William Edwin Morris – a man of inexhaustible energy

Newspaper proprietor William Edwin Morris, eldest son of Advertiser founder William Morris, lived at Frampton Villa, home to this branch of the Morris family for more than twenty years.

Like his father William Edwin was at the forefront of Swindon society involved in various commercial and public duties.  William had worked on his father’s newspaper for more than twenty years before becoming Town Surveyor, a position he held for another twenty years. 

A man of apparently inexhaustible energy, William served on both the New and Old Swindon Local Boards.  He was a member of the School Board for Rodbourne Cheney and a member of the Highway Board until its abolition in 1894.  One of the first members of the Swindon Volunteer Fire Brigade, William served as Captain of the Brigade for more than twenty years.  A Freemason, a Forester and an Oddfellow, William was also a member of the Wilts Rifle Volunteers and a life governor of Swindon Victoria Hospital. 

Death of Mr W.E. Morris, of Swindon

The death took place on Tuesday, in last week at his residence, at Frampton Villa, Devizes road, Swindon, after a prolonged and painful illness, of Mr. William Edwin Morris. The deceased gentleman, who was born on March 28^th, 1848, in Swindon, was the eldest son of the late Mr William Morris, and at an early age entered the printing business carried on by his father, in which he took a part until 1880, when he was appointed surveyor to the Old Swindon Urban District Council. He was for several years a member of that Council, and resigned in order to undertake the duties of the surveyorship. He was also a member of the New Swindon Local Board up to the time that its place was taken by the Urban District Council. He was a member of the Rodbourne School Board previous to the absorption of Rodbourne into the Swindon School Board district, and held a seat on the old Highway Board.

Together with the late Mr William Affleck, Mr Morris was instrumental in forming the Swindon Fire Brigade, he was captain for a number of years, and in that capacity took part in many Lord Mayors’ Shows. An ardent Volunteer, the deceased gentleman for a long time held the rank of Sergeant in the Old Swindon Corps, and was one of the best and most successful shots in the detachment.

He was one of the early members of the Gooch Lodge of Freemasons, and held the post of first Grand Master of the “Castle” Lodge of Odd Fellows, being also Secretary of the Lodge for some time. He was a liberal subscriber to the Victoria Hospital, the Horticultural Society, and many other organisations, and took a warm interest in everything that affected the welfare of the town of Swindon, with which he had been so closely identified all his life.

He married in 1876 a daughter of Mr George Summers, of Romsey, and has had 13 children, of whom ten survive, with the widow, to mourn his loss. Mr Morris’ health has been a serious cause for solicitude to his family for a considerable time past, and some months ago he took a trip to Morocco and the Canaries. He returned very little if anything the better for the holiday, and a visit to Scotland was similarly disappointing in its results. His condition gradually grew worse, and he had been confined to his room practically since Christmas. On Tuesday he passed suddenly, but peacefully away.

The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon amidst every sign of respect. At the parish church the first portion of the service was conducted by the Rev. Prebendary W.B. Pitt, rector of Lydington, Wilts, who officiated at the graveside in the cemetery. The mourners included Messrs. W. Summers Morris, M.F. Morris, G.S. Morris, and S.H. Morris (sons), S.P. Morris, E.J. Morris, and F.A. Morris (brothers), John Morris, Dover, (uncle), Sydney Watmore (Hampton Hill), F.W. Watmore (Portsmouth), S.E.C. Price (Teddington), and W. Willes (cousins), E.E. Morris (nephew), W.E. Smith, and A.H. Walters (brothers-in-law). Besides these, there were some 20 members of the Fire Brigade in full-dress uniform. Deceased had been captain of the Brigade for over 20 years, and had only recently resigned. A large number of the “Swindon Advertiser” employes, of which firm deceased was senior partner, and a goodly number of the tradesmen of the town, also attended. The floral tributes included many beautiful wreaths from sympathising friends.

The Wiltshire Advertiser Thursday, May 1, 1902.

William Edwin Morris died on April 22, 1902 at the aged of 54.  He was buried on April 24, in grave plot E7951. He is buried with his wife Bessie who died in 1939 and their daughter Nellie who died in 1958.

William’s modest, somewhat neglected, kerbstone grave marker is in stark contrast to that of his father’s in the churchyard at Christ Church.