Le Grice, Le Grys et al.

Eulogy for Betty Edgell given br Rex Le Grice July 2005 Farewell to a thorough lady I feel privileged in being asked to give this Eulogy for Betty on behalf of the Edgell family, although they will be having a say also In preparing this Eulogy I have talked to many people about Betty and the words that describe her most often were loving, energetic, fun and a thorough lady. I should first explain to the many people here, just where I fit in. My name is Rex Le Grice. Betty, or Aunty Betty as we used to call her, is my late father Ted's first cousin therefore I am her first cousin once removed As we grew up we had irregular contact with the Edgells and I suppose these family occasions were where I first got to know Betty The Edgells contrasted with my family in that they were very social beings, having many celebrations and get-togethers often including members of the wider Le Grice family. Betty had two brothers, Peter and Jack. They were a tight trio and with their wives Val and Phil, who are here today kept close contact with each other which also ensured that all their children kept in touch, But I'm getting ahead of myself. Betty May Le Grice was born in Devonport on 7th May 1924 as the first child of Ernie and Kit Le Grice, both English immigrants who married here. She had a carefree childhood, and was regarded as a bit of a tomboy as she played a lot with her brothers. But another more feminine side developed when she took up ballet which she became very good at and joined an Auckland corps which did an excellent 'yet less risque' version of the Parisien Bluebell Dancers Bit missing here??? So it was back to England, another Radio Ticket before joining the NZ Shipping Co ship, S.S. 'Somerset' on its maiden voyage to New Zealand. Little did he know this would be no ordinary maiden voyage! "On our retirement in 1985, with family all settled, my husband Ron (who was born in England)] and myself left our home in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand on a Round the World Tour. At the completion of this, during our last days in London, I visited St. Catherine's House in Holborn, to search for and obtain copies of our Parent's Birth Certificates, which were later forwarded on to us. From these first four pieces of paper we have produced a mountain of Family Data, which has now prompted us to learn new skills as we advance into the Computer Age. Books on History and magazines from the Family History Societies in Britain to which we now belong line our bookshelves. My great love of history while at school, coupled with employment as a Law Clerk involved with family estates and land title searches keeps me motivated in this retirement hobby. I am the daughter of George Ernest Le Grice, and was born in Devonport, Auckland N.Z. on 7 May 1924, and christened BETTY MAY LE GRICE. From my late father GEORGE ERNEST LE GRICE (b 26 Aug 1887 in Eng.) I had gleaned a few basic facts which were as follows: - In Auckland visiting sailors were invited to the Mercantile Auxiliary Club to socialise and it is here that Ron met a classy young Kiwi girl called Betty Le Grice. After a whirlwind romance of a whole two weeks the 'Somerset' left New Zealand with sailor Ron on board and Betty on the wharf, both severely pinged by Cupid's arrows, and now blissfully engaged. I don't know if they exist at the bottom of Betty's mountain of important papers, but I'll bet there were some very steamy love letters back and forth for nearly a year, because when the 'Somerset' returned, without wasting a moment, they married in Devonport, Auckland in May 1947. The newlyweds settled in Devonport and built their first home there. When marriage happens and to the early joys of married life, Betty became the proud mother of a couple of bouncing boys. When the opportunity presented itself, Ron bought the lease of the Oxford Hotel opposite the old Ghandi Hall in Victoria St West, Auckland, and found his vocation! When visiting the Edgell home, I knew that even if I was talking to Betty, often about Family History, Ron was still a perfect mine host and would offer me a drink with the flick of his wrist. But the young family was growing and a city pub was not easy to have and spend what we now call quality time with the family, so the lease was not renewed and Ron and Betty bought the old Hot Springs Hotel at Waingaro, west of Ngaruwahia and Hamilton. It was hard work to serve at the bars and operate the hotel part, but Ron and Betty gave it their all. In talking to Michael and Randell, they loved the freedom of it, doing all sorts of things such as blocking off the main Raglan road in a futile attempt to help guide customers to the hotel. Its no wonder they were sent off to boarding school. Our family visited Waingaro several times and its family atmosphere and hot pools are pleasant memories that I hold. Somewhere during this time a late addition called Melody came along to complete the family. As a mother, Betty provided an excellent role model for her children and. A Christian way of life, blended with a few Kiwi characteristics, reflects well, on Michael, Randell and Melody, and seems to rub off on their spouses as well. As Nan she was always proud of any success, large or small of all of the grandchildren, and often supported their endeavours enthusiastically from the sideline In 1972 I was a teacher in Kaikohe, Northland and attended a large tangi in Moerewa for an old identity that I'd got to know. Marquees were put up and we slept there for a couple of nights. It was a true cultural eye opener for me. One of those evenings I spoke with a kaumatua initially about his tekoteko or carved talking stick It had twenty-three notches carved on the shaft, each representing not just a person, but the whole family and stories relating to them, all learned off by heart. The conversation widened a bit and we talked about whakapapa or genealogy He told me kindly, but almost scornfully that "You Pakeha with all your written word can't trace your genealogy back more than two or three generations" So I went back to Kaikohe, took out a sheet of paper and sure enough, could record no further back than three generations. When I came back to Auckland, I first asked my father then phoned Dad's cousins Peter, Jack and Betty. Nobody seemed to know much about our history but Betty expressed an interest in researching the Le Grices as well as Ron's Edgell family Working side by side Betty and Ron developed excellent Genealogical research skills, and for about twenty years, spent time and money piecing together the historical Edgell and Le Grice family trees, learning a range of new skills as they went, including geriatric computing way beyond the ability of many people half their age. My son Justin, an IT specialist marvelled at their skills. My job was to research the original Le Grice family in New Zealand, The Jeremiahs as we called them, now widely dispersed. Occasionally people would ask us if we were related to so and so Le Grice. Usually we did know them. But one night a message on my answerphone had a breathless Betty asking me to call her. So I phoned and she proudly told me she had found the link between our family and the original Jeremiah She had gone back five generations to prove that the two families came from one, seven years later with a tree of four thousand names we had a millennium celebration of our own with Le Grice2000 and a meeting of members from both families. These family studies over two or three trips took them to Australia, Canada and England meeting distant relatives and sharing information. I must also mention Ron and Betty's homes, especially those around Lake Pupuke, which seemed to me to be oasis of calm and order. But also the house at Mayfair Village was an oasis of calm. Betty On a more personal nature I have marvelled at your inner strength that pulled you through without Ron by your side.Also you have a marvellous family who has never stopped showing their love for you by being there when you needed them. So Betty, I'm sure that wherever you are, you will keep your eye on this special family and care for them from where you are. The Edgell family motto is Que sera, sera which means What will be, will be. So Betty, from the Edgell family, and me I say farewell to an exceptional wife mother grandmother aunt and thorough lady.