William Ralph Crumpler

Other Events and Attributes:

• Biography: From an e-mail (23 Jan 2000) from Kevin Crumpler: Born in the house pictured in Lytchett Matravers - A Dorset Village in Pictures, pictures 10 and 11. When William was five years old his mother, Daisy, went off with a Tong and took the children to Salisbury. William's father found their whereabouts and took back the children. William's last contact with Daisy was when William's son Kevin Crumpler was born, and this was by letter. The letter wasn't answered. William's father died when William was 11 years old. William went to East Coker under the guardianship of Jesse Crumpler, his uncle. William went to Yeovil Grammar School (Jesse was on the Board of Directors of the school). William rode a horse to school every day: the horse was stabled at a pub next door to the school. Due to an "unfortunate accident" in the school laboratory -- an explosion -- William was expelled. He transferred to Beaminster Boarding School, which he hated. William left school and went to Listers in Gloucester, but after six months returned to Lytchett Matravers at the wish of his Aunt Polly (Mary Jane Crumpler) who owned the Chequers Inn. Her husband Edwin Jenner was an alcoholic and William ran the pub in the evening while working at Tweedale and Riley (Estate Agents & Auctioneers) in Wimborne during the day. At that time her will left the pub to William. In 1939 William joined the RAF as a radio operator, and served in this capacity until the end of the war. In the meantime Mary Jane Crumpler altered her will with Jenner inheriting. When Jenner died William was left £200. William played football while in the RAF, and won several cups. He had a fiancee in Exeter. While at Hendon waiting to be de-mobbed, William missed the flight to Exeter and instead came to Lytchett to his step-brother Stephen Crumpler. The village football team were playing away at Alderholt, and with nothing better to do William went to the game. Valerie Lawrence also went on the coach to see the game. (Valerie's friend was May Spiney: May's brother was playing goal.) Valerie was attracted to the handsome airman in uniform. William lodged with the Randalls, next door to the Post Office in Lytchett Matravers.

William married Valerie Elizabeth Lawrence on 26 Mar 1949 in Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, England. Valerie was born on 04 Dec 1927 in Lychett Matravers, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]