Death of George Thomas. : 無料・フリー素材/写真
Death of George Thomas. / Irlam,Cadishead,Rixton with Glazebrook old photos
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示-継承 2.1 |
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| 説明 | DEATH OF MR. GEORGE THOMAS. 1927.IRLAM'S GREATEST BENEFACTOR.FRIEND OF ALL AND ENEMY OF NONE.LASTING MEMORIALS OF A FINE CHARACTER.Irlam has lost a benefactor and its most outstanding citizen in the death of Mr. George Thomas, which took place at his residence, Irlam Hall, on Tuesday evening.Mr. Thomas, who was 79 years of age, had been failing in health for some years and the death of Miss Taylor, his faithful housekeeper, nearly 12 months ago, proved to be a great shock to him.He had enjoyed remarkably good health up to a few years ago, and was always most active and vigorous in business up to his retirement shortly after the Great War.The firm of George Thomas and ???? ?? which he was the founder and head, had a wide Continental connection. The firm introduced the Northrop loom, and other manufacturers' specialties into Turkey and other foreign countries.Mr. Thomas was a much-travelled gentleman and had often spent months in Turkey and other foreign lands. He held for some years an important official position in connection with the Turkish Chamber of Commerce, and was quite au fait with the Turkish language.He was also the representative in Russia of a large firm of Lancashire textile machinery makers, and could speak fluently four languages.IRLAM HALL.Irlam Hall, which came into the possession of Mr. Thomas in 1891, and at which he resided ever since is a mansion of the Elizabethan age, and contains a beam of massive size said to be the largest in the county.In the 15th century, the mansion was the property of the Irlams: then for a time it belonged to a family of Travers or Travis. It afterwards passed to Sir George Lathome in the reign of Edward VI. Lady Lathome was a daughter of Robert Lever, of Little Lever, and their descendant in the fourth generation was Thomas Lathome, of Irlam and Hawthorn Hall, in the county of Chester, who married at Ormskirk, October 31st, 1667. Mary, daughter of Thomas Ashurst, county of Lancashire, who lived at Irlam, in 1681.History records that he took a prominent part in promoting the revolution of 1688, and served as a captain in a troop of horse in Lord Delamere's regiment, raised to assist the Prince of Orange. He died after 1691. Jane, his daughter, and eventually the sole heir by survivorship, married about 1693 John Fenny, gentleman of FulshawHall, Chester, a volunteer who had fought for the Prince of Orange in the battle of the Boyne, 1689, and afterwards served with the Army in Flanders.He had a son, Captain Samuel Fenney, living in 1741. The estate was sold in 1695 to John Legh, and subsequently passed to the Stanleys, and was afterwards the property of the Pages. It was purchased from them by John Greaves, banker, of Highgate, who died December 10th, 1805, and was succeeded by his son John.STAGE COACH DAYS AND SIR ROBERT PEEL.Mr. Greaves, the son, also a banker, improved the hall considerably, adding a tower. It had previously been let to Mr. Lacy, the great coach proprietor, whose horses changed there on the journey between Manchester and Liverpool.Mr. Greaves companion at Irlam was his sister, Mary, and it was always said that brother and sister agreed to remain unmarried and be all in all to one another to the end of their days. They kept their loving engagement. Mr. Greaves dying a bachelor July, 1849, aged 56, and his sister March 16th, 1865, up to which time she continued at Irlam Hall, sole occupant for 16 years, "in maiden meditation, fancy free." She was the last of the family, except as to remote connections. The remains both lie in the graveyard of the Parish Church at Eccles. Under the style "Peel, Greaves and Co." Mr Greaves,had a partner as calico printer, who some years afterwards became historical as the first Sir Robert Peel, famous for the repeal of the Corn Laws. Sir Robert needs no nobler epitaph than the sentence inscribed upon the monument erected to his memory in Peel Park: "It may be what I shall leave a name sometime remembered with expressions of good will in the abodes of those whose lot it is to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow, when they shall recruit their exhausted strength with abundant and untaxed food, the sweeter because no longer leavened by a sense of injustice."Irlam Hall was afterwards occupied by the late Mr. Ash, and as stated, the late Mr. George Thomas became the owner and occupier in 1891 - three years before the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal and nearly four years before the Irlam Urban District Council came into being, the district having previously been part of the Barton Rural Sanitary