Honey, Milk and Marshmallows

My most happy memories of my grandparents centre around food. Standing on a stool to help stir the honey that had been freshly taken from the hives and separating the wax from the sweet amber liquid. Sitting in front of the open fire listening to Grandad’s tall tales toasting marshmallows and trying not to burn my lips on the cup of hot chocolate that was always made with milk. Helping Nana make fresh strawberry jam that I knew would be delicious on her freshly baked scones.

Nana was always called “Min” by the family. She was a very talented seamstress and cake designer. She created patterns for one of the large pattern makers that sold commercially to department stores. Everyone called Grandad “Fred.” I have no idea where he got the name from – perhaps I should ask?

Grandad died of a sudden heart attack when he was hiking with Nana and Lorraine’s family. There were no indications the day before or even the morning that he died. He was as jolly as ever and just suddenly collapsed while they were walking and could not be revived. Fred was cremated at Purewa Cemetery and his ashes were scattered at the river where he loved to fish.

Nana remarried several years later. She remained in her own home in Pakuranga until her death.

Early Years

Fred was the youngest of seven children born to Robert Thomas FELLOWES and Rose Ann Adelaide HENRICKSEN. His older siblings were Arthur Russell (1894-1956), Clement “Clem” George (1895-1916), Tui Laurel Victoria (1901-1968), Irene Iris Graham (1903-1978), Eileen Lilac “Lila” (1910-1915), and Rose Rewa “Bobbie” (1916-2000).

Min’s parents were Victor Leonard Darwin JACOBS and Gertrude “Gertie” Maude MILES. She had an older sister, Iris Gertrude (1920-?) and a younger brother, Herbert Murray (1927-?). Iris married and moved to California. Herbert moved to Victoria, Australia.

Fred enrolled in the reserve forces and is identified on the ballot list for WWII.

Fred and Min moved to Australia in the early 1980s and spent several years there before returning to NZ. Fred was an avid fisher and I have fond memories of sitting beside him on the dock with my little fishing rod catching sprats.

Robert Trevor “Fred” FELLOWES
b. 27 Jul, 1918 in Auckland, NZ
d. 13 Jan, 1987 Bark Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, NZ

Mother: Rose Ann Adelaide Henricksen
Father: Robert Thomas Fellows

Siblings:
Arthur Russell Fellowes
Clement George Fellows
Tui Laurel Victoria Fellows
Irene Iris Graham Fellowes
Eileen Lilac Fellows
Rose Rewa Fellowes

Nola Lorraine “Min” JACOBS
b. 15 Oct, 1922 in Masterton, NZ
d. 2011 in Auckland, NZ

Mother: Gertrude Maude Miles
Father: Victor Leonard Darwin Jacobs
Stepmother: Irene Lydia Smith
Stepfather: Herbert Thomas Samuel McReady

Siblings:
Iris Gertrude Jacobs
Herbert Murray Jacobs

Half Siblings:
Raymond Keith Jacobs
Reginald Victor Jacobs
Pauline Lucy Jacobs
Collin Edward Jacobs
Leon McCready

Children of Fred and Nola
Still alive