Edith Whitworth – Mrs Great Heart

The re-imagined story …

It was a stupid thing to do, something I realised immediately. As I furiously pedalled home on the stolen cycle, I wondered what to tell my mum. Should I add to the litany of lies I had already told her or should I dump the cycle and the £5 note in a hedge somewhere?

As it turned out I was spared the dilemma as I had been seen climbing out of the window of a house in Tydeman Street and stealing the cycle – by a police constable.

My poor mum was beside herself with worry and shame. She struggled to raise four unruly sons alone after my dad was killed in the war. Just feeding us and putting clothes on our back was difficult enough without the trouble we kept bringing to her door. But this was the first time the police had been involved.

By the time I appeared at the Police Court we were both quietly resigned that I would end up in juvenile detention.

My mates all commiserated, but in fact it was the most fortunate thing that could have happened to me, and as a result, to my brothers as well.

My mum was heartbroken. She felt she had failed me, failed as a mother. She feared for my future. Borstal was seldom the cure-all for youthful miscreants. More often it set them on the path of a lifelong criminal career.

She was in the court room when I appeared – she looked small and broken, sitting there wringing her handkerchief in her hands.

The court officials all looked as I had expected them to – old, serious and not short of a bob or two. How could they possibly understand my life, the life I lived with my mum and my brothers?

Then I noticed the woman sitting at the solicitor’s table – the only woman, and I guessed that must be pretty unusual in itself. And she was knitting! While the men pontificated and poured derision on me and my family, that woman sat quietly knitting, barely paying attention, or so I thought.

It was Mrs Whitworth who saved me. She saved my mum and gave her the confidence to carry on being the best mum she could to us boys. She gave my brothers a wake up call and saved them as well. And she saved countless other lost boys, not just in Swindon and not just in that time.

She said I was an intelligent boy and I should use that intelligence to help others. I hope I have. Over the years I have sat in court rooms just like that one and looked at boys just like me and I’ve helped give them a second chance. And every time I do so I think of Mrs Whitworth – and her knitting!

The facts …

Edith Dawson and her husband Albert Whitworth were not from this neck of the woods. Both of them came from Lancashire. Albert was born in Rochdale and Edith in Bury, the daughter of John Thomas Dawson, a cotton merchant. In 1881 Edith was living with her widowed father at 129 Manchester Street, Heap.

Edith and Albert married in Bury in 1886 and in 1891 were living in Monmouth. In the 19^th century most people moved to Swindon for a job in the GWR Works, but Albert was not a railway man. By the time the family moved to Swindon he was working as a Tailor and Draper’s Traveller. The couple had eight children and sadly by 1911 two of them had already died.

The family lived first at 109 Dixon Street, then at 112 Dixon Street and at the time of Edith’s death in 1925 they were at 26 Dixon Street.

The census returns of 1901 and 1911 tell us nothing of Edith’s occupation.

So, let’s run through a few of Edith’s accomplishments! From 1908 she served in a role described as ‘lady police court missionary’ later becoming a magistrate in 1921. In the obituary that appeared in the North Wilts Herald she was described as having a ‘broad minded disposition that fitted her eminently for the post’ and that there were ‘many young men and women in the town today who have reason to bless the name of Edith Whitworth.’ During the First World War she was heavily involved with the YMCA and working with the ‘Comfort for Soldiers’ volunteers. She was later awarded the MBE for her wartime work.

After the war Edith Whitworth continued to work with war widows and orphans and was a member of the local War Pensions Committee. She also worked for the welfare of the blind alongside Mr E. Jones who later became Mayor.

Edith Whitworth died at her home in Dixon Street following a short illness. She was 59 years old.

A Social Worker

Death of a Swindon Lady

Mrs. E. Whitworth

After a few days’ illness, Mrs. Whitworth, J.P., M.B.E. of 26 Dixon Street, Swindon, who was one of the best known social workers in Swindon, died on Saturday morning at the age of 59 years. She attended a concert at the Empire Theatre on the previous Sunday in aid of the British Legion’s Christmas tea and entertainment for the fatherless children of ex-service men. Next day she was taken ill, and collapsed whilst making preparations for a journey to London.

