Phyllis Bennett (22 May 1932 - 2 Oct 2015)

In loving memory of Phyllis Bennett who sadly passed away on 2nd October 2015

Phyllis Georgina Bennett was born Phyllis Prince on May 22 1932 in Reigate to her Mother Ellen Rachael known affectionately as Ray and her Father William George known as Bill, sadly he died in a traffic accident before she was born. Her Mum later remarried and Phyllis’s step dad Phillip Doughty took care of the family home in Addiscombe. This included her older Sister Violet known as Bub and Her younger step Brother Ted.

During the war as a child she was evacuated with her sister to a farm in the country and with great surprise returned with a dog.

Before she was married still in her teens she worked in a shop called “Miss Gittings” one side of the shop was a chemist the other haberdashery. The name Gittings amused her throughout her life.

Her next job was at the Newmark Watch and Clock factory on Stafford Road in Waddon just off the Purley Way it was there that a 20 year old Phyllis whilst at her job working on the Timing Board met 22 year old Arnold a watch maker and repairer. They were married at Croydon Registry Office on the 28th June 1952 and were married for 53 Years.

Subsequently both of them left Newmark’s Arnold to become self-employed watch maker and Phillis to bring up a growing family.

– Christopher born in 1953; Tina in 1954; Garry in 1956 and Nigel in 1969. They lived in various locations around the Addiscombe area. Starting in a one bedroom flat in Shirley Road and ultimately building a business which consisted of 3 shops with accommodation in Cherry Orchard road where they lived and worked, Phillis was by now repairing the clocks alongside Arnold repairing the watches, with a growing business in second hand sales and house clearance they loved their business with both enjoying living and working hard together every day.

Over the years Phillis watched her children grow, marry and settle down she loved the arrival of Grandchildren: Karen; Michelle; Anthony; Amanda; Danielle; Samantha; Brooke; Toby; Danny and Ruby – and furthermore – Great Grandchildren; Charlie; Megan and Tamzin.

Sadly the shops had to close when Arnold became bedridden after an illness paralyzed him from the chest down. Phillis looked after him devotedly with the help of her daughter Tina for five years until his death at the age of 75 in 2005.Through this ordeal mother and daughter became really close.

Phillis then put her boundless energy into sorting and clearing out the stock from the shops with an enormous amount of help from her youngest son Nigel. Selling at markets across South London. The next 10 years were spent working at and being an integral part of local Markets – the last one being Haynes Lane market in Crystal Palace. Phillis became very involved in the running of things – collecting rents and offering help and advice. She would become like a Mother Hen to newcomers. She had great patience imparting her knowledge in great detail about all aspects of the secondhand and antiques business. She was a resilient, straight talker who could stand up for herself and would help to fight other peoples’ battles for them. Highly trust worthy and forthright Phillis would go out of her way not to let people down. It is true to say that people thought she was a marvel. She worked right up to the week before she died.

Does an ordinary woman leave footprints in the sands of time?
Yes, quite extraordinary footprints.