Month: December 2021

A special baby

The re-imagined story …

He was a bonny baby – and he was in such a hurry to get here. My pains began in the early hours of the morning and he was here before George left for work. There was barely time to send for my mother.

And he was so quick to do everything. Quick to smile – and oh what a smile that boy had – enough to melt your heart. Quick to sit up. Quick to start crawling.

“That boy is in a hurry to grow up,” said George. “Perhaps I should put his name down for the Works already.” We laughed.

Then one day he seemed different – as if someone had dimmed the light that shone from within. His cheeks developed two pink patches, but it wasn’t a bloom. I’d seen that look before.

That last night I paced the floor with him in my arms until his cry became a whimper. Then I sat in the chair by the window and looked across the darkened rooftops to the Works. I knew he’d gone.

I wondered how I could carry on. Prayers were of little comfort, but perhaps they helped Freddie on his way. In the cold December morning I wondered how the baby Jesus had survived, born in a stable in the middle of winter. I suppose he was a special baby but my Freddie was a special baby too.

We buried Freddie on December 24. I wondered if it was cold in Bethlehem that day, when Mary and Joseph were looking for somewhere to sleep, their baby already on his way. It was bitterly cold in Swindon the day we buried Freddie.

The facts …

Frederick Wm. George died on December 21, 1881 at 21 Sanford Street. He was 9 months old. He was buried on December 24 in plot number E6991, a public grave. After Christmas on December 31st he was joined by Minnie Elizabeth Purnell, a one year old infant from 19 Oriel Street. The two babies would lie together for more than 20 years until Matilda Pound, the wife of Thomas Pound from 44 Avenue Road joined them.

Access to Gilbert’s Hill School

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, September 10, 1881.

Gilbert’s Hill School – A letter was read from the mistress of the Gilbert’s Hill School pointing out that the making of the cemetery would cut off one of the principal roads by which her children came to school, and asking that some arrangement should be made for allowing children to pass through the cemetery at certain times during the day. – It was decided to send the letter to the Burial Board.

Swindon School Board. – fortnightly meeting

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, July 30, 1881.

The next question considered was one of considerable importance to the children attending the Gilbert’s hill School and the welfare of that school. When the new Cemetery was laid out a member of the Cemetery Committee pointed out to his fellow committee men that unless the bottom fence was set back four or five feet so as to allow of a footpath being formed the district known as Kingshill would be entirely severed from the town, and the new schools could only be reached by a long circuitous route. The answer this member received was that the committee had nothing to do with footpaths, and that the public must look after themselves. The Board finding that their scholars were not allowed to use the old track through the Cemetery ground, wrote to the Burial Board and asked them to allow the children use of the footpath as heretofore, in reply to which the Board wrote stating that they had considered the application and while they would have been glad, if possible, to accommodate the School Board, they could not see their way clear to do so. – The Board considered the question at some length, and it was suggested that the Clifton-street children were sent to the Westcott street schools, but it was pointed out that those schools were already crowded.- The Board saw many difficulties arising from the closing of the road, and a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Rev H.G. Baily and Rev J. Chew, was appointed to further consider the matter, and report thereon.

School Board fortnightly meeting

The Swindon Advertiser, Monday, August 29, 1881.