Medical assistance was called and Mrs Whitworth was found to be suffering from inflammation of the lungs. On Saturday morning she was found dead in bed by her married daughter, Mrs. Marsh.

Mrs. Whitworth was appointed a magistrate in July, 1921, the honour being conferred upon her, after she had relinquished the post, in recognition of her services as lady police court missionary under the Probation Act. It was in the latter capacity, perhaps, that Mrs. Whitworth was best known. Regularly, for 13 years, from the coming into force of the Probation of Offenders Act in January, 1908, she attended the police courts at Swindon, where, seated at the solicitors’ table, she could be seen industriously applying her knitting needles, but all the time following the cases closely, and there are many young men and women in the town to-day who have reason to bless the name of Edith Whitworth.

Mrs. Whitworth will also be remembered for the valued work which she accomplished during the war. Her activities at the Y.M.C.A. in looking after the comfort of the soldiers were very well known, and after the termination of hostilities they were rewarded by the award to Mrs. Whitworth of the M.B.E.

Since the war, Mrs. Whitworth had devoted a great part of her time to the welfare of widows and fatherless children of Swindon men who made the supreme sacrifice, and as a member of the local War Pensions Committee she rendered much useful service. The women’s section of the British Legion also claimed her interest and attention, and she worked wholeheartedly in co-operation with Mr. E. Jones, J.P., for the welfare of the blind, being one of the Swindon representatives of the Wilts County Association.

In the cause of temperance she was also an ardent worker, while in politics she served for a number of years on the Executive of the local Library Association.

Sympathetic references to the death of Mrs. Whitworth were made at Swindon Borough Police Court on Monday.

The Chairman (Mr. G.H. Marshman) said the Bench had lost a valuable colleague, and one who always did her utmost to help suffering humanity. All would mourn her loss.

The Magistrates’ Clerk said the public had lost a very able, experienced and loving public servant.

The Deputy Chief Constable (Supt. Brooks) associated himself with all that the Chairman and Clerk had said.

The Funeral

The funeral took place on Tuesday. The route of the procession to and from deceased’s late residence was lined with spectators, who stood with bowed heads as the cortege passed.

The Trinity Presbyterian Church, Victoria Road, where the first part of the service was conducted, was filled with a congregation of mourners. The Rev. J.H. Gavin, B.D., conducted the service, and special hymns were sung, “O, God, our help in ages past,” and “Now the labourer’s task is o’er.”

Miss Baden presided at the organ and played the Dead March in “Saul” as the mourners were leaving the church.

In a brief address Mr. Gavin paid feeling tribute to the work which deceased had always identified herself with, and said Mrs. Whitworth was a woman with a great heart. If he had to write a modern version of Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” he would describe Mrs. Whitworth as “Mrs. Great Heart.” She was the friend of widows and orphans of our soldiers who gave their lives in the war, and no-one could number the many acts of kindness on her part during that troublesome time in succouring the depressed and distracted. Ever doing good amongst her fellows, she had now passed to the Great Beyond, where he was sure she would receive the “Come, blessed of My Father.”

The interment took place in the Cemetery in the presence of a large number of people, the Rev. J.H. Gavin again officiating.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, December 18, 1925.

Cemetery volunteers have recently rescued Mrs. Whitworth’s headstone and restored it to it’s correct position on her grave.

The Airspeed Oxford propeller unveiled

The rain clouds parted and the sun made a plucky appearance during our guided walk yesterday when we were delighted to welcome Air Commodore Tony Keeling OBE, Commandant Royal Air Force Air Cadets, to Radnor Street Cemetery.