Authority's area.The late Mr. Thomas came to Irlam Hall in the same year that the toll bars on the Queen's Highway was abolished - at Higher Irlam.THE LATE MR. THOMAS'S ACTIVITIES.Being a comparative stranger in the district at the time, the late Mr. George Thomas did not take an active part in the agitation which resulted in the establishment of the Urban District Council. But some years later, he threw himself heart and soul into the social well-being of the community, and took no little interest in public affairs.No public function of any description was complete without the presence of Mr. George Thomas. He took a most prominent part in the arrangements for the celebration of the late King Edward VII., and in connection with a visit, of his late Majesty, accompanied by Queen Alexandra on July 6th 1909, when their Late Majesties motored from Worsley through Irlam and Cadishead to Knowsley, after opening the new Infirmary at Manchester and subsequently inspecting the Territorials in the beautiful grounds of the Earl of Ellesmere.To commemorate the occasion, Mr. Thomas gave to the district the children's playground, bearing his name at Irlam, and an anonymous poet then said of him:Hail to thee, benefactor of this place,May health attend thee and those of thy race,#The young will bless thee for thy kindly thought,And revel in the pleasure to them brought,Thy kindly presence cheer up one and all,And not in vain on thee the weary call,Reward thou seekest not to find,A pleasure in the good thou dost mankind,And in the dim and distant future so; shall say,'As on the sward they see the little children play,"Kind hearts are more than coronets and they name.Will treasured be by children in the game.THE GIFT OF PRINCE'S PARKAs is well known some years later, Mr. Thomas gave Princes Park to the district in honour of the visit of the Prince of Wales, to whom among others, he was introduced on the occasion. Mr. Thomas was an active member of the Ree? Committee during the Great War, chairman of the Red Cross Committee, a member of the Tribunal and took a real interest in recruiting. He was spoken of by many of the men who joined up from the district as "the Tommies' friend" and soldiers serving at the front during the terrible years of the war.He prized highly these letters and there were few soldiers belonging to the district who did not visit Irlam Hall during their period of furlough. He likewise took a leading part in the raising of the special constables and the volunteer corps which he initiated.There was indeed no public work in Irlam in which the late benefactor of the district did not take an active part. He was mainly responsible for the raising of the funds for the erection of the district's War Memorial in Prince's Park, assisted by the local tradesmen, and the design was largely the product of Mr. Thomas' mind..A FRIEND OF EX-SERVICE MENDeceased was a much valued friend of the British Legion of Ex-Servicemen, to whom, he had made many gifts in connection with their headquarters in Liverpool Road, and his memory will remain fresh and green to the many people in the district whom he has befriended at one time or another.He was in the truest sense of the word, a typical English gentleman, ever ready to do a kindly deed or to speak an encouraging word to the legion who sought his help and advice. I t was his chief delight to do good and the news of his death has cast a gloom over the whole locality.THE CREMATION.The remains were conveyed to the Manchester Crematorium adjoining the Southern Cemetery, Chorlton, yesterday (Friday), the Rev. H.H. Johnson, pastor of the "Wayside Pulpit" Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, conducting an impressive service.He extolled the character of the late Mr. Thomas. The cortege from Irlam Hall included two nieces of the deceased, Mrs Espley (housekeeper), Mr. A. Megson (executor). Mr. Davies (artist), an old personal friend. Dr. Chas. Moffat (medical adviser). Mr. H. Hilton, and representatives of the Urban District Council: Mr. B. Wilkinson, representing the local branch of the British Legion.The Manchester Engineers' Club was represented by Messrs H. Richardson, hon, sec., H. Cruse and J. Furnivall. The bearers were Messrs. R. Taylor, B. Johnson, Tom Cordingley and W. Cordingley. The inscription upon the coffin in gilt letters, was "George Thomas, J.P., died 22nd March, 1927, aged 79 years.The urn containing the ashes will be interred at the Parish Church graveyard, Irlam, on Tuesday afternoon next, at 2.30. preceded by a service in the Parish Church. Representatives of all the local organisations which the deceased had assisted during his residence at Irlam Hall are invited to attend.Mr. Johnson, undertaker, Cadishead, has charge of the funeral arrangements and all inquiries are to be made of him. The flags at