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Sixth Generation

STEWART WILLIAM KLITZ
02 July 1925 - 24 December 1993

 

Eldest son of Norman Leslie and Christine Eede.
Married, Barbara Rowe (18 May 1925 - 05 January 2010) on 06 April 1953 at St. John's Church, Penzance.

Two children:
Caroline Wendy - 09 December 1954 - to date
Nigel Philip - 26 August 1956 - to date

Bill's own history

I was born at 88 High St. Lymington, the home of the Klitz family for 140 years. Bill as I am known, first went to school at Oriel house under Miss Doman and was taught to write on a slate, from here I went to Miss Lathams in the Foresters Hall in Ashley Lane and caused considerable trouble and was eventually expelled for locking Miss Latham in the toilet. I ate pencils almost wholesale and remember clearly being under the keyboard of the piano creating trouble. I was also given personal supervision in a corner of the hall. After all this I remember being made to write at home lines - 'I must be good' and I have still got the book! The only name I can recall is Arthur Braithwaite who lived in a large house in Solent Avenue, long since demolished. I remember on another occasion being made to sit at a table with a bowl of pea soup that I would not eat, I don't think I did eat it.

My sister Betty was born when I was four and turned out to be a very beautiful child and of course attracted all the attention and is probably the reason I was so rebellious.

I remember walking with my Grandmother to the Copse near Buckland farm and picking primroses; this was when Kings Road was just being built; I recall the gravel roads.

I was taken to Jersey when I was about three and can just remember the cabin on the boat and also the bunk and looking out through the porthole and seeing the ships, probably in Southampton Water. We also went to St. Malo and can still see the decorations - I understand it was Corpus Christi Day.

I used to annoy the staff who did the piano repairs - there was Mr Pickett, Lashmar and Edgar Hopkinson. I remember throwing earth in the workshop and then being chased by Mr. Pickett.

I had a magnificent pedal car with RR on it, also one Christmas was given a Bassett Lowke train set - steam driven and I recall going to a model train exhibition in the literary institute where there were some wonderful models all hand built.

The next schooling was at the Homefield School, headmaster Mr. C. M. Stanley M.A. I was a day-boy for about 18 months and had Bob Greenham and Peter Elgar to keep an eye on me on the bus. I remember one driver whom we all liked called Gulliver. Also at the school was Bob Easte, his father was the Radio Engineer in the Family Business. I was then a boarder there for the next 18 months.

I can remember many things 1935-6. The Silver Jubilee celebrations of George V - The Bonfire and Fireworks at Woodside Gardens and walking back in the torchlight procession and feeling very proud walking close to the Mayor, Stuart David.

Riding in the dickie seat of a sports car owned by Pawsey, I used to have a crooked stick which I called Mr Nog. It was about this time that I met Roddy Jefferies who used to come to Blake's cottage in the holidays. We became great friends; we used to make tunnels and tents in our garden with Pye Radio packing cases and a sunshade with an awning. We used to walk along the beach towards Paddy's Gap where the cliff was high and water running out and made dams to hold up the water and much delight when we released them - very erosive.

We went on Holidays with a firm called Holiday Adventures, first time to a Railway Camping Coach at Dawlish Warren. It was a mixed group, and we visited various places; I do remember going to Buckfastleigh Abbey and another year we went to Burnham on Crouch and we were under canvas. I remember completely covering myself in mud and Roddy did as well.

In August 1939 I went to stay with Roddy at their Farm in Aldington Kent. It was an Elizabethan Farmhouse, and they had some tame rabbits there I also remember harvesting the bracken for bedding. During these years I used to spend a lot of time at Passford Farm at Lymington with a Mr. Just who was a British Israelite, but he had a lot of animals including a parrot monkey and ran a kennels. They were very kind to me and I believe I got my love of animals from him. There were several Cobb built buildings there and also a Granary on staddle-stones. The house was most attractive with its uneven floors and of course a great log fire. I used to help saw the timber with a two-man saw.

