▶Date of birth: 8 July 1902       Place of birth: Murree, Bengal, India

▶Father: John Lewis Randolph Gordon    Mother: Gwendoline Seale Pearson (Turner)

▶Spouse(s): Thomas Eaton Hornby Birley  Date(s) of marriage: 5 November 1924   Place(s) of marriage: All Saints Church, Cheltenham

▶Occupation:

▶Lifestory: Cheltenham Chronicle 8 November 1924

FASHIONABLE WEDDING IN CHELTENHAM. Mr. J. E. H. Birley's Marriage to Miss A. M. Cordon.

The wedding took place on Wednesday afternoon at All Saints' Church of Mr. T. E. H. Birley, eldest son of the Rev. C. W. Birley and Mrs. Birley, of Homelea, Cheltenham, and Agnes Mary Gordon, eldest daughter of Brig.-Gen J. L. R Gordon, C.B., C.S.I., and Mrs Gordon, of Roden House, Cheltenham. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. W. Birley, M.A., father of the bridegroom, assisted by the Rev. Canon Johnstone, M.A., vicar of the parish, who gave a short, address. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of ivory and shell pink georgette, trimmed feathers and diamante and the palest of pink roses. The court train of ivory georgette was edged with wide feather trimming and diamante, and artistically embroidered with La France roses, orange blossoms and gold true lovers' knots. The train was caught, at the shoulders, with a garland of the same flowers and over it fell a long handsome veil of old lace crowned with a coronet of orange blossoms. She carried a shower bouquet of cream pink roses tied with a broad gold ribbon.

There were four bridesmaids, Misses Joyce and Sheila Gordon (sisters of the bride). Miss E. L. Grist and Miss Miles, and a little train-bearer — the bride's youngest sister. Miss Lesley Gordon. They wore delightful gowns of pleated georgette in orchid colouring, trimmed chinchilla fur, and hats of chiffon velvet in two shades of orchid with large paste buckles. Their shoes were of silver and mauve brocade. The bouquets were of pale pink and orchid shades of single chrysanthemums tied with deep purple ribbons. The little train-bearer wore a dress of orchid silk net, the skirt being a mass of frills, with a large sash, and the short puffed sleeves being edged with Michaelmas daisies, with which her little lace "Dutch" shaped hat was also trimmed. They carried bead bags with their initials in orchid colouring to match their dresses.

The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Hugh Gordon as his best man. The service was fully choral, a special hymn being sung composed by Lady Franklin. A reception was afterwards held at the Pittville Pump Room and attended by over 500 guests. The bride's dress, train and part of her trousseau, and also the bridesmaids' dresses and hats were all designed and made by Madame Laleah, of Cheltenham, including the bouquets, which were beautifully carried out by the Misses Bartlett, of Promenade-villas, Cheltenham.

The catering arrangements, decorations, etc., were carried out most efficiently by the Cadena Cafe Co., there being a special wedding cake of Scotch design. The wedding presents numbered about 250.

▶Moved to Pittville from:   Moved from Pittville to:

▶Date of death: 1998   Place of death: Durham

▶Date of burial:  Place of burial:

▶Notes:     ID: 11718

Contributor(s): David Drinkwater