Archie Bown – Swindon Town FC player

The names of James Thomas Bown and his wife Mary Jane may not mean much to you. He was a clerk in the Works and she was a wife and mother. She was probably a lot of other things as well but wife and mother are the roles we know her by on official documents.

They married on August 20, 1881 at St. Mark’s Church and had four children of whom three survived to adulthood.

Now the Swindon Town football fans among you may have heard of their eldest son Archibald James William Bown. Born on July 22, 1882 Archibald entered the Works on January 11, 1897 as a draughtsman in the Carriage Department. It was something of an inauspicious start. Written in the margin of his employment records on February 24, 1897 was the comment ‘unsatisfactory character.’ He had been at work less than 2 weeks and was just 15 years old. He would show them!

Archie played his first game for Swindon Town on February 10, 1902 – an away game at West Ham. He didn’t score a goal – not that day. In a career that spanned 12 seasons Archie played a total of 291 games in which he scored 142 goals. He remains the Town’s fifth highest goal scorer in the club’s history.

In 1906 he married Beatrice Annie Scott and in 1911 the couple lived at 37 Roseberry Street with their two daughters Gladys and Trissie. Throughout his career with Swindon Town Archie continued to work as an Engine Fitter in the Works.

He also played for Swindon Casuals, Whiteheads, Southampton (as a guest) Bristol City and Weymouth where he ended his career and opened his own Sports Department. He died in 1958.

Archie’s parents continued to live in Swindon at various addresses including Commercial Road, County Road and Cumberland Road where Mary Jane died in December 1938. She was buried on December 26 in Radnor Street Cemetery, grave plot B2843. James married Alice Knee in 1944. He died three years later aged 87 years and was buried with his first wife on October 10, 1947.

It is also believed that Archie was related to athlete James Kibblewhite whose story featured on this blog recently. His grandfather was James Kibblewhite Bown born in 1836. More research is required to establish the connection kindly provided by Andrew Griffiths.

James Kibblewhite – athlete

Another day, another churchyard …

Legend has it that amateur Victorian athlete James ‘Kibby’ Kibblewhite would race alongside the train from his home in Purton to the GWR Works in Swindon, an amazing feat, but just one of many achieved by the middle distance runner.

James Kibblewhite was born at Purton in 1866, one of agricultural labourer James and Caroline Kibblewhite’s seven children. He began work as a Post Office Messenger boy but like his father and brothers later found employment in the Swindon railway works. Following a full working week as a machinist in R shop, Kibby ran record breaking races at events across the country in a career that spanned eleven seasons.

In 1889 he won the Three Mile Open Handicap Race at the Stamford Bridge Ground, Fulham finishing in 14 minutes 29 3/5 seconds, 9 2/5 seconds faster than the record set by Calne born Victorian super star runner W.G. George in 1884.

“The running of J. Kibblewhite furnishes one of the most remarkable performances of the season,” reported The Times. “Quite recently he ran a very fast mile on the Paddington track, and his record for three miles on Saturday, at the annual sports of the Spartan Harriers, is fresh proof of his abilities as a runner.”

The following year ‘Kibby’ led the Spartan Harriers to victory in the Four Mile Inter Club Race at the Kennington Oval. “He took the lead very early in the race and won by 200 yards in the fast time of 20 min 20 3-5 sec,” The Times reported.

Competing in Birmingham that same summer he ran the One Mile Race in 4 minutes 23 1/5 seconds in the Amateur Championships, beating W.J. Fowler of the Finchley Harriers. Back at the Kennington Oval in 1891 Kibby came in first, 80 yards ahead of Spartan Harrier team mate W.J. Manktelow. “J. Kibblewhite covered the distance in the excellent time of 26 min 14 4/5 sec, a most creditable achievement, especially when the nature of the turf is considered.”

Modern membership restrictions did not apply in the 19^th century allowing Kibblewhite to compete for several different clubs and in 1892 he broke the record for the Four Miles Race at Stamford Bridge running for the Essex Beagles. Towards the finish of the race the crowd broke into the enclosure to greet the runners as Kibby finished in 19 minutes 50 3/5 seconds with a three yard lead.

