Maurice Stanley Glynn (1914 - 1996)

Born 9 Jul 1914 in Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Son of John Thomas Glynn and Ada Adelaide (Payne) Glynn

Husband of Gwendoline Pearl (Denning) Glynn — married 1 Jan 1944 in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 18 Nov 1996 at age 82 in Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kylie Glynn [send private message]

Biography

Maurie Glynn is Notable.

Maurie Glynn was born in New South Wales, Australia

Maurie was an innovative pastry chef.

Interesting

Maurie Glynn is the creator of the square pie. Big Ben Pies, wanted to use his face on their packaging however, his wife Pearl Denning said no. Unfortunately Big Ben Pies is no longer available in Australia, at least not in Western Australia.

He also helped with the creation of Peter's Drumstick Ice Cream. What I do remember Pa telling me was he helped with the creation of the cone to stop it becoming soggy when the ice cream was placed in the cone.

Early Life

Maurice Stanley Glynn was born at 39 Melyra St, Grenfell, NSW, Australia, 9th July 1914, and is the youngest child of five born to John Glynn and Ada Payne.

He was baptised 25th July 1914 at Holy Trinity Church of England, in Grenfell, NSW, Australia.

Maurie was born into a very close-knit family. The five children idolized their parents and the whole family shared joy and sorrow with one another. They lived in a house in Melyra (pronounced M'lara) Street, Grenfell. The house was demolished and a new house built on the site. The family moved to Sydney when Maurie was three weeks old (August 1914). His sister, Eva Shepherd told him that his mother nursed him all the way and wouldn't allow anyone else to hold him.

The family lived at 100 Angel Street, Newtown (on the corner Iredale Street). Eventually they moved to Munni Street, Newtown, Street.

Maurie was nicknamed "Dennis" by his father but the reason isn't known. When Maurie was about 5 years old, he was on a tram near Newtown furniture shop and the Congregational Church with his sister, Eva Shepherd and a Hewen woman, when he saw a friend from school (Eric "Eck" McBeth). Maurie kept calling to Eck from the tram and from then on, his sister called him "Eck".

Maurie started at Newtown Infants School on his 6th birthday (9th July 1920). He was King of the Kindergarten at some stage. One day his dog, a black spaniel, followed him to school on a wet day and went in the classroom with him and he had to take the dog home. After Primary School, he went to Newtown Tech. He came 2nd in the run for Dux of Newtown Tech. (He said if he had read Ivanhoe like he supposed to, he could have been Dux.) He was cricket captain, class captain and vice-captain of the football team. His final year was 1927. He was 13 when he left school.

Employment

Maurie's sister, Eva Shepherd and her husband, Lawson Shepherd had a fruit and vegetable shop in The Boulevarde at Strathfield just near the Railway Station. Maurie used to get 1/- (one shilling) for working there Saturday mornings. He used to catch the train from Newtown to Strathfield. He was 10 or 12 years old (1924 - 26). The Depression sent them broke and they lost the shop.

Maurie's brother, Jack Glynn had a grocery store in The Strand, Croydon. Jack started as delivery boy and eventually bought the shop from the owners who lived at 32 Ferndale Street, Newtown. Maurie used to go with Jack in the cart to deliver groceries when he was about 14 (1928). In 1930 Chain Groceries offered Jack £3000 to sell to them and have him manage the shop but he refused the offer.

The depression was on when Maurie started work as an apprentice pastrycook at Gartrell White Limited in King Street, Newtown on his 14th birthday (9 July 1928). He worked a 48-hour week and earned 19/3 (nineteen shillings and three pence) per week.

In 1949, Gartrell White's and an Adelaide bakery, Golden Crust, were acquired by George Weston (Australia) Pty Ltd and became Tip Top Bakeries. At the time, Gartrell White Limited was the largest baker in Australia.^[1].

During the Depression the family were buying their house in Munni Street, Newtown at £2 per week and as Maurie's father was an invalid due to an accident on the trams, he had no income. Arthur Glynn was working 2 weeks on and 1 week off and contributed £112/- (a week's wages) and Maurie contributed his 193. It didn't leave much for food or other bills.

