Children of Gertrude and John Wigham Edmundson

EDMUNDSON—HARRISSON.

Considerable interest attached to the wedding which took place at the Friends' Meeting-House, Bocking, on Wednesday afternoon, of Mr. Herbert Watson Edmundson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Edmundson, of Shaftesbury Place, Gateshead-on-Tyne, with Miss Olive Mary Harrisson, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Harrisson, of Bocking. This was the first marriage solemnised at the Bocking Meeting-House for 30 years, and a large number of people gathered to witness it. The bride studies horticulture at Swanley, Kent, where she won a scholarship and the only gold medal that has been awarded to a lady gardener in England. She was appointed second lady gardener to Mr. George Cadbury, of North Field, Birmingham, and afterwards head gardener to Mr. George Cadbury, jun., of Selly Oak, Bourneville.

In the Meeting-House the bride and bridegroom sat together on the top form, facing the congregation, their parents being on either side, and immediate friends on seats set crossways in front. Mr. Harris Smith, of Coggeshall, opened the service with prayer, and then the bride and bridegroom rose from their seats and clasped hands. The bridegroom next made the following statement in view and hearing of all:—

Friends,—In the fear of the Lord, and in the presence of this assembly, I take my friend Olive Mary Harrisson to be my wife, promising, with Divine assistance, to be unto her loving and faithful, until it shall please the Lord by death to separate us.

The bride made a similar declaration in a clear voice. Behind the bridal party, in the minister's gallery, sat Mrs. Matthews, of Earls Colne, Mrs. Barritt, of Kelvedon, and Mr. J. Shuttleworth Baker, of Halstead, each of whom took part in the devotional service which followed. Subsequently the registrar, Mr. Hy. Hills, of Earls Colne, presented and read the marriage certificate, and after the bridal party had signed it, all in the congregation were invited to append their signatures. The party subsequently drove back to the residence of the bride's parents, where a reception took place.

The bride wore a dress of white Liberty satin, with point lace collar, and white hat, trimmed with chiffon. She carried a bouquet of white roses and lilies, with shamrock, and wore a gold brooch, with shamrocks in pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. The bride also wore a pendant, made of enamel and silver by her sister, Miss Nellie Harrisson, at the Chelmsford Technical School. There were four bridesmaids, the Misses Ethel and Nellie Harrisson, sisters of the bride, and the Misses Eva and Sarah Edmundson, sisters of the bridegroom. They wore dresses of flowered Liberty de laine, in blue, with blue crêpe de chine yokes, and sprays and bunches of shamrock. All wore gold brooches, with shamrocks in pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. The best man was Mr. John Shackleton, of Lucan, county Dublin. There were about 160 presents. The bridegroom's presents to the bride were a gold brooch and a bicycle, and those of the bride to the bridegroom were a gold ring and a barometer. Mr. and Mrs. Edmundson gave the young couple a piano and a cheque, and the bride's parents gave a pair of old Wedgwood candlesticks and a sewing machine. Mr. Granger, the secretary of the Sunbeam Lounge Company, and the employees sent a silver-plated tea and coffee service on an inscribed tray. The Sunday School teachers, Pilgrim-street, Newcastle, forwarded three of R.L. Stevenson's works beautifully bound, and the bridegroom's class in the same school sent a silver-plated inkstand. Mr. George Cadbury sent the bride a cheque, and Mr. George Cadbury, jun., a rosewood revolving bookcase.

H.W. EDMUNDSON writes his life history. Has an excellent wife and three children. Is sometimes known as "Foreman," sometimes as "Our expert of the special lamps," sometimes "Superintendent of our Special Lamp Department." He is president of an Adult School in the neighbourhood of one of the big public schools. The public schoolmaster addresses the school sometimes, and is told by a Methodist shoemaker that he does not know what he is talking about. The Old Boy modestly sums himself up in the word of the former French Master—Monsieur Jalaquier—"mèdiocre."

£9,000 ESTATE

MR. Herbert Watson Edmundson, The Cottage, Aysgarth Leybourn, Yorkshire, late of Bilton, Rugby, retired electrical engineer, who died on August 17th last, aged seventy-four years, left £9,401 15 s. gross, £9,325 10s. net. He left £500 and personal chattels to his wife and residue upon trust for her for life, and remainder to children, John, David, Ruth, Gertrude. Probate has been granted to his sons, Mr. John Edmundson, of Woolscott, Rugby, and Mr. David Edmundson, 2, Plexfield Road, Bilton.

PRESENTATION TO MR. J.E. EDMUNDSON.

INTERESTING EVENT AT HADFIELD.

MARK OF ESTEEM FROM EMPLOYEES.

On Thursday morning, July 23rd, a pleasing event took place at the Pear Tree Hotel, Hadfield Road, when those employees of the Urban electric Supply Co. who for the last eight months have been engaged in constructing the tram track, presented Mr. J.E. Edmundson, the assistant engineer, who is shortly to be married, with a handsome clock, chimney ornaments to match, and a biscuit barrel, as a mark of their appreciation and regard. A list of those who had contributed accompanied the presentation. The various articles, which were purchased from Mr. H. Fielding of Glossop, were greatly admired.

