Edith
Georgina Grace Dewinter Diggins (known as Jo and Joanne)
She was
born on 30 July 2021 at Leverington (nr Wisbech), one of two children born to Miriam Emily
Beecham.
Her early
years, after leaving school, were spent working in her mother's
drapery shop in Wisbech.
Jo
had a sister called Iris who died at the early age of 52.
Jo
moved to Heacham in 1935 when her mother purchased a holiday camp
which was to become' Beecham's Holiday Camp'
Jo
married Cyril Thomas Diggins on Boxing Day 26th December 1936 and they
will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on Boxing Day
2006. They lived on the holiday camp until 1940 when they moved to
Poplar Avenue in Heacham. They lived there until 1967, during this time
husband Tom was a porter on Heacham Railway Station and Jo set up a
Guest House doing Bed & Breakfast.
In
1967 Jo was offered the job of being gate keeper for British Rail at
their Gas House Crossing in Hunstanton. Jo took the job which lasted for
just 2 years before the line closed in 1969. Both Jo and Tom stayed on
in the house until Jo's mother died in 1978, when they moved back to
Heacham into her mother's house at 6 School Road.
As
she was now in retirement she took up playing bowls and bridge and won many
trophies including the mixed pairs at the Hunstanton Open Bowls
Tournament with the late George Palmer. When
bowls became too much for her she continued playing bridge and she was
even more successful at this than at bowls finishing up as a Grand Master.
Jo and Tom also managed to fit in playing bingo at the Gala club in
King's Lynn up to five nights a week.
Both
Jo and Tom stayed at 6 School Road until November 2005 when they moved
into a new house again in School Road Heacham with their son and daughter-in-law.
They now spend their time, sleeping, eating and watching television.
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