We used to spend many hours at Hordle cliff where we had a hut and I remember the Sandbank that used to appear much more then than it does today; and the Aircraft that dropped Sharps Toffees along the beach. We also spent many hours taking car numbers of all the different makes in the car-park - it used to get full in those days. The Walls Ice Cream Man who had some disability and had the Water ices, but when we came down to Milford we often stopped at Edgars Dairies and had ice cream cones. John Edgar went to Homefield SchooI. I also remember a Sally Lunn. When I was a boarder at Homefield Mr. Stanley's son, Simon was a little younger than I but I think I thought he was a bit of a wimp in today's language.

I do remember listening on Saturday nights to 'In Town Tonight' and how Mr. Stanley used to sleep in the summer in a Bell Tent on the lawn. We played cricket on the Recreation ground in the Town and also held our Sports Day there. I used to also Caddy for Mr. Stanley at Barton Golf Club. Whilst at Homefield I was supposed to learn the piano. I hated practicing scales and one night I hit the keyboard with a stick and no doubt broke the key, which made the hymn singing the next morning a bit odd. I got six of the best for that and remember it.

A favourite Saturday evening for Roddy and I was to go down the Town to the Market Stalls. I always remember being intrigued by an escapologist, and we used to have sausages and waffles when we got home. Bananas were 13 for 1/-. Roddy's parents were strong disciplinarians, they also had a chalet at Shoreham; we were there in 1939, the house next door called Pavlova was empty and had many windows in it. I remember clearly seeing how many windows we could break with one stone and throwing a can filled with stones through the windows. I was worse than Roddy; when his parents found out we were punished. I do not know how Roddy and I lost contact at the outbreak of war - I believe he went in the Navy.

 

Growing up, picture taken at Chesterton House

 

In 1936 I was put to Peter Symonds School, Winchester which was the Choristers School which my father went to. His Head master was Edward Varley, whom I was to hear preach a sermon at Wick Church. We had to attend with our boaters in the summer and we were all given a penny to put in the collection. On Sunday afternoons we were allowed to go for walks; sometimes we used to go out to the golf course where there was a tunnel and having spent 2d on 5 woodbine cigarettes we tried to smoke them. I also remember when we had the decorators in at home my parents made cigarettes available for them, again I remember stealing them and trying to smoke them in the woodshed, until Mr, Pickett found me.

My first year at Winchester was in Wick Lodge and the housemaster was a churchman and seemed to take a rather keen interest in younger boys. The favourite tea was the days we had new bread and butter with raspberry jam which I still enjoy. The 2nd and 3rd, years I was at School house under Dr. Freeman whom I look back on as a wonderful man. I believe he had the right idea how boys should be treated; he commanded respect and affection.

Christmas 1955 Bill and Bob with Leslie.

Town Councillor Bill Klitz. Fifth generation of old Lymington Family. Experience in Electrical Business and Agriculture.

After retirement from farming, first in Castle Combe and then Bowood, Calne in Wiltshire, returned to live at 41 Efford Way, Lymington, Hampshire

Musician Ancestor came as an Emigré (the last one) to the Town over 200 years ago, throughout the generations made considerable contributions to the Social and Community life of the Town, shown by the Plaque on the old family home. Bill continued the tradition with considerable community involvement with the welfare of the Town at heart with particular interest in Planning, the prospective Museum and Town Guiding. Bill was actively involved in all of the following:

Basically non-political, proud and dedicated to serve the Town.

LYMINGTON TIMES - 01 JANUARY 1994

Bill Klitz had a highly active retirement. A member of the long-established Lymington musical family, Bill Klitz achieved an ambition by returning to the town in retirement seven and a half years ago - but seldom can there have been a more active retirement, as Bill entered wholeheartedly into a veritable catalogue of civic and community roles.

He died on Christmas Eve at the age of 68 in Southampton General Hospital following a Cerebral haemorrhage at his home in Efford Way. A thanksgiving service is to be held next Wednesday in St. Thomas Church, where three of his ancestors had acted as organist: Phillip Klitz from 1831, followed by Charles Klitz and finally Robert Augustus Klitz until his death in 1887.

One of a family of four children, Bill was the eldest son of Leslie Klitz, who ran the Klitz's Music Business founded at Number 88 High Street, Lymington in 1789 by George Klitz, a former bandsman in the Flintshire Regiment. Young Bill attended Peter Symond's School and then the grammar school at Brockenhurst, with the avowed aim of taking up dairy farming - which led to nephew, Raymond, taking over the family music shop.