Mr. D.O. Ward, who acted as treasurer, was chosen to make the presentation. After performing that pleasing duty, he called upon the assembled company to drink the health of Mr. Edmundson together with that of the bride elect. This, it is needless to say, was done with enthusiasm.

Mr. Edmundson, after acknowledging the compliment, and thanking the subscribers for their handsome presents, referred to the difficulties of the position in which he was placed. It was, he said, no easy matter to do justice to all, and in the interests of his employers, he had often been obliged to act with seeming severity. "The moon looked on many brooks," and it was always hard to reconcile the conflicting interests of a large number of men. He had endeavoured not to forget that others besides himself had ambitions and rights, and he could honestly say that he had done his best to treat them all with impartiality and justice. There had been very little friction, he was glad to say, between masters and men - in fact, he could not remember having been before engaged on works where things had gone on so amicably. In conclusion, he expressed a hope that he might meet some at any rate of those present at the future scene of his energies at Scarborough.

After various members of the company had contributed songs, hearty cheers were given for Mr. Edmondson [sic] and the other members of the staff, and to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" the company broke up, and returned to their labours.

Great credit is due to Mr. Anderson for the able way in which, at short notice, the affair was carried through.

Mr. J.E. Edmundson was down to open the conversation, the subjecting being—"Is all War Wrong?" Mr. Edmundson dealt in a remarkable manner with this topic, advancing strong arguments to prove that war, to a large extent, was wasteful, immoral, and unnecessary, at the same time making a strong plea for peace.

MR. J.E. EDMUNDSON'S NEW APPOINTMENT.—Mr. J.E. Edmundson, A.M.I.E.E., who for thirteen years has been in charge of the Electric Lighting Works at Grantham and Stamford, is shortly leaving, to take up an appointment as resident engineer with the same company at Hawick. Mr Edmundson has made many friends in Grantham, and, whilst they will regret that he is about to leave the town, they will entertain the sincerest good wishes for his future. The works to which Mr. Edmundson is to proceed are twice the size of those at Grantham, the chief output being for power for running the local hosiery and tweed mills [ . . . ] For the last few months, Mr. Edmundson has been one of the 460 district engineers voluntarily working for the Coal Controller, his duties being to investigate factories and works using coal in Notts. and Lincolnshire, and to advise the Controller whether the coal was being used to the best advantage. A man of genial temperament and uncommon energy, Mr. Edmundson has found time, despite the arduous and exacting nature of his official duties, to do voluntary work in the interests of the local community. He has been a valued member of the Board of Guardians, and has done especially good work on the Boarding-out and House Committees. He has also served as a member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade and as a special constable. For some time, he was connected with the Grantham Brotherhood, and was a vice-president of that organisation. In recent years, he has actively identified himself with the Belton Military Hospital Comforts Fund, his untiring work in connection therewith being very highly appreciated. Mr. Edmundson has served the Electric Light Company for over twenty years.

HIGH STREET HALL, GRANTHAM.

To be SOLD by AUCTION, by

G.W. GOLDING, F.A.I.,

Favoured with instructions from Mr. J.E. Edmundson, A.M.I.E.E., Harrowby Road, Grantham, and others, on Thursday, 15th May, 1919,

A QUANTITY of MODERN

Household Furniture,

[itemised, but omitted here, as it's not clear how many of these had belonged to Edmundson]

MR. J.E. EDMUNDSON.

TRAGIC DEATH OF A FORMER GRANTHAM RESIDENT.

Mr. J.E. Edmundson, manager of the Urban Electric Supply Co. at Hawick (Scotland), whose dead body was found on the railway near that town during the week-end, was formerly a well-known resident of Grantham. For 14 years he was the managing engineer for the Grantham Urban Electric Supply Co. and he only left the town a year ago to take up the position at Hawick. He was a member of the Grantham Board of Guardians, was prominently connected with the Brotherhood movement in the district, and during the war was chiefly instrumental in organising Christmas festivities for the hundreds of troops who were stationed at Belton Park and Harrowby camps/

TRAGIC DEATH OF MR J.E. EDMUNDSON.

Found Dead on the Railway.

At an early hour on Saturday morning the dead body of Mr J.E. Edmundson, A.M.I.E.E., resident engineer and manager of the Urban Electric Supply Company (Ltd.), was found on the North British Railway near the crossing at the Duke's Wood, about a mile and a half south of Hawick Station. He was almost decapitated, and his right hand was also cut off. The deceased was last seen about eleven o'clock the previous evening, having left the works shortly before that hour.

Mr Edmundson came to Hawick from Grantham—where he had held a similar post with the Urban Company for thirteen years—in the beginning of 1919, and during his stay in Hawick was held in high regard by the business community. Outside of his professional work he quickly identified himself with social movements. He attended East Bank U.F. Church, and appeared on the platform at temperance meetings. He was an office-bearer in the Workers' Educational Association, whose meetings appeared to afford him much pleasurable interest. He was instrumental, by a strong personal appeal, in raising money and clothing for the relief of the starving people of Armenia, and in various other directions he evinced an intelligent interest in the welfare of the community, in which he had already become a familiar figure as he actively pursued his daily calling.

