39 living at Derby Hills with Helena 12 and Jinny 11.