Maurie worked hard and played a lot of cricket. He and Stan McCabe (his cousin) spent a lot of time together while Stan was at St Josephs College. Stan made good and played cricket for Australia^[2]. Maurie took up tennis and he did very well at both sports; a lot better than average but there was no money in sport in those days.

Maurie was with his father, John when he died in 1932. He told Maurie "I'm going now son, look after your mother". Ada had been with him all the time but had left the room for 10 minutes when John died.

On 19 March 1932, the Day the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened, Maurie walked across the bridge with thousands of other Sydneysiders.

Maurie’s apprenticeship finished when he was 19 years old (1933) and he became a fully-fledged pastrycook earning £29- a week.

Maurie was sick with double pneumonia when he was 21 and nearly died. The treatment then was a hot linseed poultice wrapped around the lungs.

Courtship of Pearl Denning

Maurie met Pearl Denning at a party in 1942 and fell in love with her at their first meeting. He was introduced to her by his sister-in-law, Nelle Glynn nee Moroney. Nelle. and Pearl were ambulance drivers in the National Emergency Service (NES) together. Nelle. put on a birthday party for Mrs Dwyer who was also in the NES. Mrs Dwyer and her sister, Mrs Perry were in the tennis club and Maurie was Mrs Perry's tennis partner. An hour after the party a gate crasher went and got his mates. Maurie waited and sent them away. Maurie asked Pearl if he could walk her home. She said yes. He asked if he could see her the next Monday night, but she said she was busy. Each night he suggested Pearl said she was busy. Maurie thought it was a brush off but finally Pearl said she would see him Saturday night. He took her to town to see a Scottish movie called "Jeannie". He bought her a box of chocolates, but Pearl couldn't eat them so Maurie ate them.

One-time Pearl booked tickets for them to see a play with Gladys Moncrieff. Maurie said he "was the only bloke in bunch of females".

The Dennings didn't approve of Maurie and tried to get Pearl away from him by sending her to Moss Vale to live with Olive (Denning) O'Donnell (her sister) and John O'Donnell. Pearl asked Maurie if he would come to visit on weekends. Maurie said no. It was then that Pearl realised what was going on and she refused to go to Moss Vale. Frederick Pleace (Pearl’s uncle) who lived in Wilson Street, Newtown used to stay with her (as chaperone) when her parents went to Moss Vale.

Maurie bought a car for £20. Pearl taught him to drive.

Maurie said "I used to take her to war and then go home to bed. She was out in the ambulance when the bombs fell on Rose Bay and the submarines came into the harbour." Nelle, who was married to Maurie's brother, Arthur Glynn, said that when Pearl met Maurie, she asked her what was Maurie really like and Nelle, told her "The Glynn boys make beautiful husbands." Maurie and Pearl became engaged in July 1943.^[3]

Marriage

Maurie and Pearl Denning married 1 January 1944. The Rector was Arthur Edward Rook and witnesses to the marriage were Maurie's brother, Arthur and Pearl's friend, Betty Sidlow. They lived with Pearl’s parents until Greg Glynn was born in September 1944, then lived in a room at Mrs Riggs' house opposite Pearl’s parent's place in Reiby Street, Enmore. They paid £1 per week but it was a very depressing situation. After that they lived over a shop in King Street, St Peters and from there to the residence over a shop near Gartrell White's. Then they bought 44 George St, St Peters from Pearl's brother Jim Denning and his wife, Jo Denning nee Blom.

Wedding Memories

Various memories of Maurie and Pearl's wedding. Unfortunately, there are no photos.

From Nelle Glynn,:
”Bride wore pale blue suit with skirt - slightly flared. Lovely blue hat - pretty but not fussy. White shoes, white handbag, square, handle over arm. Bride wouldn't wear veil.”

