Vera Doris
Clarke-Bedford-Shaw
1898-1996


This directory contains the information we have about Kate and Anthony Clarke's 9th child Vera Doris.

For details of Kate's life, see her own directory.

For details of Kate’s very interesting first husband Anthony, including his families with other wives, see the AJCheeper/Clarke directory.

Vera's birth certificate shows her as being born on 27 November 1898, in while the family was at 27 Oliver Grove, South Norwood, Croydon. Her father was shown as Anthony Clarke, Commercial Traveller, and her mother as Kate Clarke formerly Davidge. The birth was only registered 6 weeks later, on 6 January 1899.

She appears in the 1901 Census entry (page 1, page 2) as Vera D., daur., 2, born Nunhead (which is nearby).

She appears in the 1911 census, as Vera, aged 13, born Nunhead, with her mother and younger brother, in the household of her brother-in-law and eldest sister Violet (who was 13 years older).

p1. Francis Edward BEDFORD, through much of the 1920s.
He was 30 years older than Vera, he in his 50s, she in her 20s.
In 2005, Gordon provided Anne Kratzmann with this photo of Vera and Francis.

Francis was b. Sep qtr 1867, in Little Waltham, Essex (5km N of Chelmsford).
He was the 3rd of 6 children of John Bedford (1826-1871/81) and Caroline (1832/33->1881).
She appears in the 1881 Census as Widow and Retired Baker, so perhaps that was John's occupation.
In the 1871 Census, Francis was a 3yo, with the family still at Little Waltham.
In the 1881 Census, he was a 14yo Grocer, with his widowed mother and siblings in Little Waltham.
In the 1891 Census, he was a 23yo Grocer's Assistant, with the Copper brothers at 42 Marsham St Westminster.
In the 1901 Census, he was a 33yo single Grocer, and a Boarder at 45/4 George St Richmond.
In the 1911 Census, he was a 43yo single Stores Manager, by then Head at 44 and 45 George St, Richmond.

Vera and Francis had children 1 and 2 in 1923 and 1928, details below.
Although unmarried, Francis succeeded in having their children's birth entries recorded with the surname Bedford.
On the second child's birth certificate and marriage certificate, Francis is shown as a (furniture manufacturer's) cost accountant.

Vera and Francis presumably separated some time after the birth of their second child in late 1928, and 1934.
Francis d. Sep qtr 1936, aged 67 (really 68/69).

m2. Harold E.V. SHAW, June qtr 1935, in Edmonton, when Vera was 36.
She states on that certificate that she was a spinster named Clarke (not a widow named Bedford).
From my aunt Enid Clarke's address-book in the 1990s, I understand that the family lived at 178 Park Rd, Crouch End N8.

Vera and Harold had children 3 and 4, Anthony in 1936, and Gloria V. in 1938. Details are below.

The following photos were provided by Gordon in 2005:

Harold d. when Gloria was about 12, so about 1950.

Vera was referred to as 'tough' by everyone who knew her. With the start that she had, it was a valuable trait.

Vera's death certificate states that she passed away on 7 January 1996, at the age of 97, at St Thereas's, 6/8 Queen Anne's Gardens, Bush Hill Park. She was shown as the widow of Harold Edward Victor Shaw, Barber, of the same address. The informant was her son, Oliver Kenneth Bedford, then 67, of 1b Uplands Park Road, Enfield.


