Toxopholite – a most unusual name

If you’ve ever thought Victorian names were boring, all those William and Mary Ann’s, think again. Meet Toxopholite John Douglas Cooke.

Was he the first Toxopholite in the family? Did he pass the name on to subsequent generations? And what did they call him for short?

“Come in Toxopholite, your tea’s ready” is a bit of a mouthful to shout down the street.

Toxopholite and Amy Cooke

The man with such an unusual name had a complicated family background. Family historians suspect he was born illegitimately and that he amplified his details with an elaborate backstory – he would later declare that he was born in India on September 23, 1861.

He was baptised Toxophilite John Penery at St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth on January 4, 1860 when his birthdate was given as September 23, 1859 and his parents named as Edwin and Mary Jane Penery. His mother later married William Butterworth Cooke, an officer in the Royal Artillery, in Plymouth in 1867. Perhaps Toxopholite was never told the truth about his birth and was supplied with this story by his mother.

Toxopholite married Amy Kate Lavallin in 1883 and entered the employment of the GWR as a clerk the following year. By 1891 the family had moved to Swindon where they lived at 28 Havelock Street. They later moved to a house in Maidstone Road and by 1911 they were living at 13 Kent Road. The couple had five children, according to the details they submitted at the time of the 1911 census.

Toxopholite’s last home was 133 Kingshill Road where he died on February 22, 1940. He was buried in grave plot C1042.

The meaning of the name Toxopholite (or Toxophilite) is a student or lover of archery. It is derived from ‘Toxophilus – the schole or partitions of shooting’ a book about longbow archery dedicated to Henry VIII and written by Roger Ascham, a 16^th century scholar and tutor to Elizabeth I.

Many thanks to Diana for her help.

John William Jolliffe – down your way

Our Victorian town centre streets are frequently named after the great and the good of Swindon – take Jolliffe Street, for instance. Built in around 1891 this street was named after John William Jolliffe, surveyor and collector for the New Swindon Local Board district.

John William Jolliffe was born in 1838, the son of John, a builder, and his wife Elizabeth. John William grew up, married his wife (another Elizabeth) and spent most of his life living on the Isle of Wight. In 1861 he was living in Newchurch, Ryde, Isle of Wight and described himself on the census of that year as a Master Builder employing 50 men.

At the time of the 1871 census he was living in High Halden in Kent where he was employed as Clerk of Works in Building. He moved to Swindon soon after this to a post as Surveyor of Swindon New Town Local Board. His first job was to oversee the building of the new sewerage works in Even Swindon. He appears to have specialised in the building of sewage treatment plants including work at Gorse Hill and at the time of his sudden death he was working on improvements in the disposal of sewage in the town.

Sudden death of Mr J.W. Jolliffe – Our readers will hear with regret of the almost sudden death of Mr J.W. Jolliffe, for some years surveyor and collector for the Swindon (New Town) Local Board District, which took place on Monday morning last. Although in his 73^rd year, Mr Jolliffe was up to the time of his death apparently a hale and hearty man. In fact, all the previous week he was about the town as usual, and attended to his duties up to Saturday evening. On Sunday evening he was seized with spasms round the heart, and appeared to suffer much pain. His son fetched Dr. Howse, who attended, and the pain abated. At 1 a.m., however, the deceased was taken worse, and medical aid was again sought, but this time it was of no avail, Mr Jolliffe breathing his last before 2 a.m.

The deceased came to Swindon some 12 or 14 years ago to superintend the carrying out of the new sewerage works which was executed to convey the sewage of the town to the farm at Even Swindon, having previously been in business at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, as a builder.

When the late Mr W. Read resigned the office of Surveyor the Local Board appointed him their surveyor, collector, and inspector of nuisances. Since then the district has grown rapidly – in fact more than doubled – and some twelve months ago the Board felt that the duties of the office of surveyor were so great that they relieved Mr Jolliffe of his duties as inspector of nuisances.

Recently he has been engaged on many important works. The Gorse Hill Sewerage was carried out from his plans and under his supervision. The whole of the private streets at Even Swindon, at Gorse Hill, and many on the Kingshill Estate have been made by him and since dedicated to the board. At the time of his death he was engaged on the plans for a fresh means of disposal of the sewage at the farm, and also on the plans of the proposed new bridge at the end of Wellington street.

