Kathleen Leak (buried 1948)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Leak
First name: 
Kathleen
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Female
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1810
Born: 
25/4/1890
Died: 
15/06/1948
Buried: 
18/06/1948
Distinction: 
Nee Ridgway b. Birkenhead
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SWS
Cemetery row: 
6
Cemetery plot: 
1
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/icon.rich.final
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of Kathleen Leak died June 15th 1948 aged 58 "May we follow in her footsteps to our rest above" and of her husband Hector Leak C.B.E. died April 5th 1976 aged 88

Life story

Life story

Kathleen Leak nee Ridgway 1890 - 1948 Kathleen Ridgway was born on 25th April 1890 to mariner William Henry Ridgway and his wife Prothesa Florence Beer. Kathleen had two brothers, Henry, who became a captain in the Royal Navy and Harold, a lieutenant who was killed in the great war. 

Kathleen was brought up in Birkenhead, on Merseyside. On 24th April 1916, Kathleen married Hector Leak in Birkenhead. They lived most of their married life in Beckenham, where they brought up their four sons.  William Harold was born on 21 January 1918; Anthony Edward was born on 10 October 1919; David Ridgway was born on 27 April 1922; Dennis Gordon was born on 22 March 1929.  

By 1939 they were living in Beckenham, Kent. Hector became President of the Royal Statistical Society in 1941, for a while.  They retired to Worthing, where Kathleen's parents had lived. Hector and Kathleen sailed from Southampton to New York in 1947 and one trip refers to his attendance as the senior UK delegate at the meeting of the International Statistical Institute in Washington. 

Kathleen died in June 1948 and was buried in Heene Cemetery. Kathleen's parents are also buried in the cemetery.

Kathleen's family tree showing her parents and husband who are also buried in Heene Cemetery.

Kathleen's Family Tree

Burial researcher: 
Pat Brownbill

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
25/04/1890
Marriage
Maiden name: 
Ridgway
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Hector
Spouse one last name: 
Leak
Marriage one date: 
24/04/1916
Marriage one address: 
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
15/06/1948
Age (at time of death): 
58
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
8 Hythe Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£3,044

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1921 census: 

30 Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, Kent.

Hector aged 33, higher division clerk in the Civil Service employed by the Board of Trade. Kathleen aged 31, home duties. William Harold aged 3. Anthony Edward aged 1. Plus 1 servant.

1939 register: 

Living at 30 Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, Kent

Hector Leak, Civil Servant, Board of Trade; Kathleen Leak, unpaid domestic duties; William H Leak, Student; Anthony E Leak, Student.

Miscellaneous information

Wedding Write Up from Birkenhead News - Wednesday 03 May 1916:

Pretty Wedding at St. Michael's. GIRL GUIDE GUIDE CAPTAIN MARRIED. A vary charming ceremony took place at St. Michael's Church, Claughton, when Mr. Hector Leak, B.A., son of Dr. and Mrs. Leak, of Winsford, was married to Miss Kathleen Ridgway, the only (daughter of Captain and Mrs. W. H. Ridgway of58. Westbank-road, Devonshire Park. The Rev. A. E. Rowan officiated at the ceremony. The best man was Mr. Alec Leak, brother of the bridegroom. Owing to the absence of Captain W. H. Ridgway, who is on Government service abroad, the bride was given away by her uncle, Mr. Edwin Beer, of Bromley, Kent. Mr. Nelsey Ridgway acted as groomsman. The bridemaids were Miss Gladys Kettle and Miss Joyce Leak (sister of the bridegroom), and they looked very charming in gowns of blue taffetas. They carried beautiful bouquets of pink carnations, which were the gift of the bridegroom, also presented the bridesmaids with very pretty brooches. The bride looked extremely picturesque in a gown of soft white satin veiled with chiffon, embroidered with seed pearls. Her long tulle veil was held in place with lovely sprays of real orange blossom, and she wore a beautiful jewelled watch and carried a bouquet of white roses and lilies, the gifts of the bridegroom. The reception was hold at St. Saviour's Hall, Oxton. The presents were numerous and costly, and among them was a pretty afternoon tea service which was presented by the Guides, of which body Mrs. Leak had been a captain. The Prenton Hockey Club's gift was a cut-glass vase, and St. Michael's Working Party and the Sunday School teachers presented two handsome silver vases, a Prayer Book, and a cutglass vase. The Prenton " Y's." with whom the bride is connected, gave a set of braes water jugs, and the bride's Sunday School class a set of china vases. The tenants of Winsford gave a silver bread fork and a pepperette. The happy couple are spending their honeymoon in Devonshire.