In 1894 James married Mary Bristow and the couple had four children. Their three sons all ran competitively.

By 1895 James Kibblewhite’s running career had ended. He sold some of his prizes, valued at more than £1,000 and with the proceeds built a home he named Spartan Cottages after his old club.

Image published courtesy of Duncan and Mandy Ball.

James Kibblewhite died in 1941 and is buried in the churchyard at St. Mary’s, Purton. Today Kibblewhite Close in Purton is named in his honour.

With grateful thanks to Bob Townsend.

Arthur Jefferies Lewis White – Prominent GWR Official and Swindon F.C.’s Chairman

Arthur Jefferies Lewis White was born on November 23, 1872, the son of Richard Lewis and Elizabeth Corbett White. He entered employment in the GWR on January 3, 1887, a month after his 15th birthday. A year later at a GWR Board Meeting to consider the promotion of the Lad Clerks Arthur was described as shorthand writer with previous office experience. He was already on a career path that would see him become Chief Clerk and Chief Accountant to Charles B. Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer.

Arthur married Emily Sendell at Christ Church on October 2, 1917. He was 44 years old and she was 42.

A keen musician and mandolin player, Arthur White was chairman of the Great Western Railway Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society and President of the Swindon Great Western Railway Social and Education Silver Band. He was a director of the New Swindon Permanent Building Society and a Freemason and member of the Sussex Lodge of Emulation, No. 355. He was also a writer and wrote several books about the Swindon Railway Works. But it is probably fair to say his greatest love (after his wife, of course) was football.

Arthur White was elected Chairman of the directors of Swindon Town Football Club in the 1910-11 season and served for nearly 20 years. The obituary published in the North Wilts Herald on Friday November 1, 1929 declared his pride of the club knew no bounds.

Swindon Town Football Club 1910-11 squad – the year in which Arthur J.L. White was elected Chairman

Arthur Jefferies Lewis White died at his home at 13 Okus road, Swindon after suffering a year of poor health.

The funeral service at St. Saviours Church was attended by a great many mourners and the North Wilts Herald reports that:

Practically every shop in the GWR Works was represented, and directors, players and officials of the Swindon Town Football Club also attended.

A guard of honour was formed by the local Freemasons, who led the procession and behind the coffin walked the family mourners, representatives of the Great Western Railway, the different societies with which Mr White was connected and the Town footballers.

Arthur Jefferies Lewis White was buried in grave plot E8134. His wife Emily survived him by nearly 40 years. She died aged 92 years of age at the Cheriton Nursing Home and was buried in the neighbouring plot E8134A.

Who would walk 500 miles?

Come on Scottish rugby fans – would you walk 500 miles to pay your respects to one of Scotland’s greatest players?

Scotland Captain Dr Charles Reid has lain forgotten in Swindon’s Radnor Street Cemetery for 115 years. This weekend cemetery volunteers have revealed the grave he shares with his wife.

Dr Charles Reid – Scottish rugby international

Following the nail biting Scotland victory over Wales 27-26 in the opening weekend of the 2024 Rugby Six Nations, I am republishing the story of Dr Charles Reid, Scottish International, who is buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.

Edinburgh Academicals – Charles Reid pictured seated middle row 4th from left

Charles Reid was born January 4, 1864 at Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, the youngest son of John and Margaret Reid. By the age of 17 he stood 6ft 3ins tall and weighed in at around 15-16 stone.

He played for Edinburgh Academical Football Club, the oldest rugby club in Scotland and the second oldest in the World, which he captained from 1883-1888, beginning his international career in 1881.

Charles Reid’s first cap published courtesy of Edinburgh Academicals

He was 17 years and 36 days old when he was first capped in 1881, the first schoolboy to play in a forward position in an international match. He went on to captain Scotland to 17 wins in 21 games. He was known for his skilful play and his ferocious tackling and today many rugby pundits place him in their ‘fantasy rugby team.’

