Iris Lilian Warren

Iris was the eldest of Thomas and Lilian’s eight children, never legally married, had two children, Ruth and Donald Hamilton, and was known to her siblings as ‘Biddy’. That came from a misunderstanding by an old codger of the name Iris as ‘Irish’, and therefore the ‘Irish biddy’ reference.

Born: 25th May 1914
Died: 15th February 1958

Iris’ Prudential Diary 1937

Iris Warren gave birth to her daughter Ruth on the 28th October, 1936. The father was Maurice Dulieu, a married man, with two children that Iris was employed to look after. 

As a single mother, she was courted by John Woodall, an older man with a mysterious life…

John, as it unfolds, turned out to be a bigamist – hence the trips to the police station – and Iris ended up living with Maurice, who she never married, while John Woodall later became involved with Iris’ mother and lived with Lilian for many years.

Transcript: When Iris Warren and John Woodall got Married
February 1937
Sat 27th	John sent parcel with frocks etc.
Sun 28th	John came down, brought gramaphone.
March 1937
Sun 7th	John came down.
Tues 9th	John came down.
Thur 11th	Letters from John and M. (Maurice Dulieu)
Fri 12th	Letter from John
Sat 13th	John came down
Sun 14th	Wrote to Maurice.
Mon 15th	Married John. Rag on. Went to Sutton in afternoon. Phoned M. in evening.
Wed 17th	Letter and rings from John. Saw Maurice at office, Mrs Steel came to tea.
Thur 18th	Letter from M. in evening. Went for walk in afternoon.
Fri 19th	Phoned M. and wrote. E. (Emma, Maurice’s wife) leaving on Monday. Parcel from John.
Sat 20th	Parcel from John. Telegram from John. Lovely Spring Day
Sun 21st	Miserable day.
Mon 22nd	M. went to see John with Sonny. Saw Maurice. Told him about John. Mrs D. (Dulieu) left  with children
Tue 23rd	Cold very bad. Voice gone. Could not go to John as arranged. Did not phone M.
Wed 24th	Mrs Steel came to tea, brought Ruth’s frock. Went with Maurice to p. (police) station, arrived home 1.30am.
Thur 25th	Went to doctors. Met M. in Worcester Park. Weather very cold.
Fri 26th	Met Maurice in W. Park. Introduced him to Ruth (his daughter!) Rather a nice day under the circumstances.
Sat 27th	M. and Pa (Thomas Samuel) went to see John. There’s nothing wrong with him. Phoned Maurice. Went  out in afternoon, M. went to cinema.
Sun 28th	(Easter Day) Met Maurice. Walked in London.  Very nice day.
Mon 29th	Pa and M. went to see John. Staying in all day.
Tue 30th	Met Maurice. Went Hammersmith (Central police station) to make  statement.
Wed 31st	M. went to see John. Mrs Steel came to tea.

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Iris’ Popular Pocket Diary 1948

The next excerpt is from 1948, of interest because it is an account of the days leading up to Beryl and Peter’s wedding.

Beryl is staying with Iris, and Iris is soon to leave for a caravan holiday.

Transcript: When Beryl Warren and Peter Pratt got Married
June 1948
Sat 12th	Beryl and Peter came over. B. (Beryl) staying here now.
Sun 13th	Beryl and Pete went to Guildford
Fri 18th	Ron came over, going on holiday tomorrow
Sat 19th	Beryl and Pete fixed the date for wedding, July 24th.
Tues 22nd	D and G. (Dennis and Georgie) came round.
Wed 23rd	Pa came round.
Thur 24th	Letter from Dorrit (Kohler)
Fri 25th	Sonny (Thomas Horace) came round, invited kids to fete
Sat 26th	Kids all out. Beryl and Pete out for day. Bought Ruth knickers.
Sun 27th	Beryl and Pete went to Bettys.
Mon 28th	D and G.  came round. Did not stay long.
Tue 29th	Poppy came over with lodger.
Wed 30th	Beryl home afternoon. Ron came over
July 1948
Thur 1st	Ron saved logs (?). Poppy came over afternoon.
Sat 3rd	Bought Ruth swim hat, Don socks.
Sat 24th	Beryl’s wedding. We went to Caravan (on holiday

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Iris’ Cowan Diary 1956

Always challenging, often intimidating, yet nevertheless vulnerable, Iris’ last diary is from 1956, two years before she died. Her health is failing, and there is continuing conflict within her relationship with Maurice.

1956 is also the year her daughter Ruth married Dennis Bishop. The following transcript is from the days leading up to the wedding.

Transcript: When Ruth Du Lieu and Dennis Bishop got Married
February
Sun 12th	Snow. Ruth went to see Dennis, came in 4pm, stayed night
Mon. 13th	Met Ruth at Howes, bought clothes for wedding. Very cold
Tue 14th	Elsie came over, went to have perm afternoon. Blue came over. M. (Maurice) in early. Ruth has phoned, wedding postponed.
Thur 16th	Snow. Don holiday.
Fri 17th	Very cold. Don holiday.
Sat 18th	Ruth came in 7pm ,stayed night,more snow.Wedding present from Elsie and Trev, Tues. Wedding present from Min.
Mon  27th	Blue and Ray came over. Went with them to Ruth’s, saw Ruth in wedding dress, lovely.  Tightwad (mean person, Maurice, that is) out, H.G (Home Guard) supper.
Tue 28th	No money no food.  Got Scotch Broth (canned soup) from milkman
March
Sunday 11th	Mothers Day. Lovely card and hanky with lavender from Ruth. Bless her. Den and Ruth came round afternoon.
Mon 12th	Poppy’s birthday. Went to see her.Lost my way but quite a pleasant day eventually. Got back about 9pm.
Tue 13th	Den came round morning. Very cold again, didn’t go to W.(Worcester) Park about flowers.
Wed 14th	Went to hairdresser. Still cold but sunny.
Thu 15th	Den and Ruth came round evening, going to get flowers tomorrow.
Fri 16th	Spent afternoon making bouquets. Den and Ruth came round evening with Daphne
Sat 17th	Lovely Spring day, mild and sunny for our day of days. Everything OK. Glad it’s all over at last.