The general regard and esteem in which the deceased was held by his neighbours was evidenced on Thursday at the funeral, which took place at the Swindon Cemetery. In addition to members of the New Town Board there were most of the builders and architects of the town, representatives of the Old Town Board, of the GWR Co’s, permanent way and mechanical engineering staff, of the Gas Company, Canal Company, and many tradesmen, with whom the deceased has been brought into business relation.

The religious portion of the ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Father Eikerling and the choir of the Roman Catholic church, of which deceased was a member. At the cemetery chapel the rev. gentleman delivered an impressive address, extolling the many virtues of the deceased, pointing out the lessons to be learnt from such a life and death. The service was fully choral, and was watched by a large crowd of sympathising friends. The deceased leaves a widow some three or fours years his senior. We hear that A Solemn Requiem will be sung for the soul of the deceased this (Saturday) morning at the Holy Rood Church by the members of the St. Cecilias Society, the deceased having been an honorary member of that society.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, November 29, 1884.

John William Jolliffe was buried on November 27, 1884 in grave plot E8290. His wife Elizabeth died in 1885 and is buried with him.

And if you are wondering about the derivation of the name Sheppard Street; this was named after prosperous landowner John Henry Harding Sheppard who owned great tracts of land in this part of New Swindon. You will also find John, Henry and Harding Streets in this area of town.

You may also like to read:

W.H. Read – local architect

W.H. Read – the continuing story

Ethel Mary Franklin – undertaker’s daughter

And this week I have received another old cemetery photograph taken at the funeral of Ethel Mary Franklin in 1925 – a beautiful display of floral tributes with the cemetery chapel in the background.

Ethel Mary was born in 1882, the seventh child of Henry Smith and his wife Emma. At the time of the 1891 census Henry was living at 12 Sanford Street with his large family. He would soon leave his job in the GWR Works and set up in business as a carpenter and undertaker. By 1901 he was living in Gordon Road where the firm of A.E. Smith had their premises for more than 50 years.

Ethel appears on the census of that year as an 18 year old pupil teacher. By 1911 she was 28 years old and living with her parents, her sister, her nephew and an elderly, widowed aunt, at 1 Clifton Street. Ethel was working as a school teacher at one of the Swindon Board Schools.

On April 26, 1913 she married railway clerk Arthur Henry Franklin at the Wesley Chapel, Faringdon Road. A daughter named Ruth Gertrude, was born in September the following year and a son Eric Sutton in 1919.

Arthur served in the war as a clerk in the Army Corps and returned safely to the family home at Langleigh, Kingshill Road. Ethel, Arthur, Ruth and little Eric settled down for the rest of their lives, but sadly it was not to be a happy ending. Tragedy struck when Ethel was admitted to the Victoria Hospital in 1925. Infection set in when a swab was accidently left inside her during an operation and Ethel died on October 18, 1925. Her funeral took place on October 22 when she was buried in grave plot D189 close to the grave of her parents.

Arthur remarried and when he died in 1954 he was buried with Ethel. Ruth, their daughter who was just 11 years old when her mother died, went on to become a nurse. Their son Eric became first an architect and then served at Dunkirk and Monte Cassino during the Second World War.

This photograph of the floral tributes on Ethel’s grave was sent to me by Steve, who also supplied the Smith family photograph when he attended one of our cemetery walks some years ago.

You may also like to read:

Henry Smith – undertaker and monumental mason

Robert Powell – killed in a motor bike accident

Responding to my request for old photographs, Broadgreen and Queenstown historian Kevin, sent me one taken following a funeral in Radnor Street cemetery, but discovering whose funeral it was proved difficult.

He writes: This reminded me of an old photo I have that had belonged to my late grandparents. I have no clue who’s grave it is or even the date it was taken as there were no details on it.

Kevin went to a great deal of effort trying to place the grave site using aerial photographs of the cemetery and cemetery maps. The break through came when I was able to tell him the names of those buried in the area he had identified as a possible location.

This is Robert Powell, writes Kevin. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on 16 June 1935. He was good friends with my Grandad Fred Newman and Fred’s brother Harry. Grandad used to talk about Robert when I was younger. Although he was killed in a road accident, grandad was always worried I’d be killed when I was racing speedway.

Unconscious near his blazing machine

Young Swindon man dies in hospital

Robert Powell, a young man of 5, Carr street, Swindon, was found lying unconscious by the side of a blazing motor-cycle at Little Faringdon, on Saturday night.

Dr. Moredon, of Lechlade, ordered his removal to the Fairford Cottage Hospital, where he died yesterday from serious head injuries.

The discovery was made in the Filkins-Lechlade road at Little Faringdon, soon after eight o’clock on Saturday night.