Following the closure of the RAFA Club in Belle Vue Road the propeller mounted on the front of the building faced an uncertain future. Then a group of concerned Swindonians, among them Carole and David Bent, Neil Robinson, Toby Robson and Graham Carter, stepped in to rescue it.

At Sunday’s event Air Commodore Keeling cut the ribbon and led the assembled visitors into the chapel to view the propeller, now mounted above the door. Cemetery volunteer Kevin, a member of the Eyes On Hands On team, gave an informative talk about the history of the Airspeed Oxford to a packed chapel, as you can see from Andy’s photographs. Then, accompanied by fellow officers and air cadets, Air Commodore Keeling joined us on our walk.

Guest speaker, Paul Gentleman, gave an account of the career of Wing Commander John Starr who is remembered on his brother’s (Squadron Leader Harold Starr) grave. Paul and his wife Caroline along with Noel Beauchamp have been researching the life and times of the two Starr brothers for several years. Paul, Caroline and Noel, in association with Green Rook and Swindon Heritage, organised the Swindon Remembers event to commemorate the Battle of Britain 75^th anniversary held in the cemetery in 2015.

Our visitors at Sunday’s event donated generously to the memorial plaque for Mark Sutton. This will be unveiled at the Remembrance Day Service, an event Mark established many years ago.

Here are some photos of the day captured by Andy and myself.

Charles Smart – Killed in Black-Out

In July 1939, as war became imminent, the Lord Privy Seal’s Office issued a number of Public Information Leaflets. Leaflet No. 2 contained information on ‘Your Gas Mask – How to keep it and How to Use It’ as well as instructions concerning ‘Masking Your Windows’ with the following advice:

In war, one of our great protections against the dangers of air attack after nightfall would be the “black out.” On the outbreak of hostilities all external lights and street lighting would be totally extinguished so as to give hostile aircraft no indication as to their whereabouts. But this will not be fully effective unless you do your part, and see to it that no lighting in the house where you live is visible from the outside. The motto for safety will be “Keep it dark!”

The ‘black out’ was yet another feature of wartime that impacted on everyday life. In the winter of 1940 these difficult conditions and icy winter roads resulted in a road traffic accident and the death of Charles Smart.

Image published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Killed in Black-Out

Inquest on Swindon Man

Against the wishes of his niece who thought the roads too treacherous for him, Mr Charles Smart, aged 68, a retired GWR employee, of 44, Curtis Street, Swindon, went out on Tuesday of last week to the Central Club. On his way home he was in the act of crossing the road when he was knocked down by a Corporation ‘bus receiving injuries from which he died in the GWR Medical Fund Hospital on Saturday night.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by the jury at Tuesday’s inquest, conducted by the Wilts Coroner (Mr Harold Dale), and the driver of the ‘bus William John Snell was exonerated.

Mr Smart’s niece, Mrs Dorothy Kate Critchley, with whom he lived, said her uncle enjoyed good health, hearing and eyesight.

Dr Alister McLean said the cause of death was shock following injury to the brain due to a blow on the head.

Reasonable Speed

Walter Fred J. Ockwell, 10, Milton Road, Swindon said that last Tuesday night about 10 o’clock, he was in Curtis Street and just before reaching Whitehead Street he saw a form in the middle of the road. The form was not moving. When about 30 feet away he shouted to the object. A ‘bus came along but the object did not appear to move until the ‘bus was almost on top of it. As the ‘bus swerved to the right the object moved to the left. The ‘bus was almost in the middle of the road, and was being driven at quite a reasonable speed.

When he reached the spot, the driver and passengers were getting out of the ‘bus. The object proved to be a man lying a little to the centre of the road. It appeared as if the ‘bus had pushed the man forward. Witness said that as the man stood in the road he faced the direction from which the bus came.

Private James Lewis Warburton said he saw Smart leave the pavement and walk towards the centre of the road, where he stood still. He thought Smart was going to stop the bus, and he did not see him slip.