The funeral took place on Tuesday, the interment being at Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The cortege from the home of the deceased to Hawick Railway Station was large and representative, and there were numerous floral tributes.

Deceased is survived by his widow and a family of four children, for whom the deepest sympathy if felt in their sore bereavement.

JOHN EDGAR EDMUNDSON was born on the 22nd April, 1879, at Foxrock, Co. Dublin.

His father who at that time was engineer to Messrs. Edmundson of Dublin, a firm then largely engaged in the construction of lighthouses, shortly afterwards moved to Gateshead and was engaged in the manufacture of incandescent electric lamps, first with the Ediswan Company and later with the Sunbeam Lamp Company.

He was educated at the High School at Gateshead, and afterwards at the Friends' Boarding School at Ackworth, in Yorkshire.

In December 1894 he started to serve his time with Messrs. J. Wigham Richardson & Co., in their marine engine works at Newcastle, but left two years later and went to the Electrical Department of Messrs. Clarke, Chapman at Gateshead, being chiefly engaged on ship installation work. While living in Newcastle he attended lectures and classes at Armstrong College.

In 1901 he was appointed assistant engineer at the electricity works, Brechin, one of the group of undertakings controlled by Messrs. Edmundsons' Electricity Corporation, and all his later work was in connection with this firm.

His next appointments were on the construction of tramways between Camborne and Redruth, and in Glossop and Scarborough. He remained at the last-named town as engineer and manager until 1906, when he was appointed resident engineer and manager of the electricity supply undertaking at Grantham. During the time of his management at Grantham the undertaking was very considerably enlarged, and in 1914 and 1915 large contracts were carried out for the equipment and supply of the camp adjoining the town.

In 1919 he was transferred to the more important undertaking at Hawick. The output of these works during his management increased materially, and further plant was being installed at the time of his decease. His life was uneventful, but full of hard and enthusiastic work in the interest of his employers and of the undertakings with the management of which he was entrusted.

He had a great facility for making friends, as he had a cheery and bright manner which made it easy for him to get into intimate touch with people in all walks of life. The letters which were written after his death by his brother engineers and the men who worked under him are a fine record of the influence which a man of absolute integrity and uprightness of character has on those with whom he associates. He was a sound engineer and a most executive manager. He died at the early age of 41, leaving a wife and four children, and his death was a loss to the firm for whom he had worked for 19 years.

He was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1902, an Associate Member in 1905, and a Member in 1920.

John Edgar Edmundson: (sholar 1890–94). After leaving Ackworth served his apprenticeship in engineering works on the Tyne. In 1900 he joined the staff of Edmundson's Electricity Corporation and was associated with them for the rest of his life, having charge of several of their electric supply stations. He married Marion Hall (scholar 1889–93), of Thirsk, in 1903. When living at Scarborough he took a useful part in the Friends' Meeting and Adult School. He served on the Ackworth Committee for some years. J.E.E. had a great knack of making friends with all classes of people and during the war, when living at Grantham, kept open house for officers and soldiers from the camp near by. Though always upholding his own peace principles, his hospitality and unsparing efforts on behalf of the men in hospital were much appreciated. In business he held as high a character for honest and straightforwardness as for geniality and thoughtfulness in deal with others, and the strenuous way in which he carried out his work. He died at Hawick on September 17th, 1920, aged 41 years.

CYRIL EDMUNDSON (1898–9) finds Canada "a fine country for anyone with a little grit and patience," but useless for the chronic grumbler. He even manages to get a little football now and then, and was recently one of the victorious team in a tournament. The prize awarded to each man in the winning team was a pair of brilliant yellow football boots! [ . . . ] We are happy to be able to publish some photographs which Cyril Edmundson has kindly sent us. [ . . . ] It may, perhaps, be useful to his many friends if we record the fact that Cyril Edmundson's postal address has recently undergone a change owing to the creation of the new province of Saskatchewan, and letters to him should in future be addressed to Penarth, Saskatchewan, N.W.T.

EDMUNDSON—BENJAFIELD.—At Regina, Canada, on May 15th, Cyril Edmundson, of Ashlea Farm, Silton, Sask, youngest son of John W. and Gertrude Edmundson, of Gateshead, to Myrtle P. Benjafield, of Silton, Sask. Canada. (By Cable.)

FOR SALE

A FIRST-CLASS DAIRY FARMING PROPOSITION

with full equipment. This will stand the closest investigation and is a real money-maker, sickness compelling me to sell. The land is situated at Saskatchewan Beach on Last Mountain Lake, comprising 65 acres with a large well-built and up-to-date barn, concrete floor and iron stanchions; five-room cottage, newly built, and granary 14x20. For further particulars apply Cyril Edmundson, Box 62, Silton, Sask.