In the absence of any indication of a collision with another vehicle, it is assumed that Mr. Powell’s machine must have skidded, then mounted the grass verge and collided with some tar barrels. The accident occurred at a bend in the road.

Mr Powell, who was a member of Swindon Y.M.C.A., and a keen cricketer, recently obtained work in Coventry.

Powell was employed at the Rolls Royce Works at Coventry, and it was only a week ago that he purchased a motor-bicycle.

He was the sole support of his mother (a widow) and a little brother.

Swindon Advertiser June 17, 1935.

At the inquest his mother said the first time she saw he had a motor-cycle was on Whit-Sunday. The machine was his own. She explained that her son rode it during the Whitsun weekend and returned to Coventry on it. The Coroner asked if her son had any difficulty with the motorbike and she replied that he was not used to the kick start, but otherwise he seemed all right. “I thought the machine was far too heavy for him, but he told me he did not think so. He said it would be all right when he got thoroughly used to it. He also said that he found it far easier to manage than a car,” she told the inquest.

Mr R. Powell, Swindon.

The funeral took place on Saturday of Mr Robert Powell, of 5, Carr Street, Swindon. Mr Powell met with a motor accident at Little Faringdon last Saturday. He was taken to Fairford Cottage Hospital, where he died on Sunday morning. He would have been 24 years of age next month. Mr Powell was well known in Swindon and was a member of the Boys’ Red Triangle Club. He was apprenticed in the GWR Works as a fitter and turner, and at the time of the accident was working for an engineering firm in Coventry. The funeral service was held at St. Mark’s Church, and the interment at Radnor-street cemetery. Rev. T.J. Barrett officiated.

Extracts from Swindon Advertiser June 24, 1935.

Among the many floral tributes shown in the photograph were ones from – ‘his broken-hearted mother and little brother Leslie’ along with others from W.D. and H.O. Wills’ Cricket Club, friends and neighbours from Carr Street, Villet Street and Catherine Street and one from Mr and Mrs Newman (Kevin’s great grandparents) who also kept the Order of Service.

At the time of the complilation of the 1939 List, Lily was living at 14 Farnsby Street and working as a laundress in the GWR. Living with her was her younger son 12 year old Leslie. In 1954 Lily married William Bridgeman. She died four years later. Her funeral took place on January 2, 1958 when she was buried in grave plot C4154 with her eldest son Robert and her first husband, also named Robert.

Kevin’s grandad, Fred Newman, is pictured standing next to Robert Powell in this photograph of the YMCA boys’s football team taken in 1929.

Charles Lander and a family grave

In 1914 Charles Lander was working as a cowman in Purton when the Great War broke out. Having previously served in the Army Service Corps he was on the reservist list and was immediately recalled for service. Just ten days later he was in France with the 14^th Ambulance, a horse driver in the ASC with the 5^th Division. He was later transferred to the North Staffordshire Regiment.

Charles Christopher Lander was born in Fairford in 1885 one of John and Agnes Lander’s three sons. He married Susan Dolman in 1907 and at the time of the 1911 census they were living with their three children and Susan’s father at a house in the High Street, Purton.

As the war raged on Charles was wounded, shot in the upper right arm during fighting on April 21, 1918. Within a week he was returned to England. He died on May 18 at the City of London Military Hospital following an operation to amputate his arm. He was 33 years old.

Susan received a pension of 37/11 (approximately £1.4) a week for herself and her five children. She was also sent her husband’s personal effects.

2 pocket wallets containing 2 packets of blades (razor)

1 pocket mirror

Purses

Safety razor & blades

Pair scissors & case

Linen bag

Buttons, pencils etc.

1 writing pad & Envelopes

3 Handkerchiefs

1 Chevron (overseas)

Cap Bade & Broach

Diary & Letters

2 Discs

2 Numerals

2 Lockets

1 Pen Knife

1 Crucifix

1 key on ring

2/- (10p) postal order No. c/53 590295

1/- (5p)

Charles was buried on May 23, 1918 in grave plot C3514.

In 1919 Susan married Frederick Arthur Hatton and raised a second family at 12 Queen Street, Swindon. In 1923 Charles and Susan’s son Douglas Napoleon Lander died and was buried with his father. Susan died in 1961 and her second husband Frederick in 1962. They were also buried in grave plot C3514.