Driver’s Swerve

The bus driver, William John Snell, described it as a very dark night, with bad road conditions. When he first saw the figure in the road it was very close to the bus and well into the road. He immediately applied his brakes and swerved to the offside, but, owing to the condition of the road, the bus slipped along a little further, and the nearside headlamp struck the man, who was wearing dark clothing.

Questioned by his solicitor (Mr S.G.G. Humphreys), Snell said that had Smart remained where he was when he first saw him, the swerve would have avoided him.

The Coroner suggested that it might be that Smart found the road so slippery that he was afraid to move.

Sympathy was extended to the relatives by the Coroner, and by Mr Humphreys on behalf of the Corporation and the driver of the bus.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, 9 February, 1940.

Image published courtesy of the Dixon Attwell Collection, Local Studies, Swindon Central Library

Charles Smart 69 years of 44 Curtis Street died at the GW Hospital and was buried in a public grave, plot C149 on February 8, 1940.

Kenneth Scott-Browne

Kenneth Scott-Browne was a member of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers 7th Battalion. In November 1943 the 7th Battalion was converted into an Airborne Battalion and began training for the planned Normandy landings. During an exercise code named DREME a Stirling towing a Horsa glider carrying No 3 Platoon hit a tree and crashed. Scott-Browne was one of 34 military personnel killed that day in April 1944. His death was registered in Droxford, Hampshire and his body returned to his home at 85 Medgbury Road, Swindon for burial in Radnor Street Cemetery.

VE Day was a time for rejoicing but not for everyone. While the war in Europe had ended the one in Japan would continue for another three months. And what about the families who would never meet again their loved ones.

The Kenneth Scott-Browne’s wartime marriage to Elsie Herbert was a short one. The wedding took place in Swindon in the spring of 1941 and just four years later Elsie was a widow with a toddler, a son named Kenneth Frederick after his two grandfathers. By May 8, 1945 Elsie had remarried. She was still only 25 and had a three year old son to support when she married Leslie Jack Burnett. In 1954 she married for a third time.

Kenneth was buried on April 11, 1944 in Elsie’s Herbert family plot. Elsie outlived both her sons and died at the Kingsmead Nursing Home in Prospect Place, Swindon in May 2005, aged 84. She was buried in plot C4251 with her young, first husband Kenneth.

Nellie May Page – killed in WWII air raid

The cities of London and Bristol were heavily bombed during the Second World War yet Swindon, somewhere in between, went relatively unscathed. Despite its dominance within the railway industry it appears that Swindon was not on the Luftwaffe radar. There is a theory that Hitler was preserving the railway network for when he invaded Britain.

On the night of October 20, 1940 a lone bomber dropped three bombs (two high-explosive and an incendiary bomb) on the town, causing significant damage on Rosebery and Graham Streets in Broad Town. There were 10 confirmed fatalities, including Nellie May Page who lived at 35 Graham Street but was visiting friends in Rosebery Street that fateful night.

Workers’ Houses Wrecked

People Killed by Bombs in South of England Town

Having regard to the damage to working class houses caused by two heavy high explosive bombs that dropped on a town in the South on Sunday night, the casualties were comparatively few.

In one street six adjoining houses collapsed when a heavy bomb crashed through the roof of one. The second bomb dropped in the middle of a road in an adjoining street, leaving another huge crater and almost completely demolishing three houses.

The explosion threw the uppermost part of about a dozen houses out of the perpendicular. Pieces of masonry, rafter timber and other debris were rained down over a wide radius, holing roofs in many places and doing extensive damage.

Despite this damage fatal casualties were few. One of the persons killed was Mrs. Nellie May Page aged 47, who was visiting friends at the time. Her daughter, Miss Sylvia Joan Page, who was with her, was taken to hospital suffering from severe head injuries and shock.

Fractured Gas Main

An oil bomb which struck the rear of one house, partially wrecked the scullery and living room. A fire was started here, but it was dealt with very effectively by the fire-fighting services, and extinguished before it could get a hold. Gas from a fractured gas main also caught alight, but here again the brigade quickly had the situation in hand.