Charles Reid continues to be a national hero in the history of Scottish rugby and he’s buried here in Radnor Street Cemetery. Perhaps I should let Finn Russell (Bath Rugby and Scotland) know.

Death of Dr. Reid

Well known Medical Practitioner

A Great Rugby Football Player

Famous International

The news of the death of Dr. Charles Reid, partner with Dr. J. Campbell Maclean, of Swindon, was received with unfeigned regret on Tuesday last. Deceased, who was only 45 years of age, passed away at a Surgical Home in London on Monday night, whither he had undergone several operations of a painful malady. He had been in failing health for some time, but the end came somewhat suddenly. Dr. Reid lost his wife by death about four years ago after being married only 18 months.

Deceased was born in Scotland, and was educated at the Royal Academy, Edinburgh, and subsequently studied at Edinburgh University. He secured the degree of M.B., and of C.M. (Edinburgh) in 1883, and practised for some time at Selkirk, where he fell into bad health. He then lived at Craigie with Mr. Campbell for several years, and in 1903 came to Swindon to join Dr. Maclean. He then married, but his wife died 18 months later.

Dr. Reid was an able practitioner, and his opinion was held in high estimation by members of the profession. With patients he was most popular.

Dr. Reid was in his early days a great athlete, and he captained the Scottish Rugby team for many years and possessed no less than a score of International caps. He was the great Edinburgh Academical and Scottish International forward of the early eighties. A new football generation has grown up, but the twenty times capped giant forward is far from being forgotten across the border, he being spoken of as perhaps the greatest forward Scotland ever produced.

The fact that his death took place at the comparatively early age of 45, brings the reminder (says an Edinburgh correspondent) that he was barely 17 when he played against England in 1881 for the first time, and he was only 24 when he retired from football. From 1883 to 1888 he captained the Edinburgh Academical team, and in his last two International matches no fewer than five of the Scottish forwards were Edinburgh Academicals.

The funeral

The mortal remains of the deceased were brought to Swindon on Wednesday night, and the interment took place in Swindon Cemetery this afternoon, where lie the remains of his late wife.

The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, October, 29, 1909.

Dr Charles Reid was buried on October 29, 1909 in grave plot E8478. He had died following a surgical procedure in London. His body was returned to Swindon to lie next to his wife here in the cemetery.

Dr Charles Reid’s medical practice was at 32 Wood Street where he had been based for some four years. His medical qualifications were registered at the University of Edinburgh in 1888. He worked for sometime in Selkirk where he met and married Catherine Louise Steedman. Sadly, Catherine died just 18 months later after their arrival in Swindon.

Wally Richardson – Swindon Town footballer

When William ‘Wally’ Richardson died suddenly in 1911 he was known to have a collection of football memorabilia including his own medals and team photographs of Swindon Town FC. Wally’s football career as left back with Swindon Town began in 1890/1 and spanned the teams’ transition from an amateur club to a professional one in 1894/5.

William ‘Wally’ Richardson was born in Edinburgh in 1869 and came to Swindon in around August 1889 – not as a professional footballer but as an engine fitter and a job in the GWR Works. At the time of the 1891 census he was lodging with Charles E. Chappell and his family at 17 Marlborough Street and was already playing with the Swindon team.

The 1911 census taken shortly before Wally’s death records him living at 8 Marlborough Street with his wife Kate. The couple had been married for 20 years. Sadly, two of their three children had died in childhood.

Photograph published courtesy of Swindon Town FC

Death of Mr. W. Richardson

A Well-Known Local Footballer

Funeral on Wednesday

On Wednesday afternoon the mortal remains of the late Mr William Richardson, who was a popular member pf the Swindon Town F.C. in the old amateur days, and for the first few seasons after the Club embraced professionalism, were interred at the Swindon Cemetery amidst many tokens of sympathy and respect.

