Fanny Catherine Davie
A truly remarkable lady
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Fanny Catherine Davie
'A truly remarkable lady'
Fanny was born at Bittadon, North Devon, on 21 May 1852 and died in Mumbles on 8 February 1957, aged 104, having lived with her granddaughter. She was a truly remarkable lady who deserves to go down in the Davie history as one of the "greats".
Fanny Catherine Davie is sitting in the centre with Harry and Gertie Beynon and children, George Edward 'Eddie' and Winifred 'Winnie' (later Jones).
The photo was taken around 1906 at ‘Northlea,’ The Grove, Mumbles (Up Queens Road, by the Cubs HQ.)
Fanny Davie lived with her daughter Gertrude (Gertie) Beynon for 53 years.
90 year old, Fanny Catherine Davie is on the right
1st June 1942 at All Saints' Church, Oystermouth. The wedding of Maraget Beynon & Ralph Edmond Blows,
Left to right -Brides sisters, Kathleen Millard, and Winnifred (Winnie) Jones. Mother-in-law Elizabeth Blows, Bridesmaid, niece Dreena Millard, Best Man, Edward (Eddie) Beynon; Bridegroom Lt Comander Ralph Edmond Blows and Bride Margaret Beynon. Brides father, Harry Beynon,; Chief Bridesmaid Olive Blows; Brides mother Gertrude (Gertie) Beynon; Grandmother, 90 year old, Fanny Catherine Davie.
Eddie Beynon gained three caps playing Rugby for Wales; Harry Beynon, local Builder.
WONDERFUL OLD LADY OF MUMBLES , NOW 97
Mrs. Daive, has just returned from shopping.
South Wales Evening Post1949 - WITH her long dark coat and orch brown shopping bag, Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, of Northlea, The Grove, Mumbles, well-known in Mumbles shops. Her straight, up. slight figure is to be seen in the village any day of the week, for, in spite of her 97 years, Mrs. Davie sets out from her home every day, be it sunshine rain, and she never misses church on a Sunday.
Last Saturday Mrs. Davie celebrated her 97th birthday, and cards and telegrams came by the score for she is widely known as the wonderful old lady of Mumbles.
“Active and as keen minded as a girl in her twenties," as she was described to an "Evening Post" reporter.
KEEN CHURCH WORKER
Mrs. Davie had a personal congratulatory call by the Vicar of Oystermouth, the Rev. W. D. G. Wilkinson (photo below) for she has played a big part as a church worker. Every Christmas Fair in conection with Oystermouth Church has a number of gifts of embroidery in the shape of table cloths and other items, the clever needlework of the old lady, and it is eagerly snapped
FAMILY
"I came here from Devonshire,' said Mrs. Davie, "but that was a long time ago. I have or been in the Mumbles district for 76 years. Mr. Davie, who was a farmer at Glen Farm, Glen Road, West Cross, at what was then known as Boarspit Farm, (photo below) died 50 years ago, and now Mrs. Davie lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Beynon, who celebrated their golden wedding last February. Their son, and Mrs Davie's grandson, is Mr. Eddie Beynon, the former All White, now in Glasgow as chief of the Scottish Railway Police. Mrs. Davie has, in all, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
ROGUISH HUMOUR
In addition to being in possession of all her faculties, the grand old lady has almost roguish humour. "You should have come down on Saturday, young man, and seen me cut the birthday cake,' she said. "That would have been a better photograph than seeing me come home after shopping.
South Wales Evening Post
Swansea's Oldest Voter
Mrs. Fanny Davie, on her way to vote, 1952.
South Wales Evening Post1952 -AFTER the enthusiastic rush of the Royal visit yesterday, election day was usually quiet in Swansea to day.
Rain made most people postpone the visit to the poll ing station, and this promises a heavy rush later this even ing.
Promptly at 10 a.m, to-day, Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, who will be 100 on May 21, set out for the polling booth at Mumbles. She left her home, 5, The Grove, Mumbles, with her daughter, 76-years-old Mrs. H. Beynon, and both were taken to the booth in a candidate's car.
Looking fit and smiling, Mrs. Davie recorded her vote, as she does at every election.
"Rain would not stop her going," said her son-in-law, Mr. H. Beynon, 80-year-old retired builder with whom Mrs. Davie lives.
"She never misses and looks forward to a visit to the polling booth.
