Ethel Frances Mary Percy (1873 – 1890)

Ethel Frances Mary Percy was born in 1873 in Newbury the daughter of George Peover and Hariet Mary, nee Pullen, Percy.

In the 1881 census Ethel was recorded with her parents and siblings Isabel, Arthur, Eleanor, Charlie, Harold and Harry at 64 Cheap Street in Newbury. Her father George was a carrier while Ethel was recorded as a scholar.

At a very young age Ethel was a talented musician and the local paper reported in February 1883 about an entertainment evening in Newbury Baptist church and the first item on the programme was a pianoforte duet, “The Maypole Dance”, performed by the Misses Anne Davies and Ethel Percy.

In March 1884 the Newbury Weekly News reported that a sacred concert was held at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Newbury. Ethel played Haydn’s “Sonata no 3” and the report stated that although she had only reached the age of ten, her execution gives promise of a high efficiency.

An article regarding Ada appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 4 March 1886 as below.

Royal College of Music – A preliminary examination for a scholarship in the Royal College of Music was conducted in this town on Thursday by Mr. J. S. Liddle, Mus. Bac., Mr. A. Walton, Mus. Bac. F.C.O., and Mr. Alphonse Cary. The only candidate was Miss Ethel Percy, 12 years of age, daughter of Mr. George Percy, of Cheap Street, who, it is gratifying to state, passed the ordeal successfully, and is therefore entitled to compete in the final examination which will be held in the course of a few weeks.

Just two months later in May 1886 the Newbury Weekly News reported about a concert held in West Street school rooms in the evening. A solo on the pianoforte was given by Miss Ethel Percy, whose faultless execution justified the recent choice of this young lady as the winner of a scholarship at the Royal College of Music.

Ethel died on 29 September 1890 aged just 17 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 October. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 2 October as below.

PERCY – September 29, at St Mary’s Hill, Ethel Frances Mary, youngest daughter of George P. and Harriet Mary Percy, aged 17 years.

Ethel’s parents George Peover and Harriet Mary Percy were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 May 1899 and 9 September 1903 respectively. In addition, five of her sisters were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, Florence on 24 July 1865 aged 7, Eva Henrietta on 15 April 1874 aged 19, Ada Eliza Gordon on 28 January 1921, Edith Annie on 3 March 1926 and Isabel on 27 June 1942.

Sources: