Gravestone, Chelmsford.... erected by his widow, daughter and friends of the film business.
Richard Gerald Balls ,born Wisbech 1887. Cinema manager, Chelmsford (hence the reference to the film business - showing them,not making them) Now, which Cinema would that be? Married Beatrice L Wright in Downham Market. in 1914. An internet reference gives his executors as his wife and his brother, Francis Barron Balls [b. Wisbech 1893], formerly of the Downham Motor Company, and his widow. Ref:: Richard Gerald Balls, late of Phoenix House Chelmsford in the county of Essex Cinema Proprietor and Manager deceased, who died on the 16th day of December 1936 and of whose estate letters of administration were granted by the Principal Probate Registry on the 1st day of April 1937 to Beatrice Louisa Balls of Bexwell House Downham Market Norfolk Widow and Francis Barren Balls of Bexwell House Downham Market ***aforesaid Cinema manager. [*** I think brother of the has been accidentally omitted there. Otherwise it makes no sense]
And which cinema? Bexwell House was a signficant address in Downham. It may have been demolished.
A contemporary copy of the Essex Chronicle in the Essex records office one day will answer these mysteries.
Update: Phoenix House was situated in the affluent Upper Moulsham Street/Elm Road/New London Road area, as per this document. with large estate. 204b New London Road is known as Phoenix House which in the 1950s was a hostel for Crompton Parkinson Ltd (204) I think this is Phoenix House
Beatrice L Balls died in Downham Market in 1962. His daughter may have been Marjorie, who married Charles G Haddon in Downham in 1963.
In the 1901 census, other children were Walter Wilfrid b 1899 and Archibald James b 1894, sister Eva b 1889. The parents appear to be Henry or Harry Richard Balls, a post office clerk, born Lowestoft, and Annie Haddon.....see how the name reappears in 1963...married in 1886,
Gravestone, Chelmsford.... erected by his widow, daughter and friends of the film business.
Richard Gerald Balls ,born Wisbech 1887. Cinema manager, Chelmsford (hence the reference to the film business - showing them,not making them) Now, which Cinema would that be? Married Beatrice L Wright in Downham Market. in 1914. An internet reference gives his executors as his wife and his brother, Francis Barron Balls [b. Wisbech 1893], formerly of the Downham Motor Company, and his widow. Ref:: Richard Gerald Balls, late of Phoenix House Chelmsford in the county of Essex Cinema Proprietor and Manager deceased, who died on the 16th day of December 1936 and of whose estate letters of administration were granted by the Principal Probate Registry on the 1st day of April 1937 to Beatrice Louisa Balls of Bexwell House Downham Market Norfolk Widow and Francis Barren Balls of Bexwell House Downham Market ***aforesaid Cinema manager. [*** I think brother of the has been accidentally omitted there. Otherwise it makes no sense]
And which cinema? Bexwell House was a signficant address in Downham. It may have been demolished.
A contemporary copy of the Essex Chronicle in the Essex records office one day will answer these mysteries.
Update: Phoenix House was situated in the affluent Upper Moulsham Street/Elm Road/New London Road area, as per this document. with large estate. 204b New London Road is known as Phoenix House which in the 1950s was a hostel for Crompton Parkinson Ltd (204) I think this is Phoenix House
Beatrice L Balls died in Downham Market in 1962. His daughter may have been Marjorie, who married Charles G Haddon in Downham in 1963.
In the 1901 census, other children were Walter Wilfrid b 1899 and Archibald James b 1894, sister Eva b 1889. The parents appear to be Henry or Harry Richard Balls, a post office clerk, born Lowestoft, and Annie Haddon.....see how the name reappears in 1963...married in 1886,