Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameSydney Harold DUCKERING 
, 856
, 856Birth31 August 1915, Registered Eccesall B, England1659
Census19 June 1921, 35 Woodstock Road, Ecclesall, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Age: 5
Death24 December 2007, Worthing, West Sussex, England Age: 92
BurialDurrington Cemetery, Worthing, West Sussex, England
EducationSchool 1921
FatherFrederick DUCKERING , 838 (1865-1954)
MotherLucy DENNIS , 839 (1877-1947)
Spouses
1Sibyl SHELDON , 857
, 857Death1 August 2019, England Age: 94
Burial19 August 2019, England1662
FatherJohn SHELDON , 5364
MotherSusannah FORD , 5978
Family ID650
Notes for Sydney Harold DUCKERING
1921 Census. Frederick Duckering, head 54 yrs 10 mths married born Lincolnshire a Grocer’s Manager for Gowers G Grocer at 453 Abbydale Road, Sheffield. Lucy Duckering, wife 44 yrs 3 mths born Lincolnshire, home duties. Graham Duckering son 7 yrs 11 mths born Sheffield at school. Sidney Duckering son 5 yrs 10 mths born Sheffield at school. Ronald Duckering, son 2 yrs 2 mths born Sheffield at home.
Sydney grew up in Sheffield, then joined the DHSS, working in the north of Scotland during the war. He stayed in the DHSS and later lived in Cambridge, Beaconsfield, before moving to Worthing in about 1985. (Michael D. letter 16.3.96)
“The London Gazette, 8 November, 1935, Page 7062, October 18, 1935, After Open Competition. Department of Health for Scotland: Assistant Inspector (Insurance), Sydney Harold Duckering.”
Sydney grew up in Sheffield, then joined the DHSS, working in the north of Scotland during the war. He stayed in the DHSS and later lived in Cambridge, Beaconsfield, before moving to Worthing in about 1985. (Michael D. letter 16.3.96)
“The London Gazette, 8 November, 1935, Page 7062, October 18, 1935, After Open Competition. Department of Health for Scotland: Assistant Inspector (Insurance), Sydney Harold Duckering.”
Notes for Sibyl (Spouse 1)
Eulogy for Sibyl Duckering
Sibyl Sheldon was born in Cambridge on 4th June 1925. She spent her childhood living with her mother and younger brother John who is here today. Despite the absence of their father John, she remembers a happy childhood with family gatherings and loving support from their mother’s side of the family.
Sibyl attended the Paston House convent school as a non-Catholic pupil, not greatly enamoured with the heavily religious curriculum, but nevertheless persevering with it to complete her School Certificate, the predecessor of GCSE. During these schooldays she shared the burden of caring for her young brother, often as baby sitter, allowing mother to leave the house for badminton, or to meet friends. John remembers that he was a boisterous and doubtless annoying younger brother, forever the prankster playing silly tricks. This naturally led to the so-called sibling rivalry, but beneath that was a loyalty that they both understood. His love and admiration for big sister grew with age, a natural counterpart to the unfailing kindness he received from her, that obviously started from my birth, clearly shown by photos of a pretty little girl posing happily alongside her baby brother.
On leaving school she became manageress of a well regarded Cambridge fashion shop, at a time when the war was in full swing, and the town was crowded with the airmen posted into East Anglia, the US 8th Air Force as well as the RAF.
When she reached the age of 18 she was liable for national service, and was fortunate in being able to opt for the Observer Corps based in Cambridge, allowing her to continue living at home.
This involved night duty, with its disruptive effect on sleep, but she nevertheless enjoyed both the work and the social life it brought. There were by then several suitors gathering around her, but in due course (at one of the dances at the famed Dorothy Ballroom), Sibyl met Sydney Duckering, a Yorkshire born civil servant recently returned from an administrative assignment in the Orkney Islands.
Their courtship lasted long enough for both to become victims of another of Johns boyish pranks, an explosive firework at the garden gate where they gathered for goodnight farewells. John thinks he was forgiven for this, but remained for ever unsure.
The happy couple were married on 1st March 1949 at the parish church in Chingford, Essex, the bride arriving from Granny and Grandpa’s home. In the absence of their father, John had been invited at the young age of 17 to give her away, an unusual honour that he treasured.
Before long Sibyl and Syd became owners of a house in Cambridge, a car, and their handsome Airedale terrier Kim, all of this soon to be followed by the birth of their first daughter Suzie in 1954. By then the prospect of Syd’s promotion to London called for a move from Cambridge, first to Mitcham, and then to a new house in Beaconsfield.
This became the lasting home for Sue, and then for second daughter Jenny born rather unexpectedly shortly after their move to Beaconsfield. Whilst Syd commuted daily to London, Sibyl busied herself working as a taxi driver for the girls as she encouraged them to take part in numerous activities ranging from brownies, ballet. Judo, horseriding, sports teams etc.
