of 19, returns to place of her birth

Inn for a ton of fu

THE DAUGHTER of a former landlord of
The Gate Inn will celebrate her 100th
birthday by returning to the Canterbury
pub where she was born.

But the table Edith Moody will sit at with
family and friends will no doubt be a lot
smaller than the huge table she
remembers when the pub was her home.

It used to seat not just her mother and‘
father, Charles and Mary Louisa
Brickenden and the then little Edith, but
also her 16 siblings.

Mrs Moody, of Holt Street, Nonington,
spent her childhood at the pub in New
Dover Road which had been in her family
since 1848.

She said: “It was a lovely time we had as
kids. We would all pile into a cart when it
was wet to be taken to school and at
mealtimes would sit around a table that
opened up to about 6ft.

“We were never allowed in the public
house. We were allowed ginger beer in
the kitchen but never in the bar.”

GOING HOME: Edith Moody,- soe survior of family

 

2A/3667E

 

She remembers a kind but strict father
and mother who was nimble-fingered
with a needle. —

She said: “There was no half marks with
him but all my brothers ended up with a
trade. A lady used to come in to do the
washing but mother made all our clothes.
She was very good at sewing.”

Mrs Moody’s father’s high standards paid
off with her as well, for she has been able
to present Bridge Primary School with
her own medals for good attendance for_
its museum. 1

From the time she left school in 1912

_ until she married Bernard Moody in 1924,

Mrs Moody Worked in domestic service.
Sadly Mr Moody, who worked at '
Snowdown Colliery, died 26 years ago
from pneumoconiosis caused by inhaling

7 coal dust but his wife kept up their

Nonington home, moving to a nursing
home in Adisham only two months ago.
She is the only surviving sibling of her
parents’ 17 children.

+ .

 5!‘ =3