Mrs Marjorie Bligh-Wall
MUSIC teacher Marjorie Moireen Bligh-Wall died at Byrnhill Grove care home, Ventnor, on January 23, aged 106.
Born in Haslemere, Surrey, on June 21, 1903, she was the second of four children to James and Alice Radley-Young.
While growing up in Corfe Edge, Dorset, Mrs Bligh-Wall recalled seeing the Titanic from her home.
She studied music at a college in Bournemouth before she married engineer Geoffrey Bligh-Wall in 1925. The couple emigrated to Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, the following year.
During her life in Southern Rhodesia, she raised her five children, while her husband worked as a gold mining engineer. However, in 1948 he died in a fishing accident, leaving her to raise the family alone.
Mrs Bligh-Wall returned to England when she was aged 95, owing to the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, and moved to the Island to be near her eldest daughter, Catherine Pigott, of Niton.
Following her husband’s death and until her move to the Island, Mrs Bligh-Wall taught music and gave piano lessons.
Mrs Bligh-Wall, who lived at Byrnhill Grove care home for the last six years of her life, also enjoyed gardening, reading and enjoying the company of her friends.
To celebrate her 100th birthday, Mrs Bligh-Wall took a helicopter ride around the Island.
Her funeral was held at the IW Crematorium, Whippingham, today (Friday).
Mrs Bligh-Wall leaves a son and three daughters, 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a great, great-grandson.
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