Ronald Peter Chapman 1921

Father: Charles CHAPMAN

Mother: Emily Victoria BACK

Birth: 13 Aug 1921, Ashford, Kent, England

Death: 14 October 2010, Staplehurst near Tonbridge, Kent, England

Partnership with: Bridget MULLAN

Child: Peter Michael CHAPMAN

Child: Barbara CHAPMAN

Child: Christopher CHAPMAN

Child: Patricia CHAPMAN

When this Chapman was born his mother wanted to name him Peter, his father favoured the name Ronald. They compromised, deciding on Peter Ronald. Dad registered the birth and he reversed the names to Ronald Peter. However, Mother won, everyone referred to this man as Peter and he never mentioned the name Ronald.

Peter was educated at the Ashford South Central Boys School. When he left at the age of 15 in 1936 (one year after his mother had died) the headmaster gave him a glowing reference as a 'A' class scholar who was consientious, willing and put in extra time to help others.

At the same time the Reverend W. Archibold Weeks of Ashford Baptist Church provided a job reference letter describing Peter as thoroughly upright, industrious and trustworthy.

I don't yet know where Peter worked between leaving school and the outbreak of the Second World War.

During the Second World War Peter was posted to Rhodesia where he prepared military aircraft for flight. The few family photos I've seen of that time suggests that he had a 'good' war. A young man in exotic foreign climes doing what he was very good at. He spoke fondly of the time. Below is a somewhat blurred picture from a 1941 Christmas card sent home by Peter from Southern Rhodesia, he is in the top row just to the right of the nose of the aeroplane.

After the war Peter returned to Ashford and, in August 1947, married Bridget Mullan. The Banns were proclaimed in Bridgets home city of Glasgow.

Bridget was a Roman Catholic, Peter was not and he converted to the Catholic faith prior to marriage, he was baptised as a member of the church on July 16th 1947. The baptism record notes a Mary Turner and an Alfred Gould as godparents, neither were family members.

Below is their marriage certificate, Bridget giving an address of 66 North Woodside Road, Glasgow.

More to come on this page........... Hothfield Camp, Ashford Electricity Works, Lindum House, and more.