the Urban Council offices and the British Legion Club, Liverpool Road, have been at half-mast since Mr. Thomas passed away.AN APPRECIATION.BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM INTIMATELY.Those who knew Mr. Thomas most intimately will miss him the most. His once familiar figure has been seldom seen of recent years outside the confines of Irlam Hall.The Great War, with its many perturbing and distressing influences told its tale upon Mr. Thomas, as it did with many others. There was no one in the district who aided recruiting more than he did or entered more whole-heartedly into the various committees which the world-conflict brought into being in the district.Probably Mr. Thomas was seen at his best in the work of the local Red Cross Committee, of which he was chairman, and took a deep personal interest in the beneficent work of that organisation, besides being a most generous contributor to its funds.He received many hundreds of letters from soldiers and sailors, while serving their country and must have written in reply quite as many.A GENTLEMAN WITH VARIED INTERESTS.No memoir of so worthy a citizen would be complete which did not contain a reference to Mr. Thomas's abiding interest in matters educational. He was always a staunch and liberal supporter of the evening classes, and many years ago gave £100 worth of Ship Canal shares with which to endow bt the accruing interest a number of "George Thomas" Scholarships for competition among local students.On several occasions he distributed the prizes and certificates to the students and for several years in succession gave substantial special prizes to students obtaining the best results in the examinations.It may truthfully be said of Mr. Thomas that he was the friend of all and the enemy of no one. He had a large heart and was sympathetic to an extraordinary degree. The extent of his charity and benevolence will never be fully known, but everybody will be agreed that the district has lost its best and truest friend.The late Mr. Thomas numbered among a host of friends from various parts, Mr. Joe Mitchell Chapple, editor of the "National Magazine," Boston, Mass., and author of several popular works, including "Heart Throbs," which found a ready sale through Mr. Thomas in this country.Mr. Chapple held the late Mr. Thomas in very high regard and some years ago wrote a special article concerning his close friendship in the magazine mentioned, after a visit he had paid to Mr. Thomas at Irlam Hall. No one will feel the death of Mr. Thomas more keenly than the American author.HOW THE END CAME.As stated Mr. Thomas has not enjoyed robust health for the last few years. The strenuous years of the war affected somewhat his constitution, and it is many years since he took his seat on the Bench as a county magistrate. He loved Irlam Hall and its surroundings, and spent a great deal of time in his garden. He was always happy among flowers, and had not had a holiday away from home for very many years. He had been attended for some weeks by Dr. Moffat (Irlam) for influenza, from which he was making what seemed to be a good recovery up to Thursday of last week. He had been moving about the house in a state of convalescence, but on Friday was stricken down again, and acute bronchial pneumonia supervened.Dr. Klepz, a well known Manchester specialist was called in on Monday and pronounced Mr. Thomas to be in a very dangerous condition. The patient received the unremitting attention of Dr. Moffat, up to his passing away, which took place between 7 and 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening. He will be much mourned because of his good deeds, and the district will be greatly the poorer by his death.It was quite a common practice for soldiers to call upon George Thomas as their last act before leaving the district for service and very few made visits home on furlough without looking in at Irlam Hall to see their old friend. Hid advice and counsel on the Military Tribunal upon which he served was always much valued by his colleagues and on the War Relief Committee and War Pensions Committee he ungrudgingly gave most valuable aid.He was chairman of the latter committee and took a keen interest in obtaining full justice for the many cases which came up for adjudication.A HOUSEHOLD WORD.His name indeed has been a household word in the district for very many years, and his enforced retirement, due to increasing years and failing health,occasioned much regret. His advice has been continuously sought after by those in need of a friend, and readily given, and it has been marvellous the amount of time and patience, as well as assistance, he has given to relieve the cares and worries of others.No deserving applicant ever left Mr. Thomas empty-handed, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has not