Cecil Arthur Lang and his family

February 1915 – Coach bodymaker Francis Richard Lang had two sons serving in the war and he was sick with worry. At work his foreman showed him a letter he had received from his son at the front; all was well with him. But this good news was of no consolation to Francis. The distraught father left for work as normal that final day but was not seen again until his body was found at Coate Water. He had taken his own life. A razor and empty case and a pocket knife were found in his clothes.

And so, Mercy, his wife, was left alone to worry about her boys until the inevitable happened.

Cecil Arthur Lang was born on March 19, 1882 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Dalston, East London, one of 11 children born to Francis Richard and Mercy Caroline Lang. By 1892 the family had moved to Swindon and in 1911 the census of that year states that along with their father, five sons worked in the railway factory. Eldest son, also named Francis Richard, was a Railway Coach Bodymaker, Leonard, Arthur and Walter were Carriage Fitters & Turners while Cecil, aged 21, was a Coach Bodymaker. The census reveals that of Francis and Mercy’s 11 children, 3 had already died. A heavy loss for parents and one that was going to increase.

Cecil Lang 26, was killed in action on June 16, 1915. He is remembered on the Menin Gate in Ypres. On his parents’ memorial in Radnor Street Cemetery, he is reported as ‘missing’. Some families could never accept that their loved ones had been killed, but continued to hope they might be found and eventually return home.

On our recent guided walk, cemetery volunteer Jon explained that in addition to the official Commonwealth War Graves, the volunteers also tend to family graves that include an inscription to a fallen serviceman. It may not be possible to restore this monument with its tall standing stone cross, but the volunteers will maintain the grave.

Mercy died on May 19, 1927 and is buried here with her husband in grave plot B3293.

We will remember them.

#TellThemofUs #MarkSutton

James Ferris – Zulu War Veteran

At our recent guided walk, cemetery volunteer and military historian Kevin told us about an amazing discovery made recently.

Kevin had answered a request on the website Fine a Grave to locate the grave of James Ferris in Radnor Street Cemetery and in so doing discovered the remarkable story of a Zulu war veteran.

Served in the Zulu Wars

Swindon Man Recalls a Lucky Escape

Comrades Killed

Hale and as hearty as any man 20 years his junior, James Ferris, who lives at 171 Westcott place, Swindon, is one of the few Swindon survivors of the Zulu wars. If anyone ever had cause to “thank his lucky stars” then surely that person must have been James Ferris. He took part in the Relief of Echowie and had the experience of seeing two men, fighting on either side of him, shot down with bullets through their hearts. Ferris, who served in the 2^nd Wilts, then known as the 99^th Foot, joined up in November, 1877, and never received a scratch throughout his service.

“We lived on hard biscuits and meat all the time we were out in Africa,” Mr. Ferris told a North Wilts Herald representative, “but soldiering is a fine life. If a man takes care of himself and knows how to behave himself, he will never regret wearing the King’s uniform. I would join up again tomorrow if they would have me.”

Joined Up At 20

Mr Ferris served in Africa from 1877 to 1881, and was then transferred to Bombay, where he remained for two years.

Born at Lyneham, Mr Ferris entered the Great Western Railway works on leaving school, and he was barely 20 years of age when he joined the Army. When he returned to England from foreign service he found employment as a tram driver at Portsmouth, and remained there for four years until the trams were taken over by the Corporation. He then came back to Swindon, where he again found work with the GWR Company. Mr Ferris has a wife and 11 children – five boys and six girls – living. Two of his sons are in Sidney, Australia.

James Ferris, who is in his 75^th year, spends most of his time in his little back garden tending to his pets. “This is my dear old Trip,” he said, as a fine wire haired terrier came prancing up the garden path to meet us. “’Trip’ is the best dog in the world and woe betide any rat that dares to show itself when she’s about. She was born on Trip morning; that’s why I called her Trip.”

Never Broody

Mr Ferris also keeps a number of pigeons, a cat, half a dozen pure bred rabbits, and a black hen named Bett. Bett is a great bird. She follows her master about wherever he goes and responds to her name like a dog or a cat and she is a firm favourite with Trip. She is three years old, but she has never been known to go broody. Last year she laid 136 eggs, and up to the present she has produced 83 this year.

James Ferris still takes a keen interest in the sporting events of the town. Despite the wretched weather he attended the juvenile fete in the Park on Saturday, and he was at the Town Garden on Wednesday to listen to the band of his old regiment.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, August 14, 1931.

James and Eliza Ferris and one of their daughters

James Ferris was born in Lyneham in 1857 the son of James and Mary Ferris. In 1883 he married Eliza Jane Austin and the couple went on to have 11 children.

