Aunt: Alice Fountain/Snelling (nee Wray) born 1888
Alice Wray was the fourth child of Alfred and Emily born on 21 January 1888 at Back Lane, Preston.
The school log book shows that she was asked by her mother to share in caring for her younger
brothers and sisters - ‘Alice is frequently kept at home to mind the babies and is backward in
consequence’ (28 April 1899); ‘Alice leaves today to help at home’ (aged eleven, 21 December 1899).
The census of 1901 records Alice as a visitor at her Uncle Robert Wray’s home in Wanden Green,
near Preston.
On 22 April 1911, Alice (23) married George Reuben Charles Fountain (28, a carman) at St Michael
at Bowes, Southgate, London, London. George was the son of a house painter:
The marriage certificate of Alice and George.
Note that the date is wrongly recorded as 1910 - in the margin there is a note to that effect.
The 1911 census notes the newly-weds as living in two rooms at 55 Sydney Road, Wood Green,
London - a small terraced house with bay windows.
George, who was born at St Pancras, is working for London Parcels Delivery Co. Ltd.
A daughter, Phyllis Alice Fountain, was born on 2 September 1912.
George Fountain, Alice and Phylis
During WW1, George enlisted at Wood Green and was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal
Fusiliers. He was killed at the Somme, Flanders, France on 28 February 1917. His name is included
on the memorial at Thiepval Cemetary. Alice recieved payments of £2 15s 10d and £3 in 1917 and
1919 as war gratuities.
On 25 September 1919 at St Mark, Noel Park, Haringey, London, Alice married James Charles
Snelling, a bootmaker, who was about six years younger than her:
In 1921, James and Alice were living at 78 Granville Road, Wood Green, London:
James and Alice had two children, James W Snelling (born January 1921) and Charles E Snelling (
born in the late spring of 1924). The family lived at The family lived at: 78 Granville Road, Wood
Green; 38 Westbury Avenue and 99 Boundary Road, Tottenham.
Jim Snelling with Alice and family - Phyllis Fountain, Jim (in foreground) and baby Charlie
In 1939, the Snellings were living at 99 Boundary Road, Tottenham.
168 Boundary Road, Tottenham
Alice (92) died towards the end of 1980 in the Enfield, London RD, which was
where her son, Charles, also died in 1976.
Of Phyllis ( Angell, Varrall) Fountain
L to r: Phyllis, Jack and Ella Wray and Nan Wray
I knew Phyllis well. She features in several photos taken at Preston. She lived at Luton after marrying
Frederick Harold ‘Freddie’ Angell on 3 September in the Edmonton RD, which included Tottenham. I
found her kind and gentle. Freddie was always happy and the life and soul of the party. He would
drive Dad and I to local pubs when we were on holiday at Preston and the three of us saw Luton
Town football match. He drove a delivery lorry for a pasta firm and would often stay with us at
Portsmouth. The couple had two children: Marion (born 1942) and Peter (1945). After Freddy died in
1974, Phyll married Cyril Varrall who had been a family friend for years. He was a good-natured man.
Phyll and Cyril moved to Welshpool, Powys to be near Phyll’s daughter, Marion. Here, they died.
Freddie Angell. In the background is Peter Angell
Phyllis and Cyril when I visited them in 2004
Of James ‘Jim’ Snelling junior
At the time of writing, Alice’s grandson and the son of Jim Snelling jnr lives at Whitwell near Preston
and has shares in the Red Lion.
