Tom Butler was born in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire in the summer of 1856. By 1881 he had moved to Swindon and was working at premises at 81 Regent Street for master cabinet maker William Pooles. He would later have his own business and an elegant house on Victoria Road named after his birthplace.
In 1883 he married Mary Ann Turner at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on Bath Road. The couple had seven children, of whom five survived childhood.
The couple were devout Methodists and both played prominant roles in the church and public life in Swindon generally. Tom was elected to the Town Council in 1903 and served as Mayor in 1910/11 an auspicious year in which the coronation of George V took place and Tom’s much loved wife died suddenly.
The Late Mr T. Butler
Funeral of One of Swindon’s Most Prominent Citizens
All Sections of Public Represented
The very high regard in which the late Mr Tom Butler, ex-Mayor of Swindon, was held by all sections of the public was eloquently reflected on Saturday in the scenes that attended his funeral. From an early hour in the afternoon many people gathered in the sunlit Cemetery to witness the last phase of the passing of a noteworthy man, and long before the service was due to start the Faringdon Street Wesley Chapel was filled.
The funeral service was impressively conducted by the Rev J. Rogers (superintendent minister), who paid glowing tribute to Mr Butler’s work in the town. Mr Butler came to Swindon, said Mr Rogers, in 1878. He became a teacher at Wesley Church the same year, and after a break of some years, resumed the work in 1887. Most of them were familiar with the main incidents of his public life; he built up a prosperous business and made a competence. No aspersion had been cast upon his character or methods; he was a man of honour and integrity. There were certain dates prominent in his career which the speaker wished to recall. In 1886 he was converted, and by definite and intelligent choice made Christ the Lord of his life. To the vows then made he remained faithful. His experience of religion was real and vivid, and he was always earnest, warm-hearted and generous. In 1887 he entered the school as a teacher, in 1888 he became treasurer to the Sunday School and in 1889 he was appointed superintendent, remaining in office until his health broke down. He relinquished the office in 1914. Mr Butler was a trustee of that church and was a liberal supporter of its funds. He helped very materially in the erection of the monumental Sunday School premises, while as Circuit Steward he discharged his duties with urbane and faithful efficiency. His life of usefulness and devotion had its source in mystic fellowship with God. He was loyal to the work in the days of his activity. They all knew what Mr Butler was to the community, but they did not know what he was to that church.
Referring to Mr Butler’s public life, Mr Rogers reminded them that he was elected to the Town Council in 1903 and held office as Mayor in 1910-1911. During that year he suffered a bereavement from which he never fully recovered.
“Servant of God! Well done,” concluded Mr. Rogers, and the fervent murmurs of the congregation was an endorsement of his eulogy.
North Wilts Herald, Friday, October 20, 1922. (extracts)
Tom Butler was buried in grave plot A1033 where he lies with his wife Mary Ann who died in 1911 and their two young children, Hilda Mary who died aged 6 years in 1898 and Denis Stanley a 3 month old baby who died in 1899.
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