The situation provided a severe test for the various ARP services and police, but they all acquitted themselves remarkably well. Demolition and rescue squads, as well as first-aid parties and medical men, were at hand extricating residents trapped deep down in the wreckage and attending to the injured.

In Good Spirit

Gallant work was done by wardens and ambulance men, and they recount how two young girls were liberated, almost unscathed, from beneath a completely wrecked house. Falling beams had apparently prevented them from being crushed to death, and the rescuers were surprised to find that they were not only unhurt but in good spirit. One asked for a drink and when offered a flask of water observed, with a smile, “Is that the best you can do?”

Generally, the inhabitants displayed great fortitude and calmness, and seemed to be more concerned about the welfare of their neighbours than of their own interests.

Rapid headway was made in clearing away the debris. There were plenty of volunteers for the work of salving furniture and other belongs, and, in the same way, those whose homes were not so severely damaged found plenty of helpers to assist in covering up broken windows and doorways.

Extracts for the North Wilts Herald Friday 25 October 1940.

Wartime publishing restrictions prevented newspapers from identifying the town and street names.

Nellie was born on June 4, 1893, the youngest of five children. Her father William James Hopkins worked in the Carriage and Wagon Works. When Nellie was baptised at St. Saviours on July 16, 1893 William and his wife Emma and their children were living at 78 William Street.

Nellie married at St. Marks on September 25, 1915 during the First World War when her husband Francis Vernon Page was serving in the RAMC.

Nellie was buried in grave plot E7491 with her husband Francis who died in December 1935.

Jane Elizabeth Hobbs – killed in WWII air raid

A lone raider on a bombing mission came dangerously close to the Great Western Railway factory during the night of Thursday December 19, 1940. But instead of hitting the Works the high explosive bomb fell on Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill.

There were several casualties and some miraculous rescues, but sadly Jane Elizabeth Hobbs died the following day in the Victoria Hospital.

Jane Elizabeth Miles was the daughter of a railway man; she married another railway man like so many women of her generation did. William John Hobbs had begun his working life as a cattleman on a farm in Calne but by the time of his marriage to Jane in 1907 he was working as a machineman in the GWR.

The couple lived their entire married life in Gorse Hill where they raised three children. William died in 1933 at 167 Beatrice Street; the house that was later destroyed by a bomb on the night of Thursday December 19, 1940.

Five houses were demolished and others damaged, but there were few casualties when a lone raider dropped bombs on a town in the South of England last Thursday night.

In one street where three houses were wrecked, the rescuers, who were on the scene within two or three minutes, were astonished to hear cries for aid.

Gaining a way through the debris from the back of the house they saw three or four heads protruding from beneath the collapsed stairway. These were the occupants of the house, who had rushed under the staircase as the building collapsed upon them and were thrown flat on the floor. They were all pulled out suffering from slight injuries.

Mrs Jane Hobbs, a widow, was the most seriously injured, and she died in hospital on Friday evening. Her 24-year-old daughter Jane, who was also seriously injured is still in hospital.

A Mr. Crook, who was on a visit from another part of the town, was also taken to hospital.

In another nearby street a bomb dropped in the middle of a small backyard at the rear of two houses. All the outbuildings were demolished and the walls at the back of the houses were fractured. Here again there were lucky escapes. Five or six occupants in the kitchen included a married couple who had twice previously been bombed in London.

Scores of houses in the neighbourhood were hit by flying masonry, and in this way, as well as through blast, many windows were broken.

Praise for ARP Squads.

Everyone was loud in praise of the magnificent way in which the wardens, the rescue and demolition squads. First-aid workers and firemen discharged their duties.

One resident observed: “They were here and hard at work almost before we could get out. Not a second was wasted, and I can tell you this fact was a great relief to us all.”