She joined the friends group at school and was often seen at events wielding a teapot.
She was a fantastic cook and loved entertaining indeed one year she undertook a cordon bleu cookery course. A lot of people here today will remember amazing meals for family get-togethers, birthdays etc.
She and Syd made some long lasting friendships in Beaconsfield including her neighbour Brenda who is here today – they have remained friends for 60 years and spoke to each other on the phone on a weekly basis!
Even in those days she was keen to volunteer to help others and spent many years working for the WRVS at a local hospital.
Sue and Jenny remember some lovely camping holidays most summers when the whole family would upsticks for weeks at a time to a variety of campsites in Europe.
They particularly remember the car being completely crammed with necessities for our trips including an enormous A- frame tent teetering on the roof rack!
Sibyl loved driving and thought nothing of negotiating winding mountainous roads especially in Italy when they went to visit John and Mary and their children Polly Emma and William who were living out in Lerici.
She later took up employment as a local government officer initially in Beaconsfield and then in Slough where she made some good long term friends.
She was devoted to her family and was delighted when her grandsons Jaimie and Tom were born in the 80s.
The next phase in Sibyl’s life was triggered by Syd’s retirement, offering the opportunity to achieve their long held ambition to live by the sea. Their choice was a house in Goring-by-Sea, where they were to spend many years of happy retirement, with close companionship from Jenny and husband Richard as well as Syds older brother Graham. They loved walking in the downs and by the sea with their respective dogs. They got know all the local pubs and were a fount of knowledge on which were offering the best lunches!
They loved living in Ashurst Close and made many good friends and neighbours here. She continued to volunteer both at the local library and Worthing hospital. Indeed she spent nearly 18 years working weekly at both the eye clinic and A+E.
Sue and her family often would decamp to Goring in the summer complete with an array of pets. They have happy memories of wonderful summers spent here and indeed from the photos it looks as if the sun was always shining!
After some years, life became more difficult when Syd developed dementia –eventually he went into a care home where he died in 2007. She was helped by the company of her spaniel Sophie who lived with her for several years until she became too frail to walk her. Sophie now lives with Sue but visited her as often as possible.
She bore widowhood bravely for a long time, but then found empathy with friend and neighbour Geoff who coincidentally had been bereaved at the same time, after his wife’s decline. Before long their friendship blossomed into joyful companionship, which continued for 10 happy years, until Geoff died in 2017. They had several happy holidays together and loved visiting local pubs and restaurants.
After Geoff died she became very low and felt very lonely. However her neighbours friends and family rallied around to cheer her up and she was especially delighted to meet her first great grandson Finley earlier this year when Sarah bought him down to stay for the weekend.
At the end she was taken ill rather unexpectedly and passed away quickly in Worthing hospital after only 2 days of being ill –this is want she would have wanted.
As Sibyl reflected, and we all understood, it was a cruel blow to have lost the two men she had truly loved. It seemed unjust for someone who had always cared so much for others, regardless of her own suffering from a number of serious ailments. She was in every sense one of life’s good people, whom John had looked up to as a child and she was loved and admired by everyone who knew her and longed for her to live on.
We would like to thank everyone for all their kindness and consideration towards her especially in the last few years. One of the things that Sibyl loved was entertaining so her family would be very pleased if you would join them after the funeral at 20 Ashurst Close for a celebration of her life.
August 20191661
Sibyl Sheldon was born in Cambridge on 4th June 1925. She spent her childhood living with her mother and younger brother John who is here today. Despite the absence of their father John, she remembers a happy childhood with family gatherings and loving support from their mother’s side of the family.
Sibyl attended the Paston House convent school as a non-Catholic pupil, not greatly enamoured with the heavily religious curriculum, but nevertheless persevering with it to complete her School Certificate, the predecessor of GCSE. During these schooldays she shared the burden of caring for her young brother, often as baby sitter, allowing mother to leave the house for badminton, or to meet friends. John remembers that he was a boisterous and doubtless annoying younger brother, forever the prankster playing silly tricks. This naturally led to the so-called sibling rivalry, but beneath that was a loyalty that they both understood. His love and admiration for big sister grew with age, a natural counterpart to the unfailing kindness he received from her, that obviously started from my birth, clearly shown by photos of a pretty little girl posing happily alongside her baby brother.
On leaving school she became manageress of a well regarded Cambridge fashion shop, at a time when the war was in full swing, and the town was crowded with the airmen posted into East Anglia, the US 8th Air Force as well as the RAF.
When she reached the age of 18 she was liable for national service, and was fortunate in being able to opt for the Observer Corps based in Cambridge, allowing her to continue living at home.
