William and Janet Clark's Children - Janet - Janet & Luke's Children - Jenny - First Marriage to George Pattison

When George met Jennie

In 1939 at the age of 22 Jennie Dent met George Alexander Pattison aged 30 who lived at 15 Rye Hill Newcastle upon Tyne.

When War was declared on the 3rd September 1939 George was working near Scotswood, but he knew his 'call-up' would be imminent because he had been a professional soldier. Notably on their Wedding Certificate it states his occupation as Gunner in the Royal Artillery. So, like many young people, in time of war, no time was wasted in getting married.

George first asked Luke Dent's permission to marry Jennie, but, because her mother Janet, was helping to look after evacuees in Carlisle (her young son Billy was with her) he wrote to her asking permission to marry Jennie. It is a lovely letter, but, with hindsight, it is heartbreaking. Grandma must have said yes as George and Jennie were married on the 21st October 1939 at Newcastle Registry Office. How long Jennie and George had together before he was 'called up' I don't know, but if it was, as he believed, the 29th that he had to leave for war, they could have had only had 8 days together. 

 George and Jennie's Wedding Day - 21st October 1939

There are only three photographs of Jennie and George's wedding, one taken at Newcastle upon Tyne Registry Office on the 21st October 1939, the other two were taken outside 6 Shaftoe Street Scotswood, where Janet and Luke lived.  My sister asked my mother what colour her wedding suit was, apparently it was salmon pink.

By Special Licence at Newcastle upon Tyne Registry Office on the 21st October 1939  R-L Best Man, George, Jennie and Bridesmaid 

Wedding Group Outside 6 Shaftoe Street
Best Man, George. Jennie, Unknown Lady, Bridesmaid, Janet and Billy 

21st October 1939 - George, Jennie, Janet and Luke

Notably George's parents 'are conspicuous by their absence' in these photographs.  Apparently they did not approve of his marriage to Jennie, so did not attend their only child's wedding. My mam told me the photographs and certificates were the only things she was left with as George's parents cruelly came and took everything away that belonged to him. I am sure my mam must have been heart-broken.

Shaftoe Street Today

As you can see behind the above wedding group Shaftoe Street consisted of two streets, sadly some years ago the side of Shaftoe Street where Jennie and her family lived was demolished.  This was hard to understand, as you can see from the Google Earth picture, they are fine substantial housing (built as flats).

In 1939 Scotswood was a vibrant community, but had its heart ripped out years later by planners who appear to have taken a "scorched earth policy" to the area, demolishing houses and not replacing them. The bottom right of this picture, where the fencing is, is approximately where the above wedding photographs were taken.