a single enemy in the district, where his benefactions have been legion. No one in fact will ever know the extent of his generosity; it was not wholly confined to Irlam and Cadishead.Many charitable organisations outside received substantial financial help from (the Squire of Irlam Hall," and his memory will be cherished by a very large circle of friends. He was much concerned with the social and municipal welfare of the district, and though he would never consent to allow his name to go forward for election on the local authority he was not less interested in the work of the Urban Council, which came into being two or three years after Mr. Thomas purchased and took up his residence at Irlam Hall.Mr. Thomas was a gentleman of broad mind, of a most kindly and sympathetic disposition, but exercised sternness where it was called for and was severe on the impostor. He was, in fact, quick to discern attempts at imposition, whilst the really deserving always found in him a true friend. He was not fluent in speech, but always original and sometimes racy in his short addresses.The advice which he gave on several occasions to evening class students will be still remembered, and the George Thomas scholarships which he founded by a substantial gift many years ago will serve to keep green the memory of one who was always a true friend of education and a keen admirer of effort and studious conduct in youthful pupils.He has given many prizes to evening class students and in no sphere of public service has the district ever had a more genuine and sincere friend.ENDURING MEMORIALSHis munificent gift of the George Thomas Recreation Ground for children,and the Prince's Park at Irlam, are outstanding examples of his large heartedness and benevolence. The War Memorial in Prince's Park is largely the product of his own individual effort.He raised the bulk of the funds, designed the memorial, and personally supervised its erection. He was the staunch friend of the British Legion of ex-Servicemen, and no gentleman was held in higher regard by the members than the late Mr. George Thomas of Irlam Hall.Mr. Thomas was most exact in all his dealings, and practised punctuality. One could almost have told the time of day on seeing Mr. Thomas on his way to the railway station daily going to business.His invariably pleasant countenance and shaggy beard gave to him an outstanding personality. H had a cheery "Good Morning" for people whom he knew, and took a delight in chatting with children and giving them a word of encouragement.He was deeply interested in music, and the Irlam Public Prize Band found in him a most generous president. Every section of Irlam's public life, in fact, will be the poorer by his removal to the bourne from whence no traveller returns.The district has indeed lost its most distinguished and kind-hearted citizen. All who knew him - and there are few in the district who did not - will agree that he has left a most worthy example, and Irlam and Cadishead are the richer in every respect for the late Mr. George Thomas having lived here for nearly 36 years. The whole district mourns the loss of its greatest citizen."He being dead yet speaketh."Suzanne Coleman @SuColeman GeorgeThomas married my great, great grandmother Elizabeth Mont in Barcelona in 1869.Pete Thomas @DistrictatWar22nd April 1917: 2nd Lt. Walter Joseph Charles Thomas, 11th King's Own Royal Lancasters, died of wounds #WW1 #Irlam #LestWeForgetWalter Joseph Charles ThomasSecond Lieutenant Walter Joseph Charles Thomas served with the 11th (Service) Battalion, The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 120th Infantry Brigade, 40th Division.Walter was born in 1897 at Prestwich, the only son of William Walter and Frances Mary Thomas (nee Smith). His parents later resided at The Nook, Oughtrington, Lymm, Cheshire. He was the grandson of George Thomas JP of Irlam Hall. Walter was living at Moorside House, Flixton, when he enlisted at Manchester on 7th April 1915 as a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery (RFA). Walter was only 17 years old at the time and had lied about his age to enlist. On 4th October 1915 he took up a temporary commission as Second Lieutenant in the 11th King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). He undertook his training to become an officer at Oxford University Officer Training Corps.Walter was wounded on 21st April and died of his wounds at No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station the following day, Sunday, 22nd April 1917. He was 19. He lies buried at Bray Military Cemetery, Somme, France. The inscription on his grave reads: ‘Jesus Mercy, Mary Help’. |
| 撮影日 | 2016-01-31 00:00:00 |
| 撮影者 | Irlam,Cadishead,Rixton with Glazebrook old photos |
| 撮影地 | |
| カメラ | FinePix JV300 , FUJIFILM |
| 露出 | 0.033 sec (1/30) |
| 開放F値 | f/3.9 |