This is the story of Harry Woolford, born in Swindon the son of Robert and Matilda Woolford. When I first saw the name I wondered if he might be a member of the Lydiard Tregoze/Purton family in whom I have an interest.
In 1901 Harry aged 26 lived at 13 Jennings Street with his mother, her second husband Thomas Bailey, his three Woolford brothers and a 9 year old half brother, Alfred Bailey.
On that day in January 1903 Harry left his home in Rodbourne to begin work in the railway factory as usual. But that day he met with a fatal accident.
Fatal Accident in Swindon
Man killed in the GWR Works
This morning a sad accident occurred in the GWR Works, by which a young man named Harry Woolford, residing in Jennings Street, Rodbourne Road, Swindon, lost his life.
The deceased, who is a single man, was employed as a labourer in the Mason’s Yard, under Mr Dougall Clark. Whilst attending some machinery, we believe, oiling it, his right arm became caught, and had it not been for the ready assistance of some of his mates who were standing near, he would probably have been drawn in and crushed badly. As it was, his arm was sadly injured, and the loss of blood was so great that he died almost immediately.
A message was sent to London Street, and Dr. G. Rodway Swinhoe and Dr. Pattison were soon on the spot, but their medical knowledge was of no avail. His body was removed to the GWR Medical Fund Mortuary shortly after to await an inquest, which will probably [be] held tomorrow.
Swindon Advertiser, Tuesday, January 6, 1903.
Harry was buried in graveplot B1328, a public grave, once called a pauper’s grave, reserved for those families who could not afford to buy their own, private plot. He was buried with his father, Robert Woolford, who had died 15 years previously and Georgina Hatton, an 86 year old widow who died in 1913.
As was the custom in this cemetery, the grave lay unmarked and undisturbed for 50 years.
Then in 1963 there was a terrible accident in Park South where two little girls were struck by a school bus and killed.
Friends and neighbours, the two families wanted their daughters to be buried side by side. Julia Ann Barnes parents bought plot B1329 and Dawn Maria Rose’s bought plot B1328.
No longer a neglected, pauper’s grave, the two families erected a fine, identical memorial on each of their daughters’s graves. The Radnor Street Cemetery volunteers keep these graves tidy and Cheryl, Gina and Angie Phillips lay flowers in the little girls’ memory.
This is the story of Harry Woolford who died in an industrial accident in the railway works and Julie Ann and Dawn, two little friends who died returning home from school.
Radnor Street Cemetery 