In 1891, following his military service and his marriage, James was working as a car driver and living with Eliza and their five children in Portsea, Hampshire. By 1901 he was back in Swindon, working as a labourer in the gas works and living at 23 John Street with Eliza, 10 children, a granddaughter and a lodger! In 1911 James was working as a Jobbing Gardener and living at 39 Union Street with Eliza and six of their children (and a boarder). Their 18 year old son William is described on the census of that year as ‘soldier on leave.’

James Ferris died in October 1935 aged 78 years. His funeral took place on October 25 when he was buried in grave plot C1347, an unmarked, public grave which he shares with two others.

Since Kevin’s discovery the grave has now been located and is kept cleared, the grass mown.

And there is a post script to James’s story and his indomitable wife Eliza.

A “Darby and Joan”

A Great-Grandmother Weds a Grandfather

A great-grandmother and a grandfather, one a widow and the other a widower, and both of them aged 72, were married yesterday at St. Mark’s Church, Swindon, after a courtship lasting for less than four months.

The bride was Mrs Eliza Ferris, of Westcott Place, Swindon. Her first husband, Mr James Ferris, was a Zulu war veteran, and there are thirteen children living, several of whom attended the wedding. The bridegroom was Mr Sidney Heath, of Tytherton, near Chippenham and some of his children were also present.

Belfast News-Letter, Thursday, September 30, 1937.

After their marriage Eliza and Sidney lived at 43 Rolleston Street. She died in 1949 but is not buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.

The Amazing Record Breaking Inspector William Greenaway

Continuing the story of the extraordinary William Greenaway …

William Greenaway

Yesterday I wrote about William Greenaway who received the Royal Victorian Medal, which he is seen wearing in this photograph.

Now read about his role in the record breaking train journey when the Prince and Princess of Wales traveled on ‘The City of Bath’ loco.

The Royal Visit

Prince and Princess of Wales in the West

A Record Run

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales accompanied by his Royal Consort, arrived at Paddington yesterday morning to entrain for Cornwall, in order to attend the ceremony of dedicating the new Nave of Truro Cathedral. Their Royal Highnesses were attended by Lady Lygon, Sir Arthur Bigge, the Hon. Derek Keppel, and Captain Godfrey Faussett. The train with the Royal party left Paddington precisely at 10.40 a.m. Instructions had been given to keep the line clear for a run to Plymouth without a stop – a distance of 246 miles 5 furlongs.

The Royal train was due, according to the arranged table, to pass Exeter at 2.5 p.m., and just before two o’clock several persons proceeded to St David’s Station with the object of catching a glimpse of the Royal Party. Many, however, arrived too late. The train had favourable weather, and made an unexpectedly rapid run, passing the middle signal box at St David’s at 1.33, exactly 32 minutes ahead of her time.

At Exeter.

About a hundred people had assembled on the station. Of course, there was no opportunity for demonstration, as the train passed through at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. Inspector Greenaway was noticed to be on the engine, which is one of the latest turned out from the Swindon works. She is one of the largest types, having 6ft. 8in. three coupled wheels, and is named “The City of Bath.” Around the funnel she bore the Prince of Wales feathers. Behind the engine was a saloon, then a composite carriage. Next came the Royal saloon carriage, followed by a compo and a brake coach.

The journey is a remarkable one, and establishes, we believe, the long distance record not only for the United Kingdom, but for the world. The train started from Paddington at 10.40 a.m. and reached Exeter, a distance of 194 miles, at 1.33 p.m.: that is to say, she covered the distance in 2 hrs. and 53 minutes or at an average speed of 67 miles an hour.

On the whole, the line is good between London and Taunton, there being a falling gradient for almost the whole distance. The tender of the engine carried about five tons of coal, and water was scooped up from the troughs near Goring and also near Bristol.

In the run to Chippenham the train made a gain of 16 minutes, and, despite the rising gradient from Taunton to Wellington, managed to increase this advantage on the arranged time to 32 minutes by the time Exeter was reached. She gained 21 minutes in the run from London to Bristol, and 15 minutes from Bristol to Exeter.

This, of course, constitutes a record run from London to Exeter, the previous best performance being by the London and South Western’s 11 o’clock express from Waterloo which does the journey in 3¼ hours, beating the Great Western’s first “Cornishman,” which has been put on occasionally to meet heavy traffic, and which is to run permanently from the 18^th of this month, by fifteen minutes. The L. and S.W. route is, it must be remembered, shorter by about 25 miles.

