Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameCharles Richard Ponndorf DUCKERING Dick 
, 892
, 892Birth1 June 1905, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England1762
Census2 April 1911, Monks Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England1753 Age: 5
Census29 September 1939, 38 St Barnabas Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England1754 Age: 34
Death28 May 1992, Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England1763 Age: 86
Burial5 June 1992, City Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
OccupationEngineer, Certified Teacher 19391754
FatherRichard DUCKERING , 890 (1879-1964)
MotherMarie Elise Auguste PONNDORF , 891 (1876-1952)
Never married
Notes for Charles Richard Ponndorf DUCKERING Dick
Notes from a letter from Charles Duckering to Lincoln County Archivist dated 23.6.83 held in Lincoln County Archives. He explains that his grandfather Charles, the founder of the family Iron Foundry was not a good business man. He acquired many small houses which soon generated into slums, gave away every Christmas large quantities of poultry, pheasants etc and ran up a big overdraft. When he died his son Richard inherited the debts and business and it became "Richard Duckering Ltd". However, during the 1914-18 war business flourished. The work force was several hundred and they made parts for newly invented tanks.
In the 1920s there was an industrial slump and the workforce contracted to about 30 people. Orders were few and far between as there was no longer the demand for the street furniture ie lamp posts, drain covers, manhole covers, railings and household grates, as well as the the millstone wheels that were at one time used all over the county and beyond. Most of the work they had was to do with electrical generators for Ferranti (?) Around 1926 "Richard Duckering Ltd" finally collapsed. A Mr Freeman, the works manager took over the Foundry which still retained the name. Richard Duckering managed to pay off the accumulated debts but all private wealth had "evaporated". The family home "Nelthorpe" on Wragby Road was sold and RD took up a partnership with a Mr Worley travelling around major ports around the world introducing a system of simplifying code books. He died in December 1964. Charles himself had worked in the business after going to Germany between the ages of 18-20 to learn the language and engineering. He now had a career change and became a teacher. He started in his old school and then in various private schools for 2-3 years, and in 1929 - 32 went to University College Southampton for teacher training qualifications. He found a job in Cambridge, and retired there in 1965 having been a head of a secondary school for 18 years.
His mother and sisters moved to London on the collapse of the business and took in paying guests. Later on, Ruth and Charles shared a home in Cambridge and their sister Isobel lived in Dereham, Norfolk. He said that the family never returned to Lincoln and all siblings remained single.
1927. C R P Duckering, teacher is photographed in the Stanley House School, Cliftonville, Margate Past v Present 1927 cricket teams photograph. (Found on ebay 13th October 2023)
1934. Charles co wrote a geography book, "Observational Geography of the British Isles" with Herbert HATCH, published in 1934 by MacMillan and Co., London. The teaching book is aimed at eleven to twelve yearolds and provides many basic exercises that can be done in the field, as the co-authors argue that teaching should not just be theoretical, but also practical. Charles is at St George’s Senior School, Cambridge. (See original copy on file)
Dick taught geography and science and eventually becoming the Headmaster of St George's school in Cambridge (no longer open). (Ruth D. conversation 9.3.96)
Richard did not marry. (Ruth, Richard's sister, 2/96)
All of the family were strong Christian's, including Dick. Their father Richard was of the Methodist persuasion. (Ruth D.conversation 9.3.96)
Dick trained as an engineer in Switzerland, but when the factory closed in 1926, he decided to become a teacher. (Ruth D.conversation 9.3.96)
Charles was head teacher from 192/3-1965 of Fawcett Junior School, Trumpington, near Cambridge (Trumoington Local History Group)
1992 Cambridge Daily News, i June 1992. Duckering. Charles (Dick) of Glisson Road, Cambridge, formerly headmaster of St George’s and Fawcett School, dearly loved brother of Ruth, peacefully in hospital on Thursday, May 28th, 1992, in his 87th year. With Christ which is far better. Funeral service at St Paul’s Church, Hills Road, on Friday, JUne 5th, at 2.30pm to be followed by internment at City Cemetery. Family flowers only, but donations for the Tear Fund may be sent to Brian Warner Funeral Service, 4 Harshel Court, Hartington Grove, Cambridge.
In the 1920s there was an industrial slump and the workforce contracted to about 30 people. Orders were few and far between as there was no longer the demand for the street furniture ie lamp posts, drain covers, manhole covers, railings and household grates, as well as the the millstone wheels that were at one time used all over the county and beyond. Most of the work they had was to do with electrical generators for Ferranti (?) Around 1926 "Richard Duckering Ltd" finally collapsed. A Mr Freeman, the works manager took over the Foundry which still retained the name. Richard Duckering managed to pay off the accumulated debts but all private wealth had "evaporated". The family home "Nelthorpe" on Wragby Road was sold and RD took up a partnership with a Mr Worley travelling around major ports around the world introducing a system of simplifying code books. He died in December 1964. Charles himself had worked in the business after going to Germany between the ages of 18-20 to learn the language and engineering. He now had a career change and became a teacher. He started in his old school and then in various private schools for 2-3 years, and in 1929 - 32 went to University College Southampton for teacher training qualifications. He found a job in Cambridge, and retired there in 1965 having been a head of a secondary school for 18 years.
His mother and sisters moved to London on the collapse of the business and took in paying guests. Later on, Ruth and Charles shared a home in Cambridge and their sister Isobel lived in Dereham, Norfolk. He said that the family never returned to Lincoln and all siblings remained single.
1927. C R P Duckering, teacher is photographed in the Stanley House School, Cliftonville, Margate Past v Present 1927 cricket teams photograph. (Found on ebay 13th October 2023)
1934. Charles co wrote a geography book, "Observational Geography of the British Isles" with Herbert HATCH, published in 1934 by MacMillan and Co., London. The teaching book is aimed at eleven to twelve yearolds and provides many basic exercises that can be done in the field, as the co-authors argue that teaching should not just be theoretical, but also practical. Charles is at St George’s Senior School, Cambridge. (See original copy on file)
Dick taught geography and science and eventually becoming the Headmaster of St George's school in Cambridge (no longer open). (Ruth D. conversation 9.3.96)
Richard did not marry. (Ruth, Richard's sister, 2/96)
All of the family were strong Christian's, including Dick. Their father Richard was of the Methodist persuasion. (Ruth D.conversation 9.3.96)
Dick trained as an engineer in Switzerland, but when the factory closed in 1926, he decided to become a teacher. (Ruth D.conversation 9.3.96)
Charles was head teacher from 192/3-1965 of Fawcett Junior School, Trumpington, near Cambridge (Trumoington Local History Group)
1992 Cambridge Daily News, i June 1992. Duckering. Charles (Dick) of Glisson Road, Cambridge, formerly headmaster of St George’s and Fawcett School, dearly loved brother of Ruth, peacefully in hospital on Thursday, May 28th, 1992, in his 87th year. With Christ which is far better. Funeral service at St Paul’s Church, Hills Road, on Friday, JUne 5th, at 2.30pm to be followed by internment at City Cemetery. Family flowers only, but donations for the Tear Fund may be sent to Brian Warner Funeral Service, 4 Harshel Court, Hartington Grove, Cambridge.