Extracts from North Wilts Herald, Friday, 27 December, 1940.

Gorse Hill

Jane was buried on December 26 in grave plot C3831 which she shares with her husband William and her parents Henry John and Fanny Miles.

Battle of Britain commemorations 2015

Ten years ago Radnor Street Cemetery volunteers in partnership with the Swindon Heritage Magazine commemorated another significant war time event – the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The Duke, in his role as Air Marshall, Royal Air Force came to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and one of ‘The Few’, Swindon born fighter pilot Harold Morley Starr. The week long Swindon Remembers commemorative festival concluded with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Duke’s visit on Battle of Britain Day.

Harold Morley Starr was born in Swindon on September 8, 1914, the fourth of Ellen and Morley Starr’s five children. He grew up in the Central Temperance Hotel in Regent Street where his mother was the proprietor and his father worked as a shop fitter. Harold attended Clarence Street School, Swindon completing his education at Cotham Grammar School following the family’s move to Bristol.

While still at school Harold became a member of the Officers’ Training Corps and at the age of just 19 won an RAF scholarship and joined the air force as an acting pilot officer.

On August 31, 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Harold’s Hurricane L1830 was shot down over Eastry near Sandwich during an interception patrol. The young fighter pilot successfully baled out at 15,000 feet but as he floated down three Messerschmitts circled him and opened fire.

Harold’s body was returned to Swindon where he was buried in a family grave in Radnor Street Cemetery. His funeral took place on September 6, two days before what would have been his 26th birthday.

Two blue plaques commemorate Harold and his brother Wing Commander Norman John Starr DFC & Bar. Visit the website for more details.

The Duke of Gloucester was then escorted to Swindon station where he unveiled a commemorative plaque to Sqn Ldr Starr on a First Great Western Class 43 locomotive.

Stanley William Ashton – pilot officer

Pilot officer Stanley Ashton married Josephine Loveday in December 1939. Josephine was the daughter of Frederick and Adeline Loveday. Frederick served as an Air Mechanic 1^st Class during the Great War. He died in the King George Military Hospital in Stamford Street, South London. He was 29 years old and left a widow and two small daughters.

Stanley William Ashton, who was born on 22nd August 1911, served an apprenticeship as an electrician. He joined the RAF and gained his Pilots wings in Nov 1938. In 1939 he was serving with 59 squadron in France where they were using Blenheim MIV aircraft. As the Germans pushed through France in 1940 the squadron was withdrawn to England and based at RAF Odiham Hampshire. They continued to fly missions over France, mainly reconnaissance operations.

On Tuesday 4th June 1940 Pilot officer Ashton and his crew were flying R3697. They took off from RAF Eastchurch in Kent – There are 2twotheories as to what they were doing. One is that they were on a transit flight to head back to their base in Hampshire. The other is that they were on an operational mission.

Neither have been confirmed but as the aircraft banked during take off one of the wings clipped the ground and the plane crashed killing all on board. Among those killed were Observer Sgt William John Wilson and Wireless operator/Air gunner Sgt Roland Wilson (unrelated). Stanley Ashton had been married just six months.

Josephine eventually remarried in 1955 and died in 1982 but is buried elsewhere. Although the cemetery was closed by then the burial registers indicate that there was room for one adult left in this plot.

Stanley William Ashton is buried here in plot C3524 with Frederick and Adeline Loveday.

International Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day we remember some of the remarkable women who have contributed to Swindon’s history and now lie buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.

Read all about – Edith Whitworth – Mrs Great Heart

Read all about – Harriett Annie Veness – political activist

Read all about – Alice Arman

Read all about – Lydia Fry – For Services Rendered

Read all about – Joanna C. Lay – silent, quiet and faithful worker

Read all about – Elsie Wootten White – Wartime Volunteer

George Barefoot – an investor in people

The re-imagined story …

I’ve lived in New Swindon all my life. I was born in my gran’s bedroom in Bristol Street and I’ve never known anywhere else. But I’m tired of the close-knit railway community where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and a life confined to the Works and the railway village. I’m weary of seeing the same faces day in, day out, I don’t want to marry a boilermaker or a fitter and live the same life my mum and my Gran have.

