Obituaries/Death Notices, London?

[Spangle]

I am interested in finding any possible death notices or obituaries for 2 ancestors but don't know where to start. The first is my G G Grandad, Edward Vctor Robbins, who died in 1903. He was a high up member of the Ancient Order Of Foresters in Camberwell and the AOF have kindly supplied me with their report on his memorial, erected at their expense, in Brookwood Cemetery. Going by this I'd imagine that his death was mentioned in one of the London papers, but which? Would anyone have any ideas please?

The other person was my Nan' cousin, the well-known pianist Irene Kohler. I now nothing much of classical music I'm ashamed to say, but apparently she was internationally renowned. She died in 1996, yet again I have yet to find any obituary for her and I'd imagine there is even more chance that there is one knocking about somewhere. I could only think of the Times, but have neither the ability to register for membership nor access to the central libray in my county in order to search via their computers. Has anyone any advice or ideas on either of these posers please? Thank you.

[Mutley]

Hello Spangle,
If we knew where you were, we could maybe point you in the right direction.

The Times Online (possibly where they will be) can be accessed by those in the UK but not from abroad. There are some helpful members that will do a lookup for you, if you are outside the UK.

[Spangle]

Thank you Mutley! I am in County Durham, stuck in a rural village with 2 children (one home educated the other at school), hence I can't get to the County Library in the city and back in time for daughter number 1 returning from school in order to access the Times Online and the local libraries don't provide the service. I'm even stuck for doing so on a Saturday due to family commitments, hence I was wondering if there are other online sources I might try.

I'd love to go home to London to check all this out (sigh!). Anyone fancy baby-sitting 2 dogs, a cat and a pet ferret?!!!!

[helen57]

Hi Spangle

If I lived closer to you I would happily look after your Ferret :D

Helen

[salcat]

Spangle

When I googled Irene Kholer I found quite a few references including this:

http://www.callaway.uwa.edu.au/archive/collections/kohler


so it might be worth contacting them to see what info they have.

But if you can't get to the library here, I don't suppose there's much chance of a trip to Australia:D

I think I still have access to Times online, so when I find the logons I'll see if I can see anything.

Regs

Sally

[salcat]

Hi Spangle

I found my login details and have had a look for references to Irene Kohler, and although there are quite a lot of mentions (mostly adverts for concerts etc and reviews) the online version only goes up to 1985, so there is no obituary for her.

Could she have gone to live in Australia? It seems strange that all her papers should end up there if she had no connection:confused: If she did, and you can find out where she lived/died, it may be possible to find something in the Australian press.

Alternatively it might be worth contacting the Times and asking if they did do an obituary - they may be able to send you a copy.

HTH

Sally

[Mutley]

As you are in the UK I believe you can join the Bedfordshire Library online.
The Times is in the Reference Section and can be looked at from your PC without leaving your home.:)

Worth a try
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/vlib.sh

[Peter Goodey]

KOHLER, Irene
pianist; Professor, Trinity College of Music, London, 1952-79;


b 7 April 1912; b London, 7 April 1912; m 1950, Dr Harry Waters, medical practitioner. Educ: Royal College of Music. Work: Studied with Arthur Benjamin; Challen Medal, Danreuther Prize, etc; travelling scholarship to Vienna; studied there with Edward Steuermann and Egon Wellesz. BMus; Hon. FTCL, GRSM, LRAM, ARCM. First professional engagement, Bournemouth, 1933, resulting in engagement by BBC; played at first night of 40th Promenade Season, 1934; first foreign tour (recitals and broadcasts), Holland, 1938; during War of 1939-45 gave concerts for the Forces in this country and toured France and Belgium, also India and Burma, under auspices of ENSA; subsequently played in many countries of Europe and made tours. Eugene Goossens selected her for first European performance of his Phantasy Concerto; broadcast 1st performance of Sonata by Gunilla Lowenstein, Stockholm. She gave 3 concerts at the Festival Hall in Festival of Britain Year, 1951. Canadian American Tour, 1953; World Tour, 1955-56; African Tour, 1958; 2nd African Tour, 1959; Bulgarian Tour, 1959; 2nd World Tour, 1962; Czechoslovakian Tour, 1963; Scandinavian Tour, 1970; Far and Middle East Tour, 1972; recitals and master classes, Japan, 1979, 1981; Polish Tour, 1980. Film appearances include: Train of Events, Odette, Secret People, Lease of Life, and a documentary for the Ministry of Information. Address: 28 Castelnau, SW13 9RU. T: 0181-748 5512. Died 23 April 1996.