From Jim and Jo Denning.
“Bride and groom stayed at their place, 44 George Street, St Peters. Jim and Jo short sheeted the bed, bells (pots under the bed). Jim and Jo stayed at Pop's (Frederick Denning). Jo Denning chipped a casserole dish which was a wedding present- felt sick about it all night.”

From Betty Featherstone, bridesmaid and best friend of Pearl:
No frills wedding. 4pm at St Stephens Newtown. Pale blue linen suit, white straw hat. Betty wore mauve silky dress and black hat. The reception was at Reiby Street (Pearl’s parents home). The dining room was crowded. It was a sunny afternoon but when they got back to the house there was a summer thunderstorm and it rained bucket loads. It rained so much it rained frogs. The bride and groom stayed at Jim and Jo's at St Peters for the night. Betty and parents went home early as Betty, a nurse, was working at hospital that night. The groom's mother was not there. Someone was in a car but didn't go to wedding. Maurie called at the house to see them.

From Phyllis (Jarrett) Denning, Pearl’s sister-in-law:
Phyl remembers "the bride and groom sitting in the front room at Reiby Street. It was very hot."

From Pamela Riddell nee Glynn, Maurie's niece:
Bride wore navy blue suit. Court shoes with tongue and stacked heels.

Work and Family

In 1947 Maurie became production manager at Gartrell White's in King Street, Newtown.

Maurie and family moved to 44 George Street, St Peters, in 1949, then to 52 Gordon St Brighton-le-Sands in 1954.

In 1960, Maurie was offered a job at Veg Oils Pty Ltd at Mascot as chief bakery adviser, so after 31 years with Gartrell White's, he left and went to work at Veg Oils. In 1962 he and a colleague, Jack Barrow, went overseas for a six-week study tour looking at how things were done in other countries. They bought back many ideas which are still around today.

In 1966, the family (minus Greg, who was living in the USA) moved to 44 Forrest Road, East Hills. Maurie and Pearl bought a half acre property with a 3-bedroom house, a 1-bedroom cottage and a 2-room flat with bathroom. Pearl’s parents moved into the cottage.

Children leave the Nest

In 1967 Malcolm Glynn travelled to England and in 1968 Stephanie Glynn went to live in Melbourne. Maurie said "Pearl and I were heartbroken to see the kids go away on 'safaris' but had enough faith in them to let them go."

Death of Beloved Wife

Pearl passed away in July 1969 after a long illness. All her children had returned home to be with her. Maurie said "We experienced a wonderful and loving family life. We both worked hard. A lot of my life went when Pearl died but love and respect of my kids allowed me to hold my head up."

Retirement

Maurie retired from Veg Oils five days after his 64th birthday (14 July 1978). He had worked for 50 years and five days. His position when he retired was Manager of the Industrial Division at Veg Oils.

Illness and Death

In 1980 Maurie developed a deep vein thrombosis in his right leg and it had to be amputated. He got a prosthetic leg in 1981 and eventually learnt to walk with only a slight limp. Around this time, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He was able to control it with his diet.

In 1981 he moved to Perth to be near his daughter, Steph. He bought 291 St Kilda Road, Kewdale, which was across the road from her and her family who were at 294.

Maurie was visiting Malcolm and his family over Christmas in 1991 and a few days before he was due to go home to Perth; he suffered a stroke and went to hospital instead. He was in hospital for a few months and then returned to Malcolm’s home where he spent the last years of his life. He was quite well but not well enough to fly home to Perth. In 1996 he had to have his left leg amputated. He passed away in hospital on 18 November 1996, the day after his granddaughter Kirsty-Lee (Vanden Driesen) McKenzie’s 21st birthday. Just after she received news that her beloved Pa was gone; the postman delivered her birthday card from him. Inside he had written "having a great time, hope you are too".

Funeral

His funeral service was at Olsen's Chapel in Sutherland (Canon Don Anderson officiating) then West Chapel, Woronora Crematorium. His ashes were later scattered at Woronora Cemetery by his son, Malcolm.

