Frank Morris – bowls player

The re-imagined story …

So, Mr Morris has died. I remember Mr. Morris.

It’s years since I’ve been to the Bowls Club. As a nipper I used to go regularly, most summer Sunday afternoons, with my dad. I used to enjoy the escape from my Granny’s house. Granny was a devout Primitive Methodist, which I didn’t object to – except on a Sunday. Then it was all prayers and meetings and no hot dinner. I don’t know how we managed to escape – my dad and me.

Dad was one of the first members when the bowls club was formed in 1912 – before the Great War. He was one of the many men who never came home and afterwards I had no desire to see the place where we had enjoyed so many summer Sunday afternoons. All those prayers Granny offered up came to nothing after all.

These days people tend to think of bowls as a game for old men, but my dad wasn’t an old man. He didn’t get to enjoy that luxury.

Perhaps I should get myself down there – to the bowls club – just for old times sake.

Death of Mr F. Morris

A Former Town Gardens Bowls Captain

Mr Frank Morris at one time a popular member of the Swindon Town Gardens Bowling Club, died on Saturday after a long illness at the home of his wife’s parents, 15 Prospect, Swindon.

He came to Swindon 16 years ago as manager of Pearks Stores and was associated with the Town Gardens club for many years, being captain in 1924.

Seven years ago he left Swindon for Redruth to take up a managerial position and after a year or so was transferred to Torquay.

Ill health overtook him and he returned to Swindon at the beginning of this year and was confined to his bed for most of that time. He leaves a widow.

A large congregation attended the funeral service at the Swindon Parish Church on Wednesday afternoon.

The first portion of the service was conducted by the Rev. H. Spence. The interment took place in Radnor street cemetery. The grave was lined with mauve and white chrysanthemums.

The chief mourners were Mrs F.J. Morris (widow), Mrs E. Ackerman, Mrs A. Tanner and Mrs A. Walker (sisters), Mr Alf Morris (brother), Mrs E. Morris and Mrs L. Morris (sisters-in-law), Mr and Mrs John Caudle (father-in-law and mother in-in-law) Mr and Mrs C Hope (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) Mr and Mrs Len Caudle (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) Mr and Mrs Fred Jones (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) Mrs W. Caudle (aunt), Mr and Mrs J.J. Carey (uncle and aunt), Mr Tom Neville and Mr Will Neville (uncles) Mr Geo. Neville and Miss D. Bennett (cousins), Mr A.H. Paget, chief inspector (representing Messrs Pearks Ltd.) Mr Swan (branch manager), Miss M. Hope, Mr G. Hope, Mr. Geo Heath and Mr T. Vallance.

North Wilts Herald, Friday December 16, 1932.

Francis Josiah Morris, aged 42, was buried on December 14, 1932 in grave plot D1081 which he shares with his first wife, Alice Maud Morris, who died in 1918.