“Wally” Richardson, as he was known to his intimates, was by birth a Scotsman, and it was in his native City of Edinburgh that he served his apprenticeship as a fitter. Twenty two years ago last May he came South, and after working for the GWR Co. at Newton Abbot, until August of the same year, he was transferred to Swindon. As soon as he came to the railway town, Mr Richardson commenced playing for the Town Football Club, and very soon made himself indispensable to the team in the left full-back position. Wally Richardson’s first season with the Club commenced in 1890, and when the Club became a professional Club, he signed forms for them and continued playing for several seasons. It was exactly 19 years ago, last Easter that “Wally” went down to Warminster to play in a six-a-side contest for a silver shield. The Swindon party won the shield, and, if we remember rightly, the trophy was given to the Swindon Schools’ League to be played for annually by the boys. Mr. Richardson had a most interesting collection of photographs of Swindon football teams for various seasons, and the medals won in his favourite pastime. Everybody regarded “Wally” as an excellent sportsman in the best sense of the word, and his rather sudden death on Saturday, after an attack of dropsy, will be regretted by a large following of friends.

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser Friday July 7, 1911.

William ‘Wally’ Richardson was buried on July 5, 1911 in plot E7317, a grave he shares with his daughter Daisy who died in 1903.

Les Newman – motorcyclist

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the last guided cemetery walk this season. We next meet on Sunday November 12 for the Remembrance Sunday service during which a plaque dedicated to Mark Sutton will be unveiled. Meet at the chapel for 2 pm.

Here is one of the stories I told yesterday (with thanks to Kevin Leakey for his information and research).

Leslie Charles Newman was born on October 17, 1907, the son of Thomas Charles Newman (Alderman and Mayor of Swindon 1923-24) and his wife Frederica.

In 1921/2 Leslie, then aged 14, began an apprenticeship at his father’s printing works, the Borough Press. He took over the business following the death of his father in 1941, but it is probably fair to say his first love was motorcycle racing.

Kevin Leakey writes:

Having purchased his first motorcycle as a 17 year old in 1924, Leslie Newman quickly took to participating in many different forms of motorcycle racing and competition, including trials, grass track racing and hill climbs.

Leslie also raced at the first dirt track (speedway) meeting at the Gorse Hill Autodrome in 1928.

As well as competing in and organising many local motorcycle competitions through his connections with the Swindon based North Wilts Motorcycle & light car Club, Les also found time to compete in the Isle of Man Grand Prix, the amateur races held on the T.T. circuit.

Although he had considered retiring from motorcycle competition in 1933, having never competed in road racing events, the call of the famed Manx race was too much for Leslie, so he scraped together the £35 needed to purchase a four year old T.T. Sunbeam motorcycle and had it race prepared by the factory for an additional £10.

In order to prepare for the gruelling race he devised a 21 mile training circuit similar in shape to the TT track. Taking in many of the villages on the Downs, Leslie would set out at dawn from Swindon, and be back for breakfast followed by a 2 mile walk to start work at 8am.

Leslie competed in four Grand Prix races between 1934 and 1937. His most successful performance was in the 1934 Senior race. Despite crashing at one point, he still managed to finish a highly creditable 12th place out of 57 starters, averaging almost 70 mph over 6 laps of the 37 ¾ mile circuit. Quite a feat considering some of his fellow competitors were either professional racers, or would eventually turn professional.

It’s also interesting to note that, unlike today, where the whole circuit is on tarmac roads, back in the 1930’s it was often narrow, had loose surfaces in parts and had many dangerous blind corners.

In recent years, his Isle of Man efforts have been remembered by the Marston Sunbeam Club by holding an annual ‘Les Newman memorial run’. They follow the route across the Downs that Leslie used for his practice runs.

Post war Leslie was involved in the early speedway meetings at the Abbey Stadium as Starting Line Marshal, and his business, the Borough Press (Eastcott Hill) printed the meeting programmes. He also continued to organise vintage bike runs and rallies for many years.

Leslie died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on October 13, 1989, aged 81. His ashes were later placed in this large family grave with his parents, sister, his wife Doris and their son John Charles Newman who died in 2005.