The Royal train yesterday knocked off 37 minutes from the “Cornishman’s” time, and beat the L. and S. Western’s fastest express by 22 minutes. She overtook the 9 a.m. express, which, however, arrived at S David’s at 1.54, only four minutes late.

From Exeter to Newton.

Continuing her journey, the Royal train reached Newton Abbot from Exeter in 22 minutes, despite the fact that twice she had to slow down to take up the staff. From Newton Abbot to Plymouth the road becomes rough. The gradients are numerous and stiff, and form a kind of switchback railway. But the train continued to gain time, Plymouth being reached at 2.34. The journey therefore, of 246 miles 5 furlongs was covered in 3 hours and 54 minutes, or an average speed of a fraction over 62 miles an hour. When allowance is made for the fact that in climbing steep banks and in passing through big stations, and in taking in staffs, the pace has to be reduced to about 20 miles an hour, it is evident that on some favourable sections of the line a terrific speed must have been registered, somewhere at least from between 70 and 80 miles an hour. It is probable that the latter speed was exceeded between Whiteball tunnel and Exeter.

The Great Western, however, are not, we understand, likely to run a regular train from Paddington to Exeter in 2 hours 53 minutes. They have done the journey on the present occasion to show what is possible, but they are likely to be content with their ordinary time of 3½ hours, which, after all is fast enough for the majority of people. It is true that they are 15 minutes slower than the London and South Western to Exeter, but they beat the latter on the longer journey from London to Plymouth (North-road) by just two minutes.

Following is the time table, scheduled and actual of the journey:-

Schedule Actual

Paddington 10.40 10.40

Bristol 12.04 12.25

Taunton 12.35½ 1.03

Exeter 1.01 1.33

Newton 1.21 1.56

Plymouth 3.10 2.34

Grampound Road 4.30 3.50

The distances are:- London to Bristol 118½ miles, London to Taunton 162¾ miles, London to Exeter 193½ miles, London to Plymouth 246 miles.

It is said that the fastest bit of running during the journey was down the incline from the Wellington bank to Exeter, where, it is estimated, that a rate of 85 miles an hour was attained.

At North Road

When the train drew up at North road the public attendance was small. The Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe was present accompanied by Mr H. Adye, the Superintendent of the Plymouth division of the GWR. As soon as the train came to a standstill the noble Earl entered the Royal saloon, and was received by the Prince, who presented him to the Princess. Their Royal Highnesses did not leave the carriage. The Princess was attired in a violet coloured dress. Dr. Ryle, Bishop of Winchester, joined the train at Plymouth.

During the stop at Plymouth Mr T.J. Allen, the superintendent of the line, who was in charge, entered the Royal saloon, and was assured that the journey had been covered without discomfort to their Royal Highnesses.

After the engine had been changed, the train left at 2.46 for Grampound-road. Among those on board were Mr Waister, of the locomotive department, Swindon; Mr J.V. Williams, of the timetable department; Mr W. Simpson, of the advertisement department, and Colonel the Hon. Edgcumbe, one of the Directors of the Company.

The nearest approach on the Great Western Railway to yesterday’s performance was on the occasion of the visit of HM the King to the West, when the special train took his Majesty from Millbay to London in four hours and twenty minutes.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Grampound-road Station, Cornwall, very much in advance of the scheduled time…

The Western Times Wednesday July 15^th 1903

A Unique Distinction

The brief official announcement yesterday that the King had presented the Victorian medal to Locomotive Inspector Greenaway, of the Great Western Railway, has created the liveliest interest in railway circles. So far as memory serves the distinction is unique; and if it be so, the Great Western Railway Company and all the employes on that great system have reason to plume themselves on a very gratifying event. The bestowal of knighthoods and other honours on the leading railway managers in this country is not unusual; and individual employes have received marks of Royal favour. But the conferment of the symbol of a special order on a member of the mechanical staff is a departure worthy of more than passing note.

As the railway that links the Metropolis to Windsor, one of the favourite palaces of the late Queen Victoria, the Great Western has, of course, played an unusually prominent part. The medal of which Inspector William Greenaway has been the enviable recipient is designed to recognise the services of that painstaking official. The inspector was in charge of the engine that drew her late Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee train in 1897, and he has travelled with the Royal train on every subsequent occasion, including the removal of Queen Victoria’s remains from London to Windsor. From this it is to be inferred that when Queen Victoria made her long journeys from Windsor to Balmoral the engine of the Royal train was under the sole charge of Inspector Greenaway.

