Olive Hartley
9 November 1909 to 20 June 1985
Olive was born the 7th of 8 children on 9 November 1909 at 3 Mount Pleasant, Blackrod, Lancashire.
Olive's mother, Jane died on the 13 January 1919 when Olive was 9 years old. Olive's father James and her elder brother David, both died on the 5 August 1927 when Olive was 17 years old.
On the 20 September 1930, Olive married George Albert Wooff at the Holy Trinity Church, Horwich, Lancashire. Ernest Wilfred Wooff (George's brother) and Ivy Hartley (Olive's sister) were witnesses at the wedding. At the time, Olive was living at 48 Catherine Street East, Horwich and was working as a cotton weaver.
Daughter Grace Wooff, Olive and George's second child, was born prematurely at home at 3 Mount Pleasant, Blackrod on the 22 May 1933. Sadly, Grace only lived for 13 hours and died at home the following day.
Derek Wooff, their third child was born at home on the 22 August 1935 at 25 Dickinson Street East, Horwich.
By 1943, George and Olive had moved across the road to 24 Dickinson Street East, where James Albert Wooff was born on the 12 June 1943. Presumably the houses on this side of the street were a little larger and could accomodate the growing family.
Another 3 children followed, to take the total to 8 and the Wooff family was complete.
Olive wasn't the tallest member of the family, in fact she barely made 5 feet tall but she ruled the roost. I remember my mum telling me that one time when my brother and I were very young, mum and dad had a row so mum took us kids and went to "Nana". (Olive was never gran, grandma or granny, she was Nana.) Anyway it only took one visit by nana to sort dad out and restore the family peace. Small but formidable when she needed to be.
At home, Olive always wore slippers and one of her many flower pinafore aprons with a big pocket on the front.
On the 18 February 1977 while living at 101 Stocks Park Drive, Horwich, husband George died at Bolton Royal Hospital, Farnworth, Lancashire.
Olive later moved from Stocks Park Drive, where she and George had lived for many years to Berne Avenue, Horwich. Son Derek lived with Olive for a while here. Later, Olive moved back to 101 Stocks Park Drive, this time to live with one of her other children and their family.
Nana doted on her 23 grandchildren and I remember helping her at Berne Avenue, "lap" (wrap for those not used to Lancashire dialect) the christmas presents she bought for us all each year.
Olive died at Bolton Royal Hospital, Farnworth on the 20 June 1985. Her funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Horwich and Olive was buried with George at Ridgmont Cemetery, Horwich.
[ Back to top ]