South Wales Evening PostSWANSEA CENTENARIAN
1952 - SWANSEA CENTENARIAN, Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, "at home" on her 100th birth day to-day with her daughter and some of her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. The little greatgrand children are Pauline and Richard Millard, of Weston-super-Mare, with whom is their mother, Kathleen Millard (nee Beynon). On either side of them are other greatgrandchildren, Gweno and Kristine Jones. At back are Dorothy Beynon and Margaret Beynon, wives of grandsons, 'Eddie' Beynon, London, a BR Police Superindent and former Welsh rugby international wing forward, Winnie Jones, a grand daughter, and Gertrude (Gertie) Beynon, the daughter with whom Fanny Davie has lived for 53 years.
South Wales Evening PostTen candles - one for each decade
Life and soul of her ''100" party
In the above picture of smiling faces, the Bishop looks on as Mrs. Davie cuts her birthday cake.
South Wales Evening Post1952 - BIRTHDAY party of Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davies. of the Grove, Mumbles, who celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday took place at the Mumbles Baptist Schoolroom, lent for the occasion and in spite of the fact that the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, Dr. E. W. Williamson, the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs. Dan Jones, Archdeacon Harold Williams and several other well-known people were present, it was generally agreed by the 120 guests present that the wonderful old lady herself was the life and soul of the party.
Apart from the Queen's message of congratulation, there were more than 100 telegrams, letters and cards, and Mrs. Davie, who wore a costume and hat and had a spray of carnations, enjoyed the experience of cutting the two-tier cake, on top of which were ten candles, one for each ten years of her life.
HAPPY PARTY
It was a happy party in every way, The Bishop recalled Mrs. Davie's continued active interest in All Saints' Church, Oystermouth, where she had been a member for many years, still attending the Wednesday morning com munion service.
He offered her congratulations and good wishes from the diocese generally.
When the Bishop men tioned that he had recently visited another old lady who had attained her 100th birth day, Mrs. Davie in her inimitable conversational style, asked: "Oh yes, what was she like? Of course, they are usually bedridden at that age!"
TOWN'S FELICITATIONS
The Mayoress, Mrs. Dan Jones and a representative of the Baptist Church ladies at Mumbles each presented Mrs. Davie with bouquets. The Mayor offered her the felicitations of the town generally,
Canon W. D. G. Wilkinson spoke as her parish priest, and the Archdeacon as a very old friend and former Vicar of Oystermouth.
Councillor Harry Libby, Mrs. Rowland Williams and several other speakers joined in the good wishes and among the happiest, and ever moving speeches were by grandchildren of Mrs. Davies, now people in responsible positions in different parts of the country.
Mr. Henry Beynon, Mrs. Davie's son-in-law, made one such speech.
CHURCH GIFT
Mrs. Davie was obviously delighted when Mrs. Wilkinson, wife of Canon Wilkin son, presented her with an inscribed silver cake basket from the Vicar, church wardens and parishioners of All Saints' Church.
Through it all Mrs. Davie delighted the guests with her happy conversation and when called upon to reply, stood and in a firm voice thanked her "dear friends" for their greetings.
In the above picture of smiling faces, the Bishop looks on as Mrs. Davie cuts her birthday cake.
South Wales Evening PostMADE IN JUST OVER A WEEK
1953- EMBROIDERY is a common enough occupation-but not when the embroiderer is 101 Mrs. Davie, of the Mumbles, seen here with the result of 10 days' work in her lap, celebrated her 101st birthday to-day.
South Wales Evening Post101, she looked for thimble to complete pictured Embroidered Coronation Cloth in ten days
1953 - WHEN Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, of 'Northlea', The Grove, Mumbles, who celebrated her birthday to-day, was asked by an "Evening photographer to pose for a picture with a square Coronation cloth she embroidered in ten days she asked "Where is my thimble?" One of the family brought her red thimble, which Mrs. placed on a finger, remarking, "Now you can take the photograph."
Mrs. Davie finished the em broidery which many a person a fifth of her age would take a month or more to complete, in ten days. She would not work on it on Sundays. Fourteen people attended a party at her home to-day, and there will be five generations in the same house to-night. Mrs. Davie will have around her Mrs. Gertrude Beynon, her 77 year-old daughter, Mr. Eddie Beynon, aged 51, her grandson and former Welsh rugby inter national forward, her great grandson, Peter Beynon, aged 126, of Derwen Fawr, and her great great grandson, five month-old Michael Beynon.
NO ASSISTANCE
Mrs. Davie to-day received 80 cards and four telegrams, and the presents she was given included books she reads regularly chocolate, writing paper-she writes to her family regularly-slippers and other useful gifts. She attended a church service yesterday.
At 101, Mrs. Davie needs no assistance to go to bed in the night or to get up in the morn ing.
