A century of simple living its own reward
Eva Ruby Baguley (Beryl) March 19, 1909 – November 14, 2018
There is a photo of Beryl Baguley, with her left hand on her knee, bending over to deliver the first jack for the 2011/2012 bowls season.
She was 103 at the time – and there was no walking stick in sight.
When Beryl died at Franklin Memorial Hospital in November, she was just short of completing her eighth month of her 110th year. Such timeframes count when you have reached the distinction of being the eighth oldest New Zealander.
Beryl was an identical twin and when her sister, Matilda (Tilly), died in 2011 aged 102, they were the fourth oldest identical twins in the world.
Beryl and Tilly Wilson were born at the Auckland hospital. Their mother, also Matilda, died the following day, leaving five children and the newly born twins. Beryl and Tilly were adopted but did not learn of this until they were 10 years old.
Grandson Duane said Beryl’s first home was in Great North Road. At the time the Dominion of New Zealand had a little more than a million citizens. In her memoirs Beryl noted: ‘‘On our whole road only two families had cars. Nobody owned their own home, as rent was so cheap and you could get a decent rental home.’’
In 1914, the girls started at Newton West School, which they attended until the end of standard three, when they were aged 11.
Beryl recalled all the pupils assembling outside and marching to the flagstaff to salute the Union Jack and sing God Save the King in honour of George V, who was also Emperor of India.
The boys and girls never mixed, and at one stage, the classroom was split in half with a curtain running the length of the room.
In 1921 the family moved, and the twins attended Richmond Road School where the desks were raked to the ceiling, with the younger students sitting at the front and the older ones at the top. They used slates and wrote with special pencils, and sometimes chalk.
In 1923 at the age of 14, the twins started four-year apprenticeships at Mackie Logan’s Clothing Factory in Ponsonby, sewing blouses.
Once qualified they got jobs in the George Court and Sons Department Store in Karangahape Road.
Beryl met Johnny Baguley at a dance in Auckland. They married in 1940 and moved to Aka Aka where Johnny worked in the cheese factory.
Although called up for military service at the beginning of World War II he was drafted out of the army to work in the Otaua Dairy Factory.
Beryl recalled they had a twobedroomed house outside the factory with a communal washroom and toilet facilities outside. Their first son, Eric, was born in 1943, and David in 1944.
After the war, the family went share milking within the Otaua district. They spent two years milking on the Motion’s farm and then moved onto Albert Holme’s property on Misa Road, starting out share milking and later going halves with their own herd.
In 1956 the family moved to a 20-acre farm where they milked 20 cows. When the dairy factory would no longer collect milk in small quantities, they converted to dry stock.
Beryl was always active in the community and she was a member of the Country Woman’s Institute. She played with the Piano Accordion Band, was an avid stamp collector and, of course, continued to utilise her dressmaking skills by making her own clothes.
Beryl and Johnny farmed until 1974 when they retired and moved to Sandspit Road, Waiuku.
She was heavily involved in the Waiuku Women’s Bowling Club, and member Bette Holmes said Beryl served as match convener, tournament manager and was president from 1972-1974. She won the club championship singles three times, in 1973, 1974 and 1984 (this last at the age of 75). She was made a life member and patron of the club and continued to attend prizegiving ceremonies once she had stopped playing,
Ina Stuff interview Beryl said she Beryl Baguley’s memoirs credited her long life to a simple way of living and to ‘‘good genes’’ – two siblings lived into their 90s and three others well into their 80s. She never smoked, never drank alcohol, and never got behind the wheel of a car.
Beryl said living was simple a century ago.
‘‘We had good health. We didn’t have bugs, we didn’t even have measles.
‘‘People eat more now than they should, and we eat simple food. I don’t put seven ingredients into one dish.’’
In 2009 Beryl and Tilly celebrated their 100th birthday. Duane said it was a great occasion that was disrupted by the media.
‘‘In the middle of the festivities, TV3 turned up to do an interview with them both. They had already been interviewed by TV1, and the various newspapers. They received letters from the Queen and from Prime Minister John Key. This was the beginning of Beryl’s media presence.’’
Other birthdays came and went and 105 was a big one. ‘‘Each year we would wonder if she would still be with us at Christmas. And every year she was,’’ Duane said.
Duane said Beryl was a woman of strong opinions and handshake.
‘‘If she grabbed your hand, it was vicelike. She had some opinions that would be deemed un-PC today.’’
In 2017, at age 107, Beryl moved into the Franklin Memorial Hospital.
Duane said it was amazing to think about the experiences Beryl had over the 109 years.
‘‘The sinking of the Titanic, World Wars I and II; Hillary conquering Everest; JFK being assassinated; Neil Armstrong walking on the moon; the All Blacks winning the first World Cup; and Princess Di dying in a car accident.’’
Beryl died peacefully in her sleep. Beryl was the loved wife of the late John; fondly loved mum of Eric and Kaye and the late David; special nana of Donna, Duane, Julie, Angela and Darren; and great-nana of eight.
This life story relies on information from Eric Baguley, Duane Baguley, Bette Holmes, and Stuff.
‘‘On our whole road only two families had cars. Nobody owned their own home, as rent was so cheap and you could get a decent rental home.’’
A Life Story tells of a New Zealander who helped to shape the Waikato community. If you know of someone whose story should be told, please email Charles.Riddle@wintec.ac.nz