FREDERICK HICKMAN

DEATH OF MR. FREDERICK HICKMAN

MEMBER OF OLD NEWBURY FAMILY

A link with the past has been severed by the death of Mr. Frederick Hickman which occurred on Wednesday last week. Mr. Hickman, who was in his 89^th year, was only taken ill two days previously.

Mr. Frederick Hickman was a member of an old Newbury family prominently associated with the municipal and business life of the town. He was the second son of the late Alderman Joseph Hickman, four times Mayor of Newbury, first in 1852 and subsequently in the following year and in 1872 and 1873.

It was this Mr. Hickman who in 1838 acquired the well known business in the Market Place now carried on under the name of Hickman and Metcalf. The partnership was formed when Mr. Frederick Hickman succeeded his father and the business then consisted of the chemist’s shop with the oil and colour shop next door which is now the optical and photographic department. Subsequently, the manufacture of mineral water was added. The partnership made the firm well known throughout the countryside from Hurstbourne Tarrant to Wantage.

Both Mr. Frederick Hickman and Mr. Benjamin Metcalf took an active part in the business until the end of the War when they handed over the reins to their sons, Mr. Stanley Hickman and Mr. Harry Metcalf. Mr. Frederick was largely instrumental in starting the Newbury Laundry Company, and he was also interested in the formation of the Newbury Mineral Water Company, and he was also interested in the formation of the Newbury Mineral Water Company For about 14 years he was a churchwarden at St John’s, while he was also a Trustee of Newbury Savings Bank. Since his retirement he led a quiet retired life, his chief hobby being gardening. His wife predeceased him in 1928. Mr. Hickman leaves two daughters and three sons.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral took place quietly on Saturday at the Newtown-road Cemetery. A service in the church was conducted by the Rector and Rural Dean of Newbury, Canon W.L. Cooper, the committal sentences being pronounced by the Rev. W.J. Holloway, vicar of St Mary’s, Speenhamland.

The family mourners were: Mr. F.S. Hickman (son), Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Alcock (daughter and son-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Hickman (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. And Mrs. H. Royce (daughter and son-in-law), Mr. H. M. Hickman (grandson) and Mrs. Kirk. Owing to illness Mr. C.H. Hickman (youngest son) was unfortunately unable to be present.

Newbury Weekly News 8 November 1934