101 -Fanny Catherine Davie of the Grove, Mumbles, who was 101 yesterday, looks on a new day through the open window of her home with left to right, Mr Philip Beynon, grandson, his wife Dorothy, Mrs Davie's daughter Gertrude, 77 years old and grandaughter Margaret Blows.
Mrs Davie is 102 today, 21 May 1952
South Wales Evening PostWill be 102 on May 21st
1954 - Mrs F. C. Davie, of Southward Lane, Newton, Swansea, who will be 102 on May 21st.
Western Mail & South Wales News, Friday, April 9At 101 Mrs. Davie still keeps busy
1954 - If you were meeting Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie for the first time you would know she was old. But you would never suspect her to be 101 and looking forward to her 102nd birthday on May 21.
Speak to her, and it becomes apparent that her mind is active and as sharp as her needle with which she does neat embroidery. Almost everybody in Newton and Mumbles, Swansea, knows her. As they pass her house in South wards-lane they look up and see her sitting at the window busy with her needlework.
Mrs. Davie takes things easily and rarely leaves her home. But she can walk without a stick or supporting arm, write a letter, read a book and talk clearly and confidently.
Walked to wedding Married to a Devon farmer when she was 18-she walked six miles to the church-she came to Wales 77 years ago and her husband farmed first at Margam and then in the Gower peninsula, Mr. Davie died 54 years ago,
Mrs. Davie had four children and now lives with her sole re maining daughter, Mrs. Sally Bey non, who is 78 but, like her mother, seems a lot younger.
There are five generations of the family alive. Mrs. Davie has ive grandchildren, ten grandchildren and great-grandchild. great one great.
Western Mail & South Wales News, Friday, April 9
103, but she is going to vote
THE oldest voter in the country THE to go to the polling booth to morrow will surely be 103-year old Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, of Southward Lane, Newton, Mumbles, Swansea.
Mrs Davie will go by car to vote. "My legs are my only weak part. I can't be expected to walk," she told me yesterday. when I called at her home.
Since women were enfranchised in 1922 she has not failed to regis ter her vote in local or Parlia mentary elections.
Her example
"It is something we fought for and I think every woman should follow my example." said Mrs. Davie.
Lately she has been reading the election news in the papers. "I have read about what is going on and taken an interest in the election campaign. I have been occupied in other ways, too. It was my birthday last Saturday and we have been busy celebra ting," she said. And which way will she vote? is I did not like to ask her. She might have thought it an intrusion.
Quite willing
But I need not have had any y scruples She laughed and said, "I suppose you want to know who I'm going to vote for."
I held up my hand deprecatingly. "Not if you don't want to tell me." I assured her. But nothing would stop her.
"I have always voted Conservative and always will," she said emphatically.''
South Wales Evening Post F.C.G.SHE IS 104 TO-DAY
AND STILL ENJOYS HER BREAKFAST
AND STILL ENJOYS HER BREAKFAST
1956 - WOULD you say there is over a hundred years difference in the ages of these two persons photographed in their garden at Newton, Mumbles, to-day. Well, there is. Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, of Southward-lane, Newton, celebrates her 104th birthday to-day. At her side is 3 year-old Michael Beynon, her great-great-grandson. Mrs. Davie is also proudly displaying a basket of fowers sent her to mark the occasion.
South Wales Evening Post1956 - Mrs. Davie likes to embroider and read
ONE hundred and four years old to-day, Mrs. Fanny Catherine Davie, of 65, The Gables, Southward lane, Newton, Mumbles, still gets up at 8.30 every morning and tucks into her favourite dish-bacon and laverbread.
Wales's oldest living person, she stays up for twelve hours a day, going to bed between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
"I have got a lot of friends," she commented to-day when an Evening Post" reporter called on her to congratulate her and found her looking through 50 birthday cards that had arrived by the morning post.
FIVE GENERATIONS
She's also had lots of letters, telegrams and flowers. "It's like a garden in here," said her 80- year-old daughter, Mrs. Sally Beynon, who looks after the Grand Old Lady of Mumbles. There are five generations of the family alive, and many of them have travelled to Swansea to join in the family
Mrs. Davie does not like the pace of life to-day. "It is too fast." she says.
She likes to dwell, in her memory, on those days of her childhood in Devon when the London horse-drawn coach used to pass her home once a week. The event used to bring people from their homes to watch the spectacle.
She thinks that these days young people don't save as much as they should. She says she would not be so comfort able as she is now if she had not saved.
Mrs. Davie has been a widow for 56 years. She was married to a Devon farmer when she was 18. and came to Wales 78 years ago.
In recent years, she has gone religiously to register her vote at the Newton poll
South Wales Evening Post