Jane Foreman (nee Robins) - 1944-2018

Davnob is sad to announce that Jane died on December 19th after a long illness. Iri and Noam were with her.

Jane became a Davnob in 1959 when Bill and Min married, and Steffi, Jane, Roger and Ricky (Peetamber) grew up together in London, and at various times over the next few years moved to Israel.

In 1964 Jane married Iri Foreman, and over following years, in Bet Haemek, Rechovot and Gedera, had four children, Margie, Sara, Oded and Noam.

When the family had grown up, Jane travelled with Iri as his work took him to China, Uganda and Kenya.  Eventually, when they retired, they settled in Dunoon, overlooking the Firth of Clyde.

Jane was an enormously hospitable and generous person as many in the family will know. Over many years she brought those qualities to her political, community and charity work in the many places she lived.  She was interesting and stylish, and fun to be with. The last few years showed her to be strong, determined and very stoical.

Our love and condolences to Iri, Margie, Sara, Oded, Noam and their families. 

Reminiscences

This photo (I assume it was Geoff's wedding) reappeared on Facebook - and I was fascinated by the hats.

Memory of Solomon Noble

Davnob received another fascinating reminiscence from Doodie - this time about Zaida - Solomon Noble.

The reason for this e mail is that I woke up this morning about 5.00 a.m.after having slept for six hours  (which is good for me)  and for some unknown reason started to think about your Grandpa Solly (Editor: this is Zaida, father of Bernie, Charlie, Ziggie and Lou). 

My first recollections are going to Greens Court where they had the Fish and Chip shop, and where your uncles Zig and Charley worked with your Grandpa. I remember my Mother (Editor: Auntie Leah) (who was a fabulous cook) making a special delicious meal for him from time to time. It was called 'fees' which is a Yiddish word for feet. It consisted of chicken feet cooked in some kind of jelly.

I recall when he became ill with cancer  of the mouth or tongue your uncles Lou and Zig took him to different Doctors looking for a cure. I remember my mother would go to a phone box (we had no phone at home) nearly every day to ring her sister Ray, your grandma, to see how he was. I think the phone number was Battersea 2580 (Editor: amazing memory Doodie, that was the number till the shop was finally sold).

In the summer before he passed away your Grandma took a flat in Southend on Sea  and I remember going there with my mother to see him.

Before the 2nd world war when someone died the coffin would be taken to the home and a Rabbi or Minister or a learned person would say tilim which is Hebrew for psalms. Your grandfathers coffin was taken to Battersea and my mother told me that before the Minister of the Synagogue arrived my father started to say tilim, and someone asked what was the name of the Rabbi  and was  informed that my father was not a Rabbi but was a Brother -in-Law.

I remember him as a lovely man kind and considerate.

East End Memories

During a recent walking tour of the East End I found myself in Flower and Dean Street, and remembered the name from my childhood when we used to visit Auntie Leah (who was Grandma Noble's sister). I couldn't remember the name of the street or the block where she lived so I contacted Doodie (David Taylor, Auntie Leah's son) who then lived with her, with his brother Alf, and sisters Rosie and Gertie. I asked several questions, and I got this fascinating reply:

Hi Roger I was delighted to hear from you. The name of the flats was Keate House we lived in numbers 5 & 6. The shop was at the corner of Lolesworth Street and Thrawl Street.  Of course Auntie Becky ran the shop with the help of my Mum.  I worked in the shop from late 1938 till about June 1939.  The shop address was 1 Keate House.  The shop used to stay open till about 10. 30 p.m. until the war started. Many people used to come and sit in the shop in the evenings chatting.  I remember 3 or 4 days before the war started one evening 2 policemen called in and asked if we would turn off the lights in the windows in case the Germans decided to bomb. every one was expecting that there would be war.  

