6 Eight Acres – Arthur Roffe

Arthur and Lucy Roffe

Catherine Roffe (née Avery), Arthur’s mother, probably knew her neighbour Emily Redmile at No 2 because they were both born in Pickworth, Rutland and were of a similar age. Roffe’s father, Frank, was from Wittering where there were many Roffes: he was a labourer in 1901 but in 1911 he had become a carter for a wholesale confectioner.

Arthur was born on 22nd Dec 1898 in Stamford and his sister, Lucy, in 1901. They lived at 2 St Peter’s Terrace but moved to 6 Eight Acres where at the time of the 1911 census Arthur is listed with his father and maternal grandmother. His mother and sister are visiting Woodhouse, Sheffield where his mother’s sister was married to a builder.

Arthur went to St Michael’s School and was one of five boys who passed the Pitman’s Elementary Shorthand exam in April 1912. It is not known what occupation he had when he left school and all that is recorded of his military life is that he enlisted in October 1916 and was demobbed in February 1919.

He married Gladys Annie Feetham at Stamford in 1920. His sister, Lucy, was very active in the Wesleyan church and it may be that Arthur and his wife were too. He probably moved away from Stamford at some time – perhaps after his wife’s death in 1943? Arthur died at Loughborough in 1982 and Lucy remained in Stamford until her death in 1991.