Clara Eliza Ann Bland

About MISS CLARA BLAND: in 1871, Clara was 8 & living with her family in Park RD at Monteon Villa, outside Croydon. Her father was a manufacturer of Church clocks; her mother Frances was 8 years younger & had been born in Brighton. Clara had an elder sister, Rosetta born in Wimbledon & both she & Clara are scholars. The youngest is Charles E E Bland , who is only one year old. The family has two servants in April 1871, while there are also two visitors: Henry Bland (29). Stock Broker and Alfred Bland (27) Stock Jobber, both born in London. Are they younger brothers of Charles Bland's perhaps? In 1881, the family has grown much larger, & Clara is 18 years old, but has no occupation. The family are living at 31 St Saviour's Road, Croydon. Rosetta is 20 & still at home. In addition there are five brothers at home. In 1891, Clara is 28 and single, and she is living with her family at Southfield Lodge, High Road, Streatham, London. No doubt she was a prolific reader & probably she watched the various personalities around her with a humorous awareness of human foibles & oddities.

;:" 40 years resident in Brighton; Funeral of Miss Clara Bland: the funeral took place at Hove Cemetery yesterday afternoon of Miss Clara E A Bland, who died in a Hove Nursing Home on 4th February, aged 72 years. The Rev. A Dunstan, Curate of the Hove parish Church officiated. Miss Bland had lived in Brighton for 40 years, and for the last few years had resided at the Blenheim Hotel. The principal mourners were Mr Charles Bland (brother), Mr and Mrs Robert Henderson-Bland, Mr and Mrs Stanley Evans, Mrs Green (Cousin), Mrs Kilner, Mrs Arthur Hamilton, Mrs Northcott and Mr J H Penfold (also representing the directors of the Blenheim Hotel) Flowers were sent by: Bob and Maud, Dolly and Charles, Spencer and Mary, Marjorie and Ted, Winifred and Marjorie; Maggie and Gerald, Laurie and Jack; Leo and family, Rosetta and Stanley, Arthur and Lulu: Vera and Holly; The employees at Ellesmere; Laurie, Mrs Henry J Evans; Kitty and Winnie ; a few of the residents of the Blenheim Hotel; Mrs F A Prince Davis; Major & Mrs A Cecil Ticehurst; Mrs Coleman; the Directors and staff of the Blenheim Hotel; G A Harrison; Mr & Mrs F G Coleman; Percy and Doolie; Mrs Robert Howland and Maud & Nora E Wainpril, Evelyn Jackson; Mrs Herbert Price; Mr & Mrs W G Payne and Miss Winifred Hurstone-Jones. [Extract from paper, undated with photo}