St. Augustine's Church – Radnor Street Cemetery

When John Kelynack retired from the position of chief clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department he received numerous presents; including a cheque from the GWR Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Mutual Assurance Sick & Superannuation Society and ‘a handsome barometer.’

Like so many of his generation John Kelynack appears to have had an inexhaustible enthusiasm for life, although perhaps his rather severe countenance in this press photograph might suggest otherwise.

His 47 year career with the GWR began when he was 16 years old and had taken him from working as a Time & Storekeeper at Penzance station to that of chief clerk in the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department with responsibility for more than 1,600 employees.

Among his other responsibilities across the years was vice president, trustee and hon treasurer of the Mechanics Institution along with chairman of the GWR Medical Fund and president of the GWR Staff Gleemen. He taught Evening Classes at Swindon College and was churchwarden at St Augustine’s Church in Rodbourne. He also worked for a whole list of other organisations mentioned in the obituary below.

John Kelynack was born February 1, 1877 in Penzance the son of a cabinet maker John Kelynack and his wife Mary. In 1905 he married Margaret Ethel Maud Hiscock at The Wesley Methodist Chapel in Bath Road, Swindon. The couple did not have any children.

Mr J. Kelynack Dies at 69

Former Chief Clerk to Swindon C.M.E.

Mr John Kelynack, who retired from the position of Chief Clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department at Swindon Works in February, 1941, died at 38, Goddard avenue, Swindon in the early hours of this morning. He was 69 years of age.

Mr Kelynack, who was a native of Cornwall, joined the GWR on 27, November, 1893 at Penzance. Four years later, (15 March, 1897) he was transferred to Swindon as a clerk in the Mileage and Accounts Section. In the evenings he took advantage of the night classes provided by the Education authority to gain a good grounding in accountancy under the late Mr Walter Johnson, chartered accountant.

Promotion Steps

Subsequently he went to the London School of Economics for further study in accountancy and office organisation and, after two years, returned as teacher to the Swindon night classes, where he was originally under Mr Johnson.

On 19 May, 1913, Mr Kelynack was appointed assistant to the clerk-in-charge, Locomotive Acccounts, and in March of the following year he became clerk-in-charge.

On the amalgamation of the Locomotive with the Carriage and Wagon Accounts in 1917, he was appointed clerk in charge of the whole accounting staffs.

Next step in his promotion was to the office of Assistant Chief Clerk on 21 February, 1918, and on the death of Mr A.J.L. White in October, 1929, he reached the top rung of the ladder as Chief Clerk.

Throughout his career he was closely identified with the introduction of new and improved methods of railway accountancy. He was the moving figure behind the great changes that took place in the counting and office methods of the GWR Medical Fund Society, and also rendered valuable assistance in the revision of the Society’s rules.

Church Work

For 30 years Mr Kelynack worked hard for St. Augustine’s Church, and was the first warden appointed by the Vicar.

Other offices held by him during his career included trustee, vice-president and hon. treasurer of the GWR Medical Fund Society; hon. treasurer of the GWR Enginemen and Firemen’s Mutual Assurance Society, trustee and hon. treasurer of the GWR Mechanics’ Institute, Swindon, trustee of the GWR Sick Fund; vice-president and hon. auditor of the GWR (Swindon) Athletic Association; member of the committee of the GWR (London) Lecture and Debating Society, president of the GWR (Swindon) Accounts Staff Gleemen and the GWR (Swindon) Retired Workmen’s Association.

He was also chairman of directors of the Swindon Permanent Building Society, and a member of the Remembrance Lodge of Freemasons.

Mrs. Kelynack died several years ago.

Swindon Advertiser Monday July 22, 1946.

John Kelynack died in July 1946 aged 69 years. His burial took place on July 26 in grave plot C10, joining his wife who had died 12 years previously.

Published courtesy of P.A. Williams and Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

James Spackman was born in Wootton Bassett in 1844 the son of Richard and Mary Ann Spackman. He was born into a ready made family firm where he began work as a plasterer alongside his father and uncle.

However, following his marriage to Margaretta Pozzi, the daughter of Italian born jeweller (and sometime innkeeper) James set about building his own dynasty.

By 1881 James and his family had moved into Swindon and were living at 2 Merton Street. At the time of the 1891 census they were living at 1 Clifton Street where James described himself as a builder. Working alongside him were his two sons Hubert (sometimes called Herbert) and Charles who were both carpenter’s apprentices.

The Spackman family business went from strength to strength as the firm built properties in Broad Street, Volta Road and Ponting Street. They began work on St Augustine’s Church in Rodbourne in 1907 and in 1931 they built the sacristy at Holy Rood R.C. Church. They built villas in Bath Road and Okus Road, which became Spackman family homes.

James Spackman died in 1930 at the age of 87 and was described as a well-known builder and contractor in the obituary (see below) published in the North Wilts Herald. He was buried in grave plot E8540 with his wife Margaretta who had died in 1918. They were joined by their unmarried daughter Florence Alice who died in 1961.

The Radnor Street Cemetery burial registers list the grave of James’s son Charles Mortimer Spackman who died in 1945 aged 72 years. He is buried in grave plot C1192 with his wife Annie and their infant son Herbert who died in September 1899 just days old.

New Church, Swindon – The foundation stone of a new church, to be dedicated to St. Augustine, was laid recently at Swindon. The plans have been prepared by Mr W.A. Masters, architect, of Swindon, and the contract let to Messrs. H. & C. Spackman, builders, Swindon, at 3,100l (£3,100). The plan is of the Basilican type and the first portion to be erected at once will be the nave to accommodate 500 persons. It will be constructed of brick throughout.

The Builder May 4, 1907.

Death of a Swindon J.P.

Former Member of Town Council

The death took place at his residence, 8, Okus road, Swindon, on Thursday in last week, of Mr James Spackman, J.P., at the age of 87 years.

Mr Spackman was a native of Wootton Bassett, but had lived the greater part of his life in Swindon and was a well-known builder and contractor.

For a number of years he was a member of the Swindon Town Council, but retired from municipal life about ten years ago.

Mrs Spackman died in 1918.

There are four sons and two daughters, two of the sons being Messrs. H. and C. Spackman, builders and contractors of Hunt street.

Mr Spackman was one of the founders of Sanford street Congregational Church, and had held the office of deacon since it was founded.

The funeral took place at Radnor Street Cemetery, Swindon, on Saturday.

The service was conducted at the house and graveside by the Rev. A.R. Smart. The chief mourners were: Messrs. H.J. Spackman, C.M. Spackman and E.A. Spackman (sons), Mrs Fulton and Miss F. Spackman (daughters), Messrs R. Spackman, H. Spackman, A. Spackman, and R. Spackman (grandsons).

North Wilts Herald, Friday, December 12, 1930.

Tag: St. Augustine's Church

John Kelynack – chief clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department

James Spackman – a well-known builder and contractor