Regarding my Grandparents David & Martha Schotness (notice the spelling of Schotness).  My Grandfather David came over about 4 years before my grandmother notice the gap in the ages of my mother Leah and your grandmother Ray. When she left Russia or Romania she left with 3 children Uncle Levi your grandmother Ray and another  child  who died on the way over. I do not know the name or where he or she was buried. Very sad. Regarding my grandfather David who I was the first to be named after him (he died in 1922) he was a founder and first treasurer of the Jewish Cabinet Makers union. I remember that when we lived in Leslie street Auntie Becky had in her possession Sashes and medals of the union. I do not know what happened to them. They are buried in Edmonton Cemetery run by the Federation of Synagogues.  If you go on line under Burial Society Federation of Synagogues it makes interesting reading and you are able to find the plot number where they are buried.   

About myself I was in the Army from November 1942 until April 1947. I was wounded twice on the second occasion was captured along with the rest of the company having gone behind the German Lines and was in Prison of War camp X1 B (Falingbostal) for seven weeks before we were liberated (but thats another story). 

Going back to my Grandfather and the union I remember Lou Noble your uncle telling me that he went to a union meeting which all took place in yiddush  and was most impressed in the manner our grandfather spoke.

Best wishes Doodie.

So I went on-line and found the following photo of the corner of Lolesworth and Thrawl Streets (which comes from a 1969 film called The London Nobody Knows ).

I was also fascinated to hear that Doodie was a POW, a fact I had never known. So I contacted him again with the photo, and more questions (for example I had never known there was a Rumanian link, though it could be just part of our ancestors' journey). Again a quick response from Doodie.

Hi Roger  nice to hear from you again.  You are quite right they did come from the Ukraine, I remember being told the area was call Bessarabia - Comnitz Padolk. The spelling may not be correct. By the way Schotness was not the real name. David Schotness came over on a false Passport which was of Polish origin.  The name was either Guntermucher  or Goldmier.  As I understand the reason for the false Passport was that he was  wanted by the local authorities for his left wing views. I tried to find out more about the Jewish Cabinet Makers Union and whichever avenue took I drew a blank.  Hope you have more success.

The photo you enclosed was very interesting. The shop on the right hand side was Auntie Becky's shop. The turning that is shown is Thrawl Street.  The shop on the left with the red blind was a kosher butcher shop under the name of Lewis. After the war the Lewis family moved to Brighton and opened a shop there and Auntie Jessie used to buy  from them. When they sold the shop in Thrawl Street it was bought  by a chap by the name of Monty Klein who I went to school with. 

The shop with the green blind was a Barbers shop. On the right hand side which you can not see too well was a house which was the home of the Bloom family  the famous Salt beef restaurant. Next door to the Blooms home was a famous Yeshiva the name of which was Yeshiva Etx Chaim.  

In the course of the next few days I will let you know more about my war time experiences.
Please let me know if you find any information about the Jewish Cabinet Makers union.

By for now. regards Doodie  

Doodie is currently recovering from two fractures of the spine as well as osteoarthritis, which must be incredibly painful, so I'm sure the whole family will join us in wishing him a quick and comfortable recovery.

Very sadly we received the following information from Jonathan and Frances in Washington DC.  The whole family sends deep condolences and much love.

Dear Family and Friends,

With profound sadness and regret we inform you that our beloved Daniel died in hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 11 following a traffic accident the previous day.

We will welcome visitors at our home, 4605 Reno Road NW, Washington DC 20008 on Sunday August 19, between 12 noon and 5 pm. Shiva service that day will be at approximately 12:45 - 1:30 pm. Later this year we will arrange a memorial event to celebrate Daniel's life.

Donations in Daniel's memory may be made to HIAS, http://www.hias.org earmarked for legal aid for separated families, or to another charity of your choice.

Please circulate this notice as appropriate.

Frances, Jonathan, Joanna, and Lyna.

Summer Memories

Left to Right: Joe, ?, Judy, Moisha, Steffi, Clive, Roger, Bernie, Ernest Brower, Ziggie, Steve, Geoffie

FAMILY REUNION 2019 - EARLY NOTIFICATION

Timna writes: The last week end of the whitsun half-term is June 1st-June 2nd. This seems to be a good time for the 2019 Family Reunion. Please save the dates, and let us know if you are interested at:    reunion@davnob.co.uk