Bernard & Edith Fox met in 1943 when he was a naval officer and she was a WRN driver, following that fateful meeting their love story spanned over 70 years.
Edith Helen Barr was the youngest of 4 daughters and grew up in Glasgow between the wars, family holidays were spent in the Western Islands, in particular on Iona.
They married in 1946 and supported each other in building a wonderful home in Yorkshire; having 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Holidays were always spent by the sea, and many trips and holidays were enjoyed at Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast.
Bernard Marsden Fox was born and lived in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire where his father ran the family butchery business, until he moved to Birkenshaw with his wife and young family in 1956, to the house where he eventually died. Bernard was well-known in the bedding industry, where he was a director of Rest Assured Ltd, Managing Director of Batley Padding Ltd, and was President of the National Bedding Federation.
Edith Fox founded the Birkenshaw Ladies Lifeboat Guild in 1959 and for the next 40 years she and her friends and family raised much needed funds for the RNLI in this land-locked West Riding village. Many Birkenshaw residents recall fondly the many Father’s Day lunches for the Lifeboats and other activities at their home. She was awarded a silver RNLI medal for her services.
Bernard was a life-long member of Cleckheaton Rugby Club, Yorkshire RFU, Cleckheaton and District Golf Club, and Zetland Lodge, and enjoyed legendary status in all four. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers and Freeman of the City of London. He was a highly-respected and popular after-dinner speaker, and an enthusiastic host for entertaining at home.
Bernard died peacefully at home on 9th July 2013, Edith died in her sleep on 31st January 2014, reunited after a little over 6 months apart.
Together Bernard & Edith liked nothing better than lively company and were generous hosts. They are sorely missed, though they leave many happy memories for all to reminisce over.