Only those who know something of the elaborate nature of the preparations for the passage of a Royal train, even over a comparatively short length of railway, can realise the amount of responsibility that devolves on the officials concerned. The passage of a Royal train entails the drastic revision of time-tables, the general regulation of traffic within certain hours at certain points, the posting of extensive cordons of platelayers, the issue of special instructions to signalmen, and a thousand and one things that would never even occur to the non-technical mind.

In conferring the Victorian medal on Inspector Greenaway, King Edward has inferentially recognised all this. His Majesty, whilst honouring the individual, has honoured also the class to which he belongs. To the King and the members of the Royal Family, the railways are as essential as they are to the humblest passenger. The special Royal train is, of course, an institution by itself, but the men who take charge of it, either on its long or short journeys, are not trained specially for the purpose. They gain their experience in the service of the general public, just as the soldier who wins a commission gains his knowledge by real warfare in the ranks. It is from the common school of experience that the best men make their way, and there is something distinctly agreeable in the idea that King Edward, in the midst of the urgent pre-occupations of the Coronation year, should have bethought him of the claims of a representative of a service which is nowadays too often regarded as one of the merest commonplaces, though it is well to recollect that when Queen Victoria ascended the throne the railways of Great Britain and of the world had scarcely emerged from their rudimentary stage. Yet we find them, at the commencement of the Edwardian era, a mighty, irresistible, and indispensable force – a force that has been repeatedly recognised by the Sovereign, but never, so far as we are aware, in precisely the same way as King Edward has been graciously pleased to recognise the services of Inspector Greenaway…

Extracts from the Western Daily Press, Bristol, Tuesday, May 13, 1902.

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William Greenaway MVO

William Greenaway was one of the extraordinary, ordinary people Swindon has produced over the years.

William Greenaway was born in Purton on August 10, 1843. He entered the Great Western Railway employment as a labourer on January 7, 1860 aged 16 years old. His employment records reveal that he became a fireman on April 19, 1861, an Engineman on August 15, 1867 and an Inspector on July 8, 1889.

He married Emma Jane Ferris Shury at St Mary’s Church, Purton on July 26, 1862 and the couple had 9 children. The family lived at addresses in Purton, Swindon, Bradpole in Dorset and Bedminster, Bristol before returning to Swindon in 1891 when they lived at 37 Reading Street. By 1901 William and Emma were living at 6 Emlyn Square where Emma died in October of that year. She was buried in plot C1976 Radnor Street Cemetery on October 18. William Greenaway died at 6 Emlyn Square on February 20, 1908 aged 64 years. He was buried alongside Emma on February 23 in plot C1976.

A Swindon Railway Official Before the King

His Majesty Confers Upon Him the Royal Victoria Medal

His Majesty the King on Saturday morning conferred the Royal Victorian Medal upon Locomotive Inspector William Greenaway, of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, who was in charge of the engine working her late Majesty’s Jubilee train in 1897, and travelled with the Royal train on every subsequent occasion, including the removal of her late Majesty’s remains from London to Windsor.

The Earl Cawdor, chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, and Major W. Dean were present. The Hon. J.H. Ward, Equerry in Waiting, was also in attendance.

One of our representatives called upon Mr Greenaway this morning, and added his word of congratulation to the many others which have been extended to the recipient.

Although there is an entire absence of anything in the nature of obtrusiveness about Inspector Greenaway, he is pardonably proud of the high honour conferred upon him by the King of England. And, might we add, the pride is felt in an equal measure by all those who know him, for Swindon has reason to be gratified that one of our townsmen should be singled out for such distinction.

The ceremony at Buckingham Palace was of a very private character, and though short in duration his Majesty did not forget to refer to the great run West which he and the Queen took recently, and when Mr Greenaway stood by the driver on the footplate, safeguarding as far as it lay in his power the lives of the Royal travellers.

The Royal Victorian Medal is a small silver one, and bears the image of the late Queen, who on several occasions travelled under the guidance of Inspector Greenaway. The medal has been conferred upon the Inspector for the services he rendered at the Diamond Jubilee, and when, later, Queen Victoria’s dead body was carried to its last resting place.

Apropos this latter sad ceremony, the Directorate of the GWR presented a beautiful bronze medal to several of their officials who took part in the work of conveying the body from Paddington to Windsor, and Inspector Greenaway is the proud possessor of one of these.

Inspector Greenaway’s service dates from 1859, but it was not till the Diamond Jubilee that he was given the privilege of travelling with Royalty.

