Mrs Florence Mary Andrews, née Collins (1887–1982)
Mayor of Oxford 1950–1
Mrs Andrews in 1950/1
(Picture Oxon 0655107)
Florence Mary Collins, Mrs Andrews was born at 62 Upper Lewis Street, Newport, Monmouthshire on 23 December 1887.
Her father Henry Albert Collins was born at New Hinksey (then in Berkshire) in 1854 and baptised at South Hinksey Church on 6 June, and her mother Harriett Norris was born at Knowl Hill, near Reading, Berkshire in 1861.
Her parents were married at Kensal Green, Middlesex on 14 October 1880. Her father worked for the railway as a fireman/engine driver, and the family moved around the country. They had seven children:
- Albert Edward Collins (born at 7A Fourth Avenue, Kensal Green, Middlesex on 4 December 1884 and baptised at St Jude's there on 15 February 1885)
- Rose Elizabeth Collins (born at First Avenue, Kensal Green, Middlesex on 22 April 1886 and baptised at St Jude's there on 4 July)
- Florence Mary Collins (born at 62 Upper Lewis Street, Newport, Monmouthshire on 23 December 1887 and baptised at St Paul's Church there on 8 February 1888)
- Annie Collins (born in Exeter St Thomas early in 1891
and baptised at South Hinksey on 14 September) - Sidney Albert Collins (born in Exeter on 23 January 1893
and baptised there on 16 March) - Beatrice Harriet Collins (born in Exeter on 5 August 1895
and baptised there on 10 October) - Percy Collins (born in Reading in 1897/8).
Her parents were evidently in Kensal Green from 1880 to 1885, but by the time of Florence's birth in late 1887 they had moved to Newport in Monmouthshire.
By the time of the 1891 census the family had moved on to Exeter, and Florence (3) was living at 20 Cleveland Street in Exeter St Thomas with her father Henry (36), her mother Harriett (30), and her siblings Albert (6), Rose (4), and Annie (one month). Her next two siblings Sidney and Beatrice were born in Exeter
The family then moved to Reading, where Percy was born in 1897/8. The 1901 census shows Florence (12) living at 74 George Street, Reading with her father Henry (46), who was still a railway engine driver, her mother Harriett (40), and her six siblings: Albert (16), who was working as a packer in a biscuit factory, and Rose (14), Annie (10), Sidney (8), Beatrice (6), and Percy (3).
In 1903 Florence was apprenticed to Wellsteed, Son & Co. of Reading, Drapers.
By the time of the 1911 census Florence (25) was a draper’s assistant at Gosling & Sons Ltd at 75–80 George Street in Richmond, Surrey and was living over the shop with seven other draper’s apprentices and numerous dressmakers and servants. Meanwhile her parents were living at North Hagbourne near Didcot with her youngest siblings Beatrice and Percy.
On 21 March 1916 at St Peter's Church, Northbourne, near Didcot ( then in Berkshire), Florence Mary Collins (28) married Sydney Andrews (35). He was then a Private in the 11th East Surrey Regiment and living at 1 Churn Villas, Northbourne, and was the brother of Florence's sister Rose’s husband Hubert Andrews. Florence was also living in Northbourn (at Hagbourne Road) at the time of their wedding. They had no children.
While Sydney fought in the First World War, Florence went to work at the Royal Ordnance Depot at Didcot.
On Sydney's return from war at the end of 1918 the couple moved to Oxford to be nearer Florence's parents. The 1921 census shows Florence (33) living in St Aldate's Street with her husband Sidney (40), who was now a salesman for H. & E. Morton, the drapers at 43 Cornmarket Street. Soon after this they moved to 108 Abingdon Road,
On 1 November 1937 Mrs Florence Andrews was elected to serve in the South Ward in Oxford as a Conservative, the first-ever woman councillor in that ward.
The 1939 Register shows Sydney and Florence Andrews living at 108 Abingdon Road: he was described as a salesman of woollen dress goods, while she performed unpaid domestic duties and acted as an Air Raid Warden.
In 1949 Mrs Andrews was made an Alderman. She was a lifelong member of the Conservative Party and was President of the South Oxford Conservative Association up to her death. She was made an Alderman in 1949.
Alderman Mrs Andrews was elected Mayor of Oxford for 1950/1. During her term as Mayor her niece, Mrs Olive Dalton, served as Lady Mayoress and her husband Sydney Andrews was her Escort.
Photograph taken on Mayor Making Day (22 May 1950) showing Mrs Dalton and Mrs Andrews on the left
On the right the is the Sheriff of Oxford, William Walker, with his wife.
Reproduced by kind permission of Peter Naish, great-nephew of William Walker
Mrs Andrews was awarded the MBE in 1952, and the Oxford Mail published a short article about her (right) to mark the occasion.
Her husband Sydney Andrews died in Oxford at the age of 74 near the beginning of 1955.
Mrs Andrews continued to serve on the City Council for another nineteen years.
On 22 March 1974 Mrs Andrews received the Honorary Freedom of the City of Oxford, nine days before she retired from Oxford City Council.
† Florence Mary Andrews died on 20 January 1982 at the age of 94 at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford: her home was then at 16 Vicarage Court in Vicarage Road, south Oxford. A memorial service was held at the City Church (St Michael-at-the-Northgate) on Wednesday 3 February 1982.
Below: Florence Andrews receiving the Freedom of the City on 22 March 1974.
On the left are Councillor Mrs Olive Gibbs (a future Lord Mayor) and Fred Ingram (then the current Lord Mayor).
On the right are Alderman Miss Ann Spokes (the Sheriff of Oxford and later Mrs Ann Spokes Symonds and a future Lord Mayor) and Alderman H. Conners (Deputy Lord Mayor).
In the middle are John Edwards (Town Clerk), Alderman Bill Simpson MBE, JP, and Councillor Dr Yardley (University).
See also:
- Oxford Times, 29 January 1982 (obituary)