Stories from Maurie

Maurie used to like to tell stories about his family and often talked about the people they knew. His father, John had been a bullock driver and worked on the trams in Sydney. Everyone called him Jack and his kids called him Dar.

John aka Jack went to the butcher shop and said to the butcher "Those sausages you sold me last week were off and tasted terrible. We ended up giving them to the dog. He ate them but he licked his ass straight after to get rid of the taste.".

John aka Jack saw a basket full of shirts for sale at a shop with a price of 5/- (5 shillings) on the basket. John aka Jack reckoned it was a good deal because the basket was worth more than that.

When John aka Jack was near the end of his life, one of his friends came to visit. John aka Jack had a coughing fit and his friend said, "Jeez Jack, if you were a bullock, I'd have to shoot you".

One day Ada had been out and came home to find the front door locked. She knocked and John aka Jack told her to go round the back. A few minutes later there was another knock on the door and John aka Jack shouted out "go round the bloody back". Unfortunately, it wasn't Ada, it was the local minister.

Some of Maurie's friends enlisted when the war started. One of them, who had said he would never enlist, said ‘he had to enlist because his friend had, and his friend owed him £5 and he was going to stick with him till he got his £5 back.’

When Maurie was young he and his friends would have a chalk chase through the streets. At the start of the game, one person starts off ahead of everyone else leaving behind themselves a trail of chalk marks. After a designated time, the rest of the group chase him, and the aim is to catch him before he gets to the designated end of the course. Maurie and his friends would sometimes mark out the majority of the chase before the game started.

Family Connection to me, Kylie-Jo Glynn

Maurie Glynn is my Grandfather, mothers side, affectionately known as Pa.

Acknowledgement

I'd like to make it known that it was my mother, Stephanie Glynn who wrote this profile in her Family Tree software program. She obviously had asked Pa/Maurie about his life and thought to write it all down. Thanks Mum

Sources

1. ↑ Largest Bakery in Australia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_Top_Bakeries#History)
2. ↑ Stan McCabe Australian Cricketer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_McCabe)
3. ↑ 1943 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954), 29 July, p. 8, viewed 13 January 2013, (http:/nla.gov.aunla.news-article17858142).
   GLYNN - DENNING - The Engagement is announced of Gwendoline Pearl, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Denning, of Enmore, to Maurice Stanley, youngest son of the late Mr. J. and Mrs. A Glynn, of Newtown.

• NSW BDM Birth: GLYNN MAURICE S 37441/1914 JOHN T ADA A GRENFELL
• NSW BDM Marriage: 4285/1944 GLYNN MAURICE STANLEY DENNING GWENDOLINE PEARL NEWTOWN
• Paternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Kylie-Jo Glynn and her second cousin once removed WM. Their most-recent common ancestors are Kylie-Jo Glynn's Great, Great Grandparents and WM's Great Grandparents John Glynn and Mary McGill. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 2nd – 3rd Cousin, based on sharing 138 cM across 7 segments
• Maternal relationship is confirmed by an autosomal AncestryDNA test match between Kylie-Jo Glynn and Ms Holland, her 3rd cousin . Their most-recent common ancestors are George Payne and Elisabetha Schäfer, the great great grandparents of Kylie-Jo Glynn and great great grandparents of Ms Holland. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 4-6th Cousin, based on sharing 44 cM across 2 segments.
• Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confirmed by an autosomal AncestryDNA test match between Kylie-Jo Glynn and Mark Riddell, her 2nd cousin . Their most-recent common ancestors are John Glynn and Ada Payne, the great grandparents of Kylie-Jo Glynn and Mark Riddell. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 2nd-3rd Cousins, based on sharing 256 cM across 11 segments.
• Maternal relationship is confirmed by an autosomal MyHeritageDNA test match between Kylie Glynn and PB, her 3C. Their most-recent common ancestors are George Payne and Elisabetha Schäfer, their Great Great Grandparents. Predicted relationship from MyHeritageDNA: 3rd - 4th cousin, based on sharing 65.5cM across 4 segments.