This involved night duty, with its disruptive effect on sleep, but she nevertheless enjoyed both the work and the social life it brought. There were by then several suitors gathering around her, but in due course (at one of the dances at the famed Dorothy Ballroom), Sibyl met Sydney Duckering, a Yorkshire born civil servant recently returned from an administrative assignment in the Orkney Islands.
Their courtship lasted long enough for both to become victims of another of Johns boyish pranks, an explosive firework at the garden gate where they gathered for goodnight farewells. John thinks he was forgiven for this, but remained for ever unsure.
The happy couple were married on 1st March 1949 at the parish church in Chingford, Essex, the bride arriving from Granny and Grandpa’s home. In the absence of their father, John had been invited at the young age of 17 to give her away, an unusual honour that he treasured.
Before long Sibyl and Syd became owners of a house in Cambridge, a car, and their handsome Airedale terrier Kim, all of this soon to be followed by the birth of their first daughter Suzie in 1954. By then the prospect of Syd’s promotion to London called for a move from Cambridge, first to Mitcham, and then to a new house in Beaconsfield.
This became the lasting home for Sue, and then for second daughter Jenny born rather unexpectedly shortly after their move to Beaconsfield. Whilst Syd commuted daily to London, Sibyl busied herself working as a taxi driver for the girls as she encouraged them to take part in numerous activities ranging from brownies, ballet. Judo, horseriding, sports teams etc.
She joined the friends group at school and was often seen at events wielding a teapot.
She was a fantastic cook and loved entertaining indeed one year she undertook a cordon bleu cookery course. A lot of people here today will remember amazing meals for family get-togethers, birthdays etc.
She and Syd made some long lasting friendships in Beaconsfield including her neighbour Brenda who is here today – they have remained friends for 60 years and spoke to each other on the phone on a weekly basis!
Even in those days she was keen to volunteer to help others and spent many years working for the WRVS at a local hospital.
Sue and Jenny remember some lovely camping holidays most summers when the whole family would upsticks for weeks at a time to a variety of campsites in Europe.
They particularly remember the car being completely crammed with necessities for our trips including an enormous A- frame tent teetering on the roof rack!
Sibyl loved driving and thought nothing of negotiating winding mountainous roads especially in Italy when they went to visit John and Mary and their children Polly Emma and William who were living out in Lerici.
She later took up employment as a local government officer initially in Beaconsfield and then in Slough where she made some good long term friends.
She was devoted to her family and was delighted when her grandsons Jaimie and Tom were born in the 80s.
The next phase in Sibyl’s life was triggered by Syd’s retirement, offering the opportunity to achieve their long held ambition to live by the sea. Their choice was a house in Goring-by-Sea, where they were to spend many years of happy retirement, with close companionship from Jenny and husband Richard as well as Syds older brother Graham. They loved walking in the downs and by the sea with their respective dogs. They got know all the local pubs and were a fount of knowledge on which were offering the best lunches!
They loved living in Ashurst Close and made many good friends and neighbours here. She continued to volunteer both at the local library and Worthing hospital. Indeed she spent nearly 18 years working weekly at both the eye clinic and A+E.
Sue and her family often would decamp to Goring in the summer complete with an array of pets. They have happy memories of wonderful summers spent here and indeed from the photos it looks as if the sun was always shining!
After some years, life became more difficult when Syd developed dementia –eventually he went into a care home where he died in 2007. She was helped by the company of her spaniel Sophie who lived with her for several years until she became too frail to walk her. Sophie now lives with Sue but visited her as often as possible.
She bore widowhood bravely for a long time, but then found empathy with friend and neighbour Geoff who coincidentally had been bereaved at the same time, after his wife’s decline. Before long their friendship blossomed into joyful companionship, which continued for 10 happy years, until Geoff died in 2017. They had several happy holidays together and loved visiting local pubs and restaurants.
After Geoff died she became very low and felt very lonely. However her neighbours friends and family rallied around to cheer her up and she was especially delighted to meet her first great grandson Finley earlier this year when Sarah bought him down to stay for the weekend.
At the end she was taken ill rather unexpectedly and passed away quickly in Worthing hospital after only 2 days of being ill –this is want she would have wanted.
As Sibyl reflected, and we all understood, it was a cruel blow to have lost the two men she had truly loved. It seemed unjust for someone who had always cared so much for others, regardless of her own suffering from a number of serious ailments. She was in every sense one of life’s good people, whom John had looked up to as a child and she was loved and admired by everyone who knew her and longed for her to live on.
We would like to thank everyone for all their kindness and consideration towards her especially in the last few years. One of the things that Sibyl loved was entertaining so her family would be very pleased if you would join them after the funeral at 20 Ashurst Close for a celebration of her life.
August 20191661