Source - Who Was Who 1897-2007

[Peter Goodey]

This might be her death registration:

Name: Irene Waters
Birth Date: 7 Apr 1911
Death Registration Month/Year: Mar 1996
Age at death (estimated): 84
Registration district: Wandsworth
Inferred County: London
Register number: B78A
Entry Number: 275

but it raises some doubts about accuracy :confused:

[Sue Mackay]

If you go to Google Book Search http://books.google.com/
and click on Advanced Search, then highlight Limited Preview and Full View and type Irene Kohler into Exact Phrase, it comes up with several hits, one of which comes from the Diary of Kathleen Ferrier.

[Spangle]

This might be her death registration:

Name: Irene Waters
Birth Date: 7 Apr 1911
Death Registration Month/Year: Mar 1996
Age at death (estimated): 84
Registration district: Wandsworth
Inferred County: London
Register number: B78A
Entry Number: 275

but it raises some doubts about accuracy :confused:

YOU'RE confused?!!!

Her husband was a Dr Waters, so that is doubtless her BUT...

Irene the pianist is assumed to have been born at circa the date given, though there is much confusion. The BMD registers give 2 Irene Kohlers born in London around this period - one reg 1909 in West Ham, the other reg 1912 in Camberwell.

Indeed there WERE 2 Irene Kohler's in my family - my Nan's sister was also an Irene Kohler. As my Nan was bon in Camberwell, and as the pianist Irene's father married in West Ham, I guessed that the 1912 reg in Camberwell was my Nan's sister and the 1909 reg in West Ham was the pianist. This is borne out by the fact that Irene Kohler, reg 1912, Camberwell, had a mother with the maiden name COX - as did my Nan! So the 1912 lady had to be my Nan's sister, and there has to be a discrepancy over the pianists true date of birth.... doesn't there???


We in the family assumed that perhaps the pianist had shaved a couple of years off her age and used her cousin Irene's birthdate, hence the pianist always shows on Google to have been born circa 1912. I do hope I am making sense here!

I am aware of the Aussie institute, thank you. My cousin (herself a concert pianist) has contacted them and now possesses a listof the music they hold but the detail does not sem to be very personal.

I hadn't thought of Google Books though! Lots of reading to do now!

Thank you one and all.

[Spangle]

As you are in the UK I believe you can join the Bedfordshire Library online.
The Times is in the Reference Section and can be looked at from your PC without leaving your home.:)

Worth a try
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/vlib.sh Just joined the library online, thank you... but it doesn't allow access to The Times unless in person! :confused:

[Mutley]

That's a pain...
Gale Virtual Reference Library are obviously moving the goal posts.

Let us hope someone can do a lookup for you. http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r297/MutleyBG/crossedfingers-1.png

[Peter Goodey]

Irene the pianist is assumed to have been born at circa the date given, though there is much confusion. The BMD registers give 2 Irene Kohlers born in London around this period - one reg 1909 in West Ham, the other reg 1912 in Camberwell.

Not an insuperable problem, though. You now know that she married in 1950 (if accurate). You could start by getting the marriage certificate.

[Peter Goodey]

Just joined the library online, thank you... but it doesn't allow access to The Times unless in person! :confused:

I seem to recall reading the Bedfordshire Libraries got into trouble for making the databases too freely available. Hardly surprising.

Haven't you tried your own library service? I found that biog through mine.

Times Digital Archive doesn't cover 1996. Infotrac Custom Newspapers does.

[Sue Mackay]

Have you see this?

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp52898

[Spangle]

Sorry for the delay in saying this - I have had problems with my computer yet again!

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!!