Vera and Francis Bedford's Children

  1. Gordon F Bedford (1923-2010)
    b. 3 Feb1923 – 1Q 1923, Hackney, 1b 752, when Vera was 24.
    p1. Dorothy, from the early 1940s for almost 30 years.
    It appears that Dorothy was older than Gordon's mother
    Gordon (41) with his partner Dorothy (perhaps 70 at the time?), his mother Vera (66), and his sister-in-law Barbara (34) and his niece Karen (5), at his first business, a petrol-station, in 1964
    Dorothy appears to have passed on c. 1970.
    m2. Mari(gold) Fairweather, in Somerset, Jun qtr 1978, Yeovil Vol 23, Page 1333
    Mari b. 1922-23
    She had one or more children from an earlier marriage, and later grandchildren and GGChn
    Mari d. 1 Sep 2000, aged 77.
    In 2005, Gordon corresponded with Anne Kratzmann, from Tresi Aur, Llanarth, Ceredigeon
    (which used to be Dyfed) SA47 0QN, on the western coast of Wales.
    Gordon d. 7 May 2010, aged 87
    He's buried at New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales
    Here's a memorial page, image mirrored here
  2. Oliver Kenneth (Ken) Bedford (1928-2001)
    Ken was b. 22 October 1928 – birth certificate
    Vera was 29. They were at 124 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill.
    Father Francis is shown as a furniture manufacturer's cost accountant.
    The name Oliver was never used, and he was always Ken.
    m. 24 March 1957 – marriage certificate, at the age of 28, at St Peters, Hornsey.
    m. Barbara Rose Lockey, who was 27, and a shorthand typist of 95 Hampden Rd N8.
    Ken was shown as Office Manager, Manufacturing Stationers, of 178 Park Rd, N8.
    Ken's father is listed as Francis Edward Bedford, cost accountant (deceased).
    One of the witnesses was V.D. Shaw, presumably his mother Vera.
    (Oliver) Kenneth and Barbara's Wedding, showing (left-to-right) Ken's brother Gordon (34), Vera (59), Ken's half-sister Gloria (18), Ken (28). Barbara (27), and Barbara's sister and parents
    Ken and Barbara had 2 children.
    Ken d. 9 Nov 2001 – death certificate, in Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, aged 73.
    His occupation is shown as paper merchant (reitred), and his address as 1b Uplands Park Road, Enfield.
    The informant was his widow, Barbara Rose Bedford.
    Barbara later moved to Waltham Cross.
    1. Karen Bedford, b. 8 Feb 1962
      m. Brian D. EATON, at Enfield, June 1990.
      They appear to have 4 children.
      The 2005 Electoral Roll showed Brian and Karen Eaton in Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7QY
      1. Robert Eaton, b. 1991, Enfield
      2. James Eaton, b. 1993, Broxbourne
      3. Sophia Eaton, b. 2000, Hatfield
      4. Eloise Eaton, b. 2002, Hatfield
      5. A Son, b. early 2000s?
    2. Julie Bedford, b. 18 Aug 1966
      m. Stephen T. LINSELL, Jul 1992, Enfield
      (presumably not to be confused with the Royal Enfield mechanic at Flitwick?!)
      Gordon told Anne in 2005 that Julie has 3 (now 4) children
      1. Edward Linsell, b., May 1996, Enfield
        d. very young
      2. Alice Grace Linsell, b. Sep 1998, a twin, Enfield
      3. Rose Elizabeth Linsell, b. Sep 1998, a twin, Enfield
      4. Son, b.c.2000
        d. very young
      5. William John B. Linsell, Mar 2004, Enfield

Several photos are above.


Vera and Harold Shaw's Children

  1. Anthony (Tony) Shaw, b. Dec 1936, Hackney.
    Gordon Bedford advised in 2005 Tony lived in London.
    Paul remains in contact with the family.
    Paul advised in 2015 that Tony was still living in London, aged 79; but that he'd suffered a stroke.
    Paul further advised in early 2019 that Tony passed on in 2017
    1. Paul Shaw, b.c. 1960?
    2. Dean Shaw, b. early 1960s?
      m. Charlotte
      1 son
      1. Jack Shaw, b. c. 1990?
  2. Gloria V. Shaw (1938-2018)
    Gloria was b. 11 Jul 1938
    Vivian remembers her visiting his parents, perhaps in the early 1960s
    m. Roger NUGENT
    1 child
    Moved from London to the US in 1963
    div. 1965
    Settled in Dallas in 1970
    Paul visited the UK family as a teenager, c. 1980
    Gloria d. 6 May 2018, in Texas
    Her wedding? c.1960? With Paul, 2017 With Zayra, 2013 With Pepper, 2017
    1. Paul Steven Nugent, b. 14 Sep 1962, Heidelberg Germany
      Dallas, then Austin
      Musician 1980s/90s - '4 Reasons Unknown' (4RU) - Top 5 on MTV 1988
      m1. 25 Jan 1992, in Tarrant TX, to Amy L. Curnutt, b. 1971
      div. 1993
      Founder of Rainmaker Artists and Brando Records 1993
      m2. Zayra Nugent
      Paul and Zayra New Year's Eve 2011
      1. Pepper Love Nugent (Female), b. 18 Feb 2013, Austin TX

In 2005, Gordon provided Anne with these photos:

Several further photos are listed above.


This a page within Roger Clarke's Family Web-Site

Contact: Roger Clarke and/or Anne Kratzmann

Created: 6 October 2005; Last Amended: 15 August 2008 + 1901 and 1911 Census 1 Sep 2009, Vivian's notes 9 Feb 2013, Anne's notes re Gloria 28 Feb 2013, Gordon's memorial and marriage, plus Julie Linsell and Edward Bedford on 1-5 Mar 2013, Paul and Dean Shaw added on 7 Jul 2013, info from Paul Nugent on 14 Aug 2015, Gloria's and Tony's deaths added 31 Jan 2019