Remembering Valerie Eborn

A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE of Valerie Eborn
VALERIE JOYCE EBORN (née Wheeler)
02/09/1929 - 11/07/2020
Amazing Lady. Fantastic Mum.
A force of Nature with a love of Nature.
Adored animals. Rescued many.
Valerie Joyce Eborn - my amazing mother- was born 2nd September 1929 at
40 PELLATT GROVE WOOD GREEN
1st child of William Joseph Wheeler and Sylvia Wheeler
May 23rd 1932 William & Sylvia gave Valerie a sister, Heather – Valerie would have preferred an elder brother...
At the age of 5 Valerie went to Watcombe School.
Valerie’s 1st pet was Rex, a wire haired terrier.
Valerie’s parents were very good friends with George & Maisie Hughes who also had 2 daughters, Hilary & Wendy, around the same age as Valerie & Heather. George was an accountant.
Every year William & Sylvia and George & Maisie would rent a property in the Witterings. William Wheeler loved fishing in the sea.
In 1938 Sylvia Wheeler’s father died and left her £1,000 Sylvia used the money to buy a plot of land in Witterings. George Hughes designed the bungalow to Sylvia’s specifications. The home was named Valheath after Valerie & Heather.
Valerie loved the Witterings It was where she first rode a horse at the age of 9 – sparking a lifelong love of horses.
3rd September 1939 – 1 day after Valerie’s 10th birthday War broke out.
The war years resulted in Valerie attending school in many different places. In addition to the Witterings, she went to BUDE, Whetstone and Barton on Sea where William Wheeler’s father and stepmother owned a house, Henglesberry. Valerie loved the fact that her grandfather would cover her books with brown paper.
A bonus whilst at Barton on Sea was that Valerie had the use of a horse.
It was that love of horses that led to Valerie’s 1st job in Crowborough working at a stables.
Valerie then went to work with her father in Tooley Street in a business set up by William’s father called William Wheeler & Sons. William Wheeler’s father was also called William. There are certainly a lot of strong wills in our family!
The business prepared horse hair including for paint brushes, violin bows and Saville Row suits Valerie’s father could look at a horse’s tale from a distance and say how suitable it might be for use on a violin bow.
According to Heather, Valerie had many admirers.
One such admirer was from another London family The Eborns, who also had a home in the Witterings and a son called Gerald. It was a whirlwind romance.
Gerald and Valerie were married on the 30th June 1951 in Totteridge Church. Gerald was 22 Valerie just 21.
William Wheeler bought Valerie & Gerald their own home at 89 Station Road, New Barnet where all 4 of their children were born: Rodney, Deborah, Rebecca & me
Subsequently William Wheeler bought Regency House, Bracklesham Bay. Up the road from the Witterings.
Regency House was Valerie’s home for almost 50 years.

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