Hazel Picking (nee Roberts) – 3s 36-42

Submitted by Tony Webb (Son)

Hazel Mary Roberts. (Pictured left). Hazel was born at 110 Longfleet Road, Poole, on 17th January 1925. However, her childhood home soon became 35 Khartoum Road, Southampton. She started school in 1930 at PNEU School, Wynne Road, Southampton, which she enjoyed. She joined the Brownies and the Girl Guides, and also found a passion for tennis. She spent much time during the summer holidays with a friend, Eleanor Ford, whose parents had a second home at the foot of the South Downs at Sussex, and the two girls would go walking, bird’s nesting, camping and swimming there. In 1936 Hazel started school at Christ’s Hospital, Hertford, where she attained matriculation in 1940, and a higher school certificate in 1942. After leaving C.H., Hazel spent a few months at Kensington Secretarial School, but on reaching the age of eighteen she joined the W.R.N.S. She was sent to the HMS Cabbala for four months to train as a visual signaller. She was then stationed at Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, Scotland and in November 1943 was sent to the HMS Rosemarkie, on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. On Christmas night of that year, at a party in the Wrennery, Hazel met Lieutenant Bernard Webb of the Marines. (She had first seen him through her telescope, and thought him the best of a bad-looking bunch!) Bernard had been born in Richmond in 1918 to Bernard and Emily Webb. Hazel and Bernard got engaged in February 1944. In the spring of that year Bernard was drafted South, and Hazel was soon after drafted to the HMS Hornet, at Gosport. Coincidentally, Bernard had been stationed at nearby Fort Gilkicker; a coastal defence battery along Stokes Bay in Gosport.

On 18th November 1944, 19-year-old Hazel married 26-year-old Bernard Mornington Webb at St Martin’s Church, Epsom. Bernard remained on embarkation leave for three weeks, but then left for the Far East. Hazel was sent to Portsmouth Dockyard Signal Station (S.S.), then to Ryde S.S., briefly to Cowes S.S., and then back to Portsmouth. She was demobbed at the end of 1945. Bernard was demobbed in early 1946, and he and Hazel lived with Hazel’s parents at 1 Higher Green, Epsom, for a few months. They soon moved into their own flat in Upper Tulse Hill, South London. However, in November 1947 they moved again to 42 Newbury Gardens, Stoneleigh (just north of Epsom), which was bought for them by Hazel’s mother. In February 1948 their only child, Anthony Bernard St John Webb, was born. They continued to live at Newbury Gardens, occasionally holidaying in Bognor, Bincombe (Weymouth), or taking a caravan holiday. Bernard left the family home in December 1956. She worked at Linwood Strong opticians for a time, and then for the Blood Transfusion Service. In September 1958 she and young Anthony moved to nearby 6 Chelwood Close. In the early 1960s Hazel worked at Mass X-ray in Worcester Park as the medical director’s secretary, and in 1967 went to Epsom College as school secretary.

On Burns Night in 1972 she met Thomas Picking (pictured left) on a blind date. They married on 14th October 1972, and lived at Tilt House, Cobham. They often holidayed in Europe (especially France and Italy), South Africa, New England, as well as England and Scotland. Tom was a DIY man “par excellence” and could do anything, and collected everything conceivable for his enormous workshop. Hazel drove a bus for a local company for a few years, and both she and Tom spent at least 20 years as volunteers as Painshill Park; an 18th century park of great importance. They were both team leaders and did every job going. Tom particularly gave talks on The Park and on the Grand Tour. Hazel and Tom gave many parties, still Scottish country danced, and enjoyed 37 very happy years together. In March 2005 they downsized to East Horsley. Thomas Picking died at East Horsley on 22nd September 2009, aged 86.

Hazel presented 2 children to Christ’s Hospital as a Donation Governor. She had her 100^th Birthday on 17^th Jan 2025 and had a great party at her home. She faded soon after, as some folks do after a momentous occasion, and died on Valentines Day 14^th Feb 2025.