Frederick George Wright’s grave is surmounted by a magnificent monument. The obituary published in the North Wilts Herald was fulsome, his reputation lived on long after his death. Yet he lies alone in the grave plot in Radnor Street Cemetery, which seems a little sad.
I wanted to discover more about the women in his life, but apart from the basic officialdom there is little to learn.
His first wife Minnie Florence Matthews was born in 1862 at White Cross, Hereford, the daughter of accountant William Matthews and his wife Mary Anne. At the time of the 1881 census she was living with her widowed mother and her brother Thomas at 7 Edgar Street, Hereford where she states her occupation as ‘governess.’ Minnie married Frederick at St Mary’s Church, Cheltenham where she gives her address as 3 Promenade, Cheltenham. The couple had two daughters, Amy Florence Hughes Wright born in 1885 and Margaret Evelyn Houghton Wright in 1894. Minnie died on October 16, 1920.
In the December quarter of 1921 Frederick married Violet Dorothy Hamilton Cordon. Violet was born on July 7, 1891 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire the daughter of Walter Cordon, a Colliery Proprietor and Sanitary Pipe Manufacturer, and his wife Hannah. Violet trained as a nurse, gaining her certificate at Queen Mary’s Hospital for the East End in Stratford, London in 1918. In the year following Frederick’s death she was living at 12 Okus Road, Swindon. Violet died on October 19, 1976 at the Sceats Memorial Home in Gloucester.
Both Frederick’s two wives and his two unmarried daughters are buried elsewhere.
But now for Frederick’s story?
Loss to Public Life of Swindon
Death of Major F.G. Wright: former Mayor of the Town
The death at his home in Bath-road, Swindon, in the early hours of yesterday morning, of Major Frederick George Wright, J.P., at the age of 75, has taken from public life one who for more than half a century had actively associated himself with a wide variety of interest affecting the welfare of the borough and of the county.
He had been in failing health for several years, but maintained a courageous front, and almost up to the very last his indomitable spirit remained uppermost. His advanced age was against him, however, and about two o’clock yesterday morning he succumbed to a heart attack.
Since 1936 Major Wright had, under medical advice, gradually been relinquishing some of his public work, and his personal interest had already been missed in many quarters.
Service with the GWR
An engineer by profession, he applied his knowledge to great advantage in the public interest during the war.
Born in Birmingham, Major Wright was educated at Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester, and privately. Entering the service of the GWR Company as an apprentice in the locomotive shops at Gloucester in 1876 under his father, he was moved to Bristol in 1879.
Three years later he was transferred to the Drawing Office at Swindon, and became Chief Draughtsman in 1892.
Four years later he was appointed Assistant Manager of the Locomotive Works, and in 1901 became Principal Assistant to the Chief Mechanical Engineer, from which office he retired in July, 1932, after 19 years’ service.
Major Wright, who had lived in Swindon for 56 years, was a member of the New Swindon Urban Council, and was its last chairman.
Until quite recently he was an Alderman of the Town Council and was Swindon’s third Mayor. He became a magistrate in 1906.
A member of the old Volunteer Corps, he received his commission in the 2nd Battalion of the Wilts Regiment in July 1900. On the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, he was instrumental in raising from the GWR Works the Fortress Company of the Royal Engineers. From 1912-17 he was Major commanding the Dorset and Wilts (Fortress) Royal Engineers, T.F., and was in the Territorial Force Reserve from 1917 to 1921, retiring in October, 1921, with the rank of Major.
Medical Fund Trustee
The oldest vice-president and trustee of the GWR Medical Fund Society, Major Wright had been a trustee of the Sick Fund Society for 55 years, while he also accomplished valuable work for the Mechanics Institution. In regard to the latter movement his deep practical interest found expression in connection with the library, and he effected many economies in the purchase of books.
Serving on the County Council before the war, he was re-elected after his retirement and became an Alderman in 1934, but retired three years later.
A Conservative and a Churchman he was for 13 years churchwarden at St. Paul’s, Swindon, and was a past president of the Swindon and North Wilts branch of the former English Church Union. He was one of the oldest members of the Swindon Rotary Club.
Major Wright was also chairman and managing director of the Swindon United Gas Company, chairman of the Swindon United Gas Company, chairman of the Swindon and District Gas Corporation Ltd., and chairman of the New Swindon Permanent Benefit Building Society. From its inception until 1937 he was a member of the Territorial Force Association, and was a member of the Swindon Area Guardians Committee.
Gas Company Chairman
In later years his chief interest was as chairman of the Swindon United Gas Company, of which he had been a director for 25 years, with a break during the war.
Outstanding, perhaps, in the constructive influence that he brought to bear in his public work, was his constant interest in the County Roads and Bridges Committee, of which he was vice-chairman. It may be claimed that as a result of his efforts nearly all the roads from Swindon to the County boundaries were reconstructed. He too, actively championed the move that resulted in Swindon obtaining greatly increased representation on the County Council.
He leaves a widow (his second wife) and two daughters by his first wife – Miss Margaret Wright of 12 Okus-road, Swindon, and Miss Amy Wright.
Members of Swindon Rotary Club stood in silent tribute to Major F.G. Wright at the beginning of their lunch yesterday.
Before the business of the Swindon Borough Police Court yesterday, the chairman, Mr. F. Eyres announced Major Wright’s death. The Bench wished to place on record its regret at his passing.
North Wilts Herald, Friday, 8 April, 1938.
Radnor Street Cemetery 