The Evening Swindon Advertiser, Monday, May 12, 1902.

Swindon – The somewhat sudden death of Inspector Greenaway on February 20^th removed from the locomotive world a most interesting personage. From his earliest childhood engines possessed an extraordinary fascination for him, and from the moment when, at the age of ten years, he was allowed to have a ride on a locomotive, his choice of a career was determined. In 1860 he entered Swindon Works and only a year later was appointed fireman. In 1867 he was promoted to the position of engineman and frequently selected for special duties appertaining to the Running Department. In 1889 he was appointed locomotive inspector, and seven years later chief locomotive inspector. One of his duties was that of examining firemen before taking charge of an engine. He was the author of a comprehensive handbook on footplate work which had a very large circulation. In January, 1901, Inspector Greenaway was presented with a bronze medal and in 1902 was brought under Royal notice and personally presented by His Majesty the King with the silver medal of the Royal Victorian Order for the able manner in which he had taken charge of the Royal journeys. In December, 1905, he was commended and awarded a gratuity for prompt action resulting in the avoidance of a collision. He was associated with several records made upon the Great Western, notably that of July 15^th, 1903, on the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to the West of England, when a world’s record was created on the run from London to Plymouth. Inspector Greenaway’s knowledge of the duties of an engineman and the management of locomotives was of a very high order

And to the last the utmost confidence was reposed in him by his chiefs.

Great Western Railway Magazine March 1908

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Mayor Tom Butler – Cabinet maker

Tom Butler was born in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire in the summer of 1856. By 1881 he had moved to Swindon and was working at premises at 81 Regent Street for master cabinet maker William Pooles. He would later have his own business and an elegant house on Victoria Road named after his birthplace.

In 1883 he married Mary Ann Turner at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on Bath Road. The couple had seven children, of whom five survived childhood.

The couple were devout Methodists and both played prominant roles in the church and public life in Swindon generally. Tom was elected to the Town Council in 1903 and served as Mayor in 1910/11 an auspicious year in which the coronation of George V took place and Tom’s much loved wife died suddenly.

*Mayor Tom Butler published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.*

The Late Mr T. Butler

Funeral of One of Swindon’s Most Prominent Citizens

All Sections of Public Represented

The very high regard in which the late Mr Tom Butler, ex-Mayor of Swindon, was held by all sections of the public was eloquently reflected on Saturday in the scenes that attended his funeral. From an early hour in the afternoon many people gathered in the sunlit Cemetery to witness the last phase of the passing of a noteworthy man, and long before the service was due to start the Faringdon Street Wesley Chapel was filled.

The funeral service was impressively conducted by the Rev J. Rogers (superintendent minister), who paid glowing tribute to Mr Butler’s work in the town. Mr Butler came to Swindon, said Mr Rogers, in 1878. He became a teacher at Wesley Church the same year, and after a break of some years, resumed the work in 1887. Most of them were familiar with the main incidents of his public life; he built up a prosperous business and made a competence. No aspersion had been cast upon his character or methods; he was a man of honour and integrity. There were certain dates prominent in his career which the speaker wished to recall. In 1886 he was converted, and by definite and intelligent choice made Christ the Lord of his life. To the vows then made he remained faithful. His experience of religion was real and vivid, and he was always earnest, warm-hearted and generous. In 1887 he entered the school as a teacher, in 1888 he became treasurer to the Sunday School and in 1889 he was appointed superintendent, remaining in office until his health broke down. He relinquished the office in 1914. Mr Butler was a trustee of that church and was a liberal supporter of its funds. He helped very materially in the erection of the monumental Sunday School premises, while as Circuit Steward he discharged his duties with urbane and faithful efficiency. His life of usefulness and devotion had its source in mystic fellowship with God. He was loyal to the work in the days of his activity. They all knew what Mr Butler was to the community, but they did not know what he was to that church.

Referring to Mr Butler’s public life, Mr Rogers reminded them that he was elected to the Town Council in 1903 and held office as Mayor in 1910-1911. During that year he suffered a bereavement from which he never fully recovered.

“Servant of God! Well done,” concluded Mr. Rogers, and the fervent murmurs of the congregation was an endorsement of his eulogy.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, October 20, 1922. (extracts)

Tom Butler was buried in grave plot A1033 where he lies with his wife Mary Ann who died in 1911 and their two young children, Hilda Mary who died aged 6 years in 1898 and Denis Stanley a 3 month old baby who died in 1899.

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