Minnie Price – Thanks for everything

Minnie Price could so easily have slipped out of the pages of history. As a single woman she left no children to tell her story, but she did leave someone who remembered her with affection and made sure the world knew of their gratitude.

In loving memory of

Minnie Price

who died 7th March 1959 aged 91

God Bless You

Thanks for everything

Minnie was born on July 19, 1867 the daughter of John Price, a pudler in the GWR Rail Mills, and his wife Mary. By 1881 13 year old Minnie was out at work, employed by James Chisholm Wilson, a grocer with premises at 72 Regent Street. James’s wife Jane had recently given birth and young Minnie was employed as a nurse to care for both mother and child.

Minnie continued to live a life in service and in 1911 she was working as a housekeeper and recorded as a visitor at Richard Smith’s home in Didcot. Visiting with her was 10 year old Clifford Eugene Price. Clifford was born on November 19, 1900. He can be found on the 1901 census living in Barry – the 5 month old son of Arthur Price and his wife Jane. Arthur Price was Minnie’s elder brother.

The 1911 census finds Arthur back in Swindon and living with his father at 68 Curtis Street. Widower John Price is 82 years of age, a retired labourer who has several boarders living with him. Arthur is 49 years of age, also a widower and in 1911 has no job. He died in 1926 but cannot be found in the Radnor Street Cemetery burial registers.

In 1915 Clifford Eugene Price is also living in Swindon when he began work as a Machine Boy in the GWR Works Loco factory. By 1917 he was working as an engine cleaner and in 1918 he was a fireman, well on his way to becoming a loco driver. From July to September 1938 he was employed as ‘acting driver.’ At the time of the 1939 census he was living at 68 Curtis Street with Minnie and he states that he was working as a Loco Engine Driver. But by 1946 his mental health had taken a downward turn. His employment records reveal that at his regular annual medical examinations he suffered from ‘neurosis’, ‘nervousness’ and ‘nervous exhaustion’.

Clifford lived with Minnie for most of his life and I feel sure that he was the person who chose those words on her gravestone.

God Bless You

Thanks for everything

Minnie died at her home 48 Euclid Street and was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on March 11, 1959. She shares this plot with her mother Mary, who died in 1900 and her father John, who died in 1920.

Clifford died at 48 Euclid Street on July 21, 1972. He is not buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.

This gravestone, recently cleared by one of our cemetery volunteers, has saved the story of both Minnie Price and her nephew Clifford.

Our cemetery volunteer has returned and completed the clear up of Minnie Price’s grave.