People - Susan Hyland

During a conversation with Barry Sturgeon he related a story from his childhood of a woman from the village who was always in a hurry and was always walking very fast in a determined manner. The children would try and walk with her but they could never keep up. She was subsequently given the nickname 'Walk Faster'.   At about the same time we had this conversation I received a donation of old photographs and newspaper cuttings from Graham Chantler, and amongst this collection was the article below. This was forwarded to Barry Sturgeon and his comments follow the cutting. Her death in 1960 at the age of 72 suggests she was born around 1888 and was about 26 - 30 when she lost her husband. We suspect the author was Frank Chapman (author of Tales of Old Tunbridge Wells). A copy of the newspaper cutting is lower down this page.                                                                                                                                   Tony Nicholls

I was most surprised about the attachment re “Walk Faster" as we as kids called her. I didn't realise someone out there knew so much about her as we never heard anything apart from local rumours. The article mentions a vicar from Canada. Our Vicar,  when we were kids, was Rev Wiswell who as it happens was Canadian. The whole article was very sad.  I sent a copy to Dick Kirkham who like myself saw her quite a lot, but not to speak to. She was always moving quickly. You could hear her coming as she wore heavy boots (well worn) and had no time for talking.  I always thought she lived somewhere along Romford Road.  She walked from that direction and then along Henwood Green Road, up Canterbury Road, pretty well the same time each day. I assume she then went to Hastings Road and onwards to Tunbridge Wells station.                                                                                                                                                         Barry Sturgeon The following data is from Jane Grooms after some additional research - Susan was born Susan Wickenden on the 23 August 1888 in Wadhurst. Her father was John Wickenden and her mother was Frances Nye. She married Ernest Edward Hyland on 26 December 1908. They had two children, Ernest Edward Hyland born 1910 and Millicent A. Hyland born 1914 both registered in Ticehurst, Sussex. The 1911 census shows Susan, her husband (a farm labourer) and son plus a lodger living at Holbeam Wood, Whiligh, Sussex. Military records show that Ernest Edward Hyland was in the Royal West Kent Regiment (Queen's own). The article attached (below) outlines the tragedies in Susan's life. Unfortunately, I have no access to Canadian records but there is one source that suggests Ernest died on the 21 June 1923 in Wentworth, Ontario. Her probate record shows her living at 158 Henwood Green Road, Pembury, Kent.  Administration was given to Alice Wickenden. Jane Grooms The Kent & Sussex Courier  9 Dec 1960