It was whilst working on a farm at St. Hilary, near Marazion, Cornwall that Bill became acquainted with Barbara Rowe, a school friend of the farmer's wife - which led to their marriage at St. John's Church, Penzance in 1953. Five years later Bill began work on a farm at Castle Combe where he remained for sixteen years before his appointment as dairy manager on Lord Shelburn's estate at Bowood, Calne in Wiltshire until retiring twelve years later.

Safely domiciled in Lymington once more, Bill could have been forgiven for forgetting which meeting he was attending, such was the multiplicity of activities he undertook. As a Lymington Town Councillor, he was the current chairman of their planning committee.
Another consuming interest was that of the proposed Lymington Museum and, as a Trustee and chairman of the Friends of the Museum, fulfilled manual as well as executive duties.
He acted as a founder guide with the Lymington Guided Walks organisation and served on the committees of the Lymington Society and Residents Association, Lymington Chamber of Commerce, Lymington and Pennington Dial-a-Ride and was a member of the New Forest Association, the Hampshire Archives Trust and the 41 Club. He had served as chairman of Calne Rotary Club and was also a Governor of Lymington Infants' School.

Bill suffered a stroke six weeks ago and was getting back into his stride when he suffered the more serious attack at home.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter Mrs Wendy von der Pforte of Wiesbaden, Germany and son Nigel, in Totton and three grandchildren. Brother Bob lives on Hayling Island and sisters, Mrs Betty Green at Port Solent, Portsmouth and Mrs Caroline Harding in Vancouver Island, Canada.
Note: Sadly his wife, Betty and her husband David, and Bob have since died.

A private cremation service has been arranged to take place at Bournemouth on Wednesday morning to be followed by the Thanksgiving Service at 3 pm the same day at St. Thomas Lymington.

It was the family wish that any donations, instead of flowers should go to Oakhaven Hospice, c/o House & Sons, Funeral Directors, Lymington


03 January 1994 - "My big brother, Bill"

That's what he has always been to me. Strong and capable, always there, ready to take care of me and willing to teach me.

It was Bill who introduced me to the wonders of nature and taught me to love and observe, trust and respect the natural World. When he was just a teenager Bill was experimenting with the then unknown science of hydroponic plant growth. He made, detailed notes about the rabbits he bred during the war and showed me as he learned genetics. While he was at college I remember him showing an impressive stand of grain he had grown from seeds from Ancient Egypt.

When I became a teenager I also wanted to make my career on the land and spent, a delightful few months with him in Jersey learning about cows and chickens, tomatoes and alfalfa and not a little about housekeeping. We had a lot of fun. When the farm cat came to watch the hand milking process Bill would gleefully aim a hearty spurt of milk at puss who quite undaunted, would happily lick it all up! Our big treat was to go to a nearby cove on his motorbike and have a splendid lobster supper at a simple beach restaurant.

Later when Bill and Barbara came to visit us in Canada we went to San Francisco and as we watched the flashy Independence Day Parade, he appreciated my suggestion that it was perhaps put on as a Birthday celebration for him! During my recent visit with Bill and Barbara in August, as well as exploring old haunts it was great to see his interests and projects.

What unquencheable energy too! I remember he was discussing plans to rappell up a building in Lymington as a fund-raiser for a Hospice. I recall that I lamely suggested he ought to leave that activity to someone a little younger and he replied with his contrary sideways glance and a squaring of his shoulders.

Yes, Bill you have left your mark. You have had a full and happy life and made many contributions to those around you which we shall all cherish.

Goodbye, I shall miss you so much.

Your Sister Caroline.

          Stewart William
02.07.1925 -? 24.12.1993
=Barbara Rowe
18.05.1925 - 05.01.2010
             
                       
        Caroline Wendy
09 December 1954 to date
  Nigel Philip - 26 August 1956 to date            
                       
            Natalie Carmel Elaine Hallet 17.12.1982 to date            
                       
            Emma Louise Chevauhn 05.12.1985 to date            
                       
            Laura Sophie Camilla 16.10.1988 to date            

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Stewart William