She was born at Hargrave, 15 April 1898, a daughter of Ernest Albert Pettit and Annie formerly Challis.
Florence Kate's early childhood was spent at Shardelows Farm, New England Lane, Cowlinge. She went to school at Cowlinge, sometimes on foot and sometimes by goat cart. The goat was tethered on the grass verge until the return journey.
She was in service to a Miss Golding, at Newmarket and then married Sidney Cutter (born 24 April 1892 at Little Abington, Cambs), 7 July 1921, at All Saints, Newmarket. Florence and Sidney had met at Newmarket Station. Her brother, John was returning to France after leave during WW1 and she was seeing him off. His friend in the Suffolk Regiment, Sidney Cutter was also returning and so they met. Sidney was taken prisoner and interned in Germany and Florence wrote to him.
After their marriage they lived at Little Abington, Cambs, where their first daughter was born and then moved to Chesterfield, eventually settling about 1928 at Ingmanthorpe Farm, Cutthorpe. Two further children were born. The farm was rented and about 42 acres in extent.
Sidney died from cancer on 24 June 1972 at 1, Rosene Cottages, Cutthorpe, where they had been rehoused after the farm house had been found to be too damp to live in and where he had been living for about 18 months. He is buried at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Old Brampton, Derbyshire.
Florence continued to live at 1, Rosene Cottages until she was unable to look after herself. She then lived with her daughter in Chesterfield. Florence died from cancer on Ascension Day, 25th May 1995 aged 97y 1m. She was buried, 31st May, with her husband, at Old Brampton.
Posted December 2016