“But that’s the strength of this place,” said Gran. “It’s knowing Mrs so and so’s baby is poorly or that Mr whatsit needs help with his shopping.” Gran was settling in for a long session, I could sense it. I offered her a piece of cake.

“When me and your Gramps moved here, I thought we had made the biggest mistake of our lives. All that was here was the Works and the company houses and that was it. No market, no shops, no church even, nothing.”

She took a sip of her tea.

“Is there any sugar in this?”

“Two spoons, Gran.”

“Your Gramps wanted to move out of London. He thought the kids would have a better future here. He thought living in the country would be healthy.” She shook her head sadly.

“The company houses looked nice enough from the outside but the railway village was worse than any East End slum. That first winter we lived here there was an outbreak of typhus. Six children died in Bristol Street. We were fortunate.”

She twisted the wedding ring on her gnarled finger, worn thin by hard toil.

“Did you ever consider moving back to London?”

“It wasn’t that easy and your Gramps had a good job in the Works here. He kept telling me we’d stick it out a bit longer, give it a chance, he’d say.”

“So, what persuaded you to stick it out?”

“Your grandfather and the men he worked with, they made the difference. Men like George Barefoot, elected on to the Mechanics’ Institute Council. Those men were investors; investors in people, they weren’t interested in share prices and profit. They wanted to protect their families and improve their standard of living. They wanted health care in a time when people didn’t call out the doctor because they couldn’t afford to. They were good men and they made the difference.”

“I’m glad your Gramps and George Barefoot gave New Swindon a chance.”

Gran spooned out the sugar from the bottom of her cup.

“Is there anymore tea in that pot? And make sure you put some sugar in this time.”

The facts …

George Barefoot was born in Maidenhead in 1828. He married Margaret Elizabeth Williams, a dressmaker, at Holy Rood on December 23, 1848. George was transferred to Gloucester where on November 12, 1865 three of the couple’s children, John James, William Alfred and Mary Ellen, were christened at St James’s Church, Gloucester. The family’s address is given as Front Terrace. By 1869 the family had returned to Swindon.

That same year George Barefoot was elected on to the Mechanics’ Institute Council with 166 votes. The following year he was re-elected with an increased number of votes, topping the poll with 281. Election results continue to show his presence on the Council and in 1873 he is recorded as ‘George Barefoot Locomotive Department K shop 296 votes.‘

George Barefoot died at the age of 86 years. He was buried on February 26, 1914 in Radnor Street Cemetery in plot E7936

Death of Mr George Barefoot

The death took place on Saturday, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr F. Edge, “Inglewood,” Deacon Street, Swindon, of Mr George Barefoot. The deceased gentleman who was very well known in Swindon, was born at Maidenhead in 1828, and commenced his working career as an office boy at Paddington Station. In 1847 he came to Swindon, being then at the age of 19, and was transferred for a few years to Gloucester, and finally returned to Swindon.

It is interesting to note that he was married at the old Parish Church by the then Vicar (the Rev. H.G. Baily), and he has, therefore, watched Swindon grow from what were practically two large villages into the large and enterprising town it is to-day.

He was a chargeman in the GWR Works for over 30 years, and he won the esteem and respect of all who knew him. In recognition of his faithful services the company granted him a pension on his retirement, and he went to live with his son-in-law and daughter.

He was always a prominent Conservative, and the late Sir Daniel Gooch used to speak of George Barefoot as his staunchest supporter in the Works. He had been a regular attendant at St. Mark’s Church.

A few weeks ago Mr. Barefoot had a stroke, and took to his bed, the end coming peacefully on Saturday. He leaves five children to mourn his death.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, February 27, 1914.