At last, everything was starting to fall into place. Another quick check on the Census site confirmed everything. Mrs Hawkes was in fact Jessie Hawkes who I am now sure was George Andersons sister as she too was born in York. She married George Hawkes who was a licenced victualler from Cork, Ireland. He was 63 in 1901 and Jessie was 40. Jane Anderson of The Bembridge Hotel, which was just up the road from the Royal Spithead, must have been George Anderson and Jessie`s mother and it would seem that Jessie`s children Kathleen and Mabella were staying with her rather than living at the Royal Spithead. Whether they were still living with their grandmother at the time of Elaine`s death is unknown. This problably answers the question of why Elaines sister Hilder was born on the Island. There were family here and it was the ideal place to convalesce. In the report of Elaines death Mrs Hawkes is described as proprietress of The Royal Spithead, yet in the census records of 1901 George Hawkes is classed as head of family and Jessie has no title. This would suggest that by 1907 George Hawkes may not have been alive and if he was, played no part in the running of the Hotel. There are still a number of unanswered questions such as, how did George`s mother Jane come to be at the Bembridge Hotel ? And were Elaine`s parents and sister also staying on the Island that Christmas ? If not, why? It does seem a little strange for one child to be separated from her parents and sister at Christmas. All of this however, will have to be another story. I think that I have completed what I set out to do and so here then, in my own words, is the story of Elaine Rivis Anderson.... Elaine began her short life in Cheltenham in 1899 and by the time she was two years old had moved to Lambeth in London with her parents George and Jane. Her mother fell pregnant again and gave birth to her sister Hilder on the Isle of Wight where Georges Mother, also Jane, lived, at The Bembridge Hotel. George`s sister Jessie had married an Irishman named George Hawkes and they too lived in Bembridge, running The Royal Spithead Hotel, just a short distance from her mother. They also had two children, Kathleen and Mabella who stayed with their grandmother at The Bembridge Hotel. A nurse domestic was employed to look after them. The Royal Spithead Hotel was a much grander establishment, not the place to bring up children. By 1907 George and Jane Anderson had moved again, this time to Aldershot and it was this Christmas that Elaine spent at Bembridge with her Aunt Jessie. It is unclear if George, Jane and Hilder also spent Christmas here but I have a feeling that they did not. It must have been quite an adventure for Elaine, staying at the seaside for Christmas with her Aunt. She may have been missing her family but new friends and new places to explore would have taken her mind off of things. Anyway, Christmas Day came and went and on Boxing Day Thursday 26th December 1907 Elaine awoke, dressed and had breakfast. She had arranged to go out and play with friends, maybe even her cousins Mabella and Kathleen who lived nearby. A strong cold wind was blowing in off The Solent that day so she put on her heavy coat and hat and went out to play. At some point during the morning Elaine wandered off on her own towards the breakwater and slowly edged her way out. She may have stood there a while with the cold wind blowing on her cheeks. Looking down at the fast moving water she may have become disorientated and would have begun to lose her balance. Struggling to keep her feet, another strong gust could have blown in from The Solent but whatever happened Elaine fell from the breakwater. As she fell her hat blew away in the wind and landed some distance away on the water and began to drift away. It was freezing and soon her heavy coat would have become saturated and she would have fought to stay afloat. Maybe she cried out but no one would have heard her over the strong wind. So cold now, she could struggle no more and then she was gone. Elaine was not missed until midday and later in the afternoon her hat was discovered floating in the water on the St Helens side of the Harbour and the worst was feared. The local fishermen began to drag the Harbour but without success. As it became dark the search for Elaine was abandoned for the day. Next morning a short while after recommencing the search, Elaine`s body was found in the harbour by Mr. Richard Mursell and some other fishermen. A great sadness fell over Bembridge that New Year and after all of the formalities were completed Elaine was buried in the cemetery in Lane End Road. So, I think it is now time to leave Elaine in peace but if you are ever in Bembridge, take the time to walk down Lane End Road towards the LifeBoat Station. Just before you come to a small parade of shops you will see a church on your left. Walk in the main gate and you will find Elaine about halfway up on your right hand side. I am sure she will not mind if you leave some flowers. If anyone who reads this has any comments or further information about Elaine and her family please contact me at the address shown below or by email. I shall be pleased to hear from you. What I would really like to do now is to put a face to the name. I know it is a tall order but there may just be someone out there who has a photo or image of Elaine buried away somewhere. If you do or think that you might have then please contact me. My thanks go to The Isle of Wight County Press for providing me with the article about Elaines death. This tied up so many loose ends and confirmed the link between The Anderson and Hawkes family.
Rob Jennings has now updated this story and has put this onto a website at http://elaine-anderson.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/index.jhtml and has also been published on a BBC website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4455506
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