Story
Ida’s parents were Arthur Toft (1879-1956) and Ellen Metcalfe (1881-1921). Before and in the early part of the war, Ida worked alongside her niece Nellie and her best friend Doris, at Prentice’s Electronics and Engineering, Progress Works, which was situated on Gelderd Road, near Elland Road football ground, Leeds. Prentice’s manufactured fuseboards and switchgear, under the names Prentix and Prento. Ida, Nellie and Doris used to travel from their homes just outside Castleford, into Leeds, then out to the works, which could be a problem in bad weather and during the blackouts. Nellie’s brother, Bill recalls that they bought some material and made their own gym clothes for the gym class held at the works once a week after work.
Ida and Doris later worked at Greenwood and Batley Ltd, Mechanical Engineers and Machine Tool Manufacturers, Albion Works on Armley Road, Leeds. Greenwood and Batley switched to manufacturing munitions such as 303 bullet Cartridges. Ida worked there as an inspector. In 1944, after the works were damaged by incendiary bombs hitting the roof, Ida and Doris volunteered to work in Leicester. On their arrival they were met by the Women’s Voluntary Service who took them by car to their billet, owned by a woman who had a son in the navy and two daughters at home.
Whilst in Leicester, Ida carried out precision work salvaging and repairing Auster reconnaissance planes (pictured below) and Tiger Moths flown by Polish airmen. These aircraft had been damaged in action and had managed to limp home. Often the interior of the aircraft bore marks showing that pilot and crew had been injured or worse.
Ida married Roy Hodgetts in 1946 whilst he was still serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. They went on to have a son and daughter, who live in Kippax.
Ida and Doris remained firm friends until Ida passed away in 1965 after a long illness. Thanks are extended to I’m very grateful to Bill and Doris for helping to fill in these details of Ida’s war years.
Wedding of Ida Toft (1918–1965) and Roy Hodgetts (1912–1981)
June 8th 1946
For her wedding Ida wore a new light grey two-piece suit with gloves, hat and shoes in a darker contrasting colour. She borrowed the hat from her niece, Nellie. Roy’s mother, Sarah, had wanted to buy Ida a proper wedding gown, but Ida thought that the two-piece would be more practical and could be worn again, so that’s what she chose.
Ida’s Maid of Honour, Doris, was her best friend who had worked with her throughout the War. Frank, Roy’s Best Man, and Doris, met at the wedding and later became man and wife. The four of them remained life- long friends.
Ida’s mother Ellen had passed away when Ida was only two years-old, so Lizzie, her eldest sister provided the wedding breakfast which followed the ceremony. There was no time to go away on honeymoon as Roy had to return to his barracks, and Ida continued working at Seacroft, whilst she moved in to live with her parents-in-laws, at 151 Park Dale, Airedale, Castleford.
Kippax Roll of Honour 