Chapter 6 Cowton

	David - Marion - Beverly - John - Andrew - Stephen

	Around 1952 John Richard Cowton (the 9th child of William Sellers Cowton and Dorothy Simpson) and Marion Ditchburn (the 2nd child of Charles Ernest Ditchburn and Maggie Bean) met at the old Londesborough Picture House in Main Street, Scarborough, (now Westborough).

John was on leave from Egypt, where he was in the Army doing his National Service.

He returned to Egypt to finish his service, finally returning home in 1955.

John and Marion married on the 24th of September 1955.

George Cowton - John - Marion - Olive Pollard-Weaver- Charlie Ditchburn	John - Marion - Dorothy Read	- Madge Cowton

Before his time in the Army, John had worked for a Mr Corney who owned a Market Garden just up the road from his mother’s house in East Ayton.

After returning home from Egypt he worked for one summer season at a shop in Cayton Bay called ‘Fewsters’ and then went back to working at Corney’s Nurseries full time.

John and Marion lived for about a year at 107 Seamer Road, Scarborough, with Marion’s Aunty Evelyn, before moving to 32 Queen Street, Scarborough, where they were employed as Caretakers to ‘Bedwell, Hoyle, Swails and Lancaster’, Solicitors.

In September 1960 they moved to 28 Dale Edge, Eastfield.

Between 1956 and 1963 John and Marion had the following children:-

David John born 1956

Andrew Richard born 1959

Stephen Paul born 1960

Beverley Anne born 1963

They were all christened and baptised at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Scarborough.

Mr Corney died in 1970 and John went into partnership with his friend Billy Braviner.

Together they bought Corney’s Nurseries. They ran the business until 1984, building up a reputation for fine quality plants and flowers.

They were especially busy at Christmastime making thousands of Christmas wreaths and crosses, which were much sought after by flower shops and retailers all over the Scarborough area.

In 1972 the family moved to Eastfield.

Around 1982, Andrew, having previously worked for ‘Quarton’s Fruit and Veg’ in Scarborough, opened his own greengrocers shop at Musham Bank in Eastfield, and sold produce from Corney’s Nurseries.

Unfortunately, rising costs and mounting pressure from bigger ‘Garden Centres’ eventually caused the closure of both the shop and the Nurseries.

John and Marion were extremely proud of their garden and in 1994 they were the first winners of The Eastfield Garden Competition.

John worked at Beaumont Industries in Eastfield
from 1985 until he retired in 1999 aged 65.

He died suddenly on the 22nd March 2000
whilst in Scarborough Hospital
undergoing treatment for Lung Cancer,
cause of death being given as heart failure.

He was cremated at Scarborough
and his ashes were spread over his beloved garden.

Marion worked at McCain’s factory in Eastfield from 1984 until she retired in 1999 aged 64.
At the time of writing, Marion is still living in Eastfield..

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