Born Annie Dean on the 16th June 1899, the birth
being registered during the September quarter 1899
in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/164, the eldest
daughter of Charles Frank Whittic & Ann Dean (nee
Barker).   Baptised at St. John's P.C. on the 9th
August 1899.  Her parents listed as residing at 41
Moss Lane, Altrincham and her father's occupation
- Beerhouse Keeper.

1901 Census - 35 Moss Lane, Altrincham - The
"Bridge Inn".      Daughter - aged: 1 - born:
Altrincham.   Head of household - Frank  Dean -
Married - aged: 28 - occ: Manager of Beerhouse -
born: Gloucester.     Also - Ann Dean - Wife -
aged: 27 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 2 aunts.

1911 Census - 35 Moss Lane, Altrincham - The
"Bridge Inn".      Daughter - aged: 11 - born:
Altrincham.   Head of household - Charles F.W.
Dean - Married - aged: 38 - occ: Bar & Wine
Retailer - born: Gloucester.     Also - Ann Dean -
Wife - aged: 37 - born: Altrincham.   Plus 1
younger sister and 2 bar staff.

Her father - Charles Frank Whittc Dean died in the
spring of 1921, aged: 49.

1921 Census - Bridge Inn, Moss Lane, Altrincham.  
 Daughter - aged: 22 - occ: At Home.  Head of
household - Ann Dean - Widow - aged: 49 - occ:
Innkeeper Manager.  Plus a younger sisiter and 1
Boarder and 1 domestic servant.

The Bridge Inn was demolished at the beginning of
2012.

Married Fred Ardern at St. John's P.C. on the 7th
February 1923, the marriage being registered
during the March quarter 1923 in the Bucklow R.D.
- ref: 8a/254.    Fred was a 23 year old bachelor,
a joiner by trade and was residing at the School
House, Elsworth, Cheshire.   Annie a 23 year old
spinster of 43 Oxford Road, Altrincham.       Fred
died during the June quarter 1937, aged: 37.

Annie, then married Ronald Vernon Clark during the
June quarter 1940 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref:
8a/711.    Ronald was an Engineer/Miller, born on
the 18th January 1912.   In 1939, he was residing
at 8 Laurel Drive, Altrincham..

1939 National Registration - 89 Oakfield Road,
Altrincham.   Annie Ardern - Widow - born: 16th
June 1899 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.  John
Russell - Single - born: 13th August 1914 - occ:
Policeman.

Annie volonteered to serve in the Womens Voluntary
Services at the start of the War.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of
the "Manchester Blitz", a bomb fell on the corner
of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying four houses and killing 12 civilians. 

Annie was killed at 89 Oakfield Road, Altrincham. 
Her CWD Ref No. 4 - states that she had been
buried by Masonry - her body was found fully
dressed at 1600hrs, 24/12/1940 it was taken to
A.B. Brookes & Son's Mortuary, Stamford New Road,
Altrincham and Identified by her sister - Nancy
Higginson, 81 Harboro Road West, Ashton on Mersey.
  Buried 30/12/1940 - Burial No. 10,769.

Although not individually named, Annie is one of
the 12 local residents killed at this site and
around the corner on Moss Lane who are
commemorated in the Memorial Garden on the corner
of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local
residents, relatives of the victims and civic
dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at
the memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham,
to the 12 civilians that died when a German bomb
landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago
to the day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a
photographer and a short report of the ceremony
appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their
newspaper.    The Hale, Sale & Altrincham
Independent Newspaper also reported the event in
their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting
feedback from relatives of victims and those
involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event
further and wrote a number of excellent articles
about it and the families involved.   He also
reported about the recent demolition of the nearby
Bridge Inn public house where one of the victims
was raised.    The articles were dated 12th
January, 26th January, 2nd February, 16th
February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information
and personal photographs of a number of the
victims from their families.

Four houses from a terrace of six, were destroyed
in this incident - Nos. 87, 89 & 91 Oakfield Road,
plus the sweet shop on the corner of Oakfield Road
and Moss Lane.    The bodies from No. 91 and the
shop were the last to be recovered at 1.0 pm on
Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road and the shop were sited is now a
Memorial Garden.

CWGC - W.V.S.; of 89 Oakfield Road. Daughter of
the late Charles Frank Whittic Dean and Ann Dean,
of Bridge Inn, Moss Lane; wife of Ronald V. Clark.
Died at Oakfield Road.