JOHN WILLIAM EGGLETON

A MAN OF MANY JUBILEES

We regret to announce the death of Mr. John William Eggleton, of 20 Pound-street, N Newbury, which took place on Monday morning. Mr. Eggleton, who was 71 years of age in May, had been ill for some time, and was bedridden for the last two months.

Mr. Eggleton was born at Newbury. He was a man who spent his life usefully and well. His employers valued his services highly; for his church and its causes he worked with untiring devotion. He set some remarkable records of consistency and long service. They speak for themselves, 59 years a chorister, 57 years in the service of one firm, over 50 years a Rechabite, over 48 years a local preacher.

His father was a strong churchman, but his mother was an ardent Primitive Methodist, and the children inherited her religious instincts. Throughout his life he had been closely identified with the Methodist Church in Bartholomew-street, and up to the time of his last illness he was still an active preacher, a member of the church choir, a trustee, treasurer of the Local Preachers' Mutual Aid Association, treasurer for home and foreign missions, and these were but a few of the offices he had faithfully filled.

Possessing a very good bass voice, besides singing at concerts and entertainments held in connection with the church, he belonged for many years to the old Newbury Carollers, who, by their Christmastide singing in the district around Newbury, raised the sum of over £700. When he completed his jubilee as a chorister, he commemorated the occasion by entertaining about 100, including past and present choir members and friends, to a social evening. They sprang a surprise on him by presenting him with a comfortable solid oak easy chair, in which he is seen resting in the accompanying picture.

[Photograph]

Another recognition of his church work was the presentation of Dr. Moffatt's Translation of the New Testament, as a token of his then 45 years as a local preacher. It was in 1887 that Mr. Eggleton's name was added to the Newbury Primitive Methodist plan for preaching appointments, and Sunday after Sunday he went out into the villages to take services, while he was always in great demand at the annual camp meetings.

The oldest employee of Messrs. Camp Hopson and Co. Ltd., as a painter and decorator, he began 57 years ago, when the late Alderman Joseph Hopson, founder of the firm, was at its head. As an ardent Rechabite he held various offices, and he was also treasurer of the Newbury and District Friendly Societies' Council. A man who will be much missed. He leaves two daughters, his wife having predeceased him several years ago.

The funeral takes place to-day (Thursday) the service being at the Bartholomew-street Methodist Church at 2.30pm.

Newbury Weekly News 26 September 1935

Mrs P. p.1 No. 1

Buried 26 September 1935 Book 1917 p. 190 No. 11,118

also wife Jane (Jennie) died 15 October 1922 aged 56

JOHN WILLIAM EGGLETON

CHURCH FULL AT FUNERAL

There was a very large attendance at the Methodist Church Bartholomew-street, on Thursday last for the funeral service of Mr. John William Eggleton, of 20 Pound-street, Newbury. In addition to relatives there were present members of the church and congregation, many from villages, Methodist churches, representatives of the firm of Camp Hopson and Co. Ltd., and officials and colleagues of the deceased belonging to the Independent Order of Rechabites.

The service was taken by the Superintendent Minister, Rev. John E. Ogden, assisted by the Rev. Frank Manning. The hymns were “A charge to keep I have” and “I'll praise my Maker with my breath”. Mr. Charles Griffin, the organist, played “O rest in the Lord” (Mendelssohn) and “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Handel) as the congregation assembled and “Blest are the departed” (Sporh) at the conclusion of the service.

In a tribute of appreciation of the life and character of Mr. Eggleton, the Rev. Ewart R. Bishop, of Aylesbury, who at one time was a scholar under him in the Bartholomew-street Sunday School, said it was Mr. Eggleton's loyalty to his God and his fellow men that made his life radiant and that brought forth from him those great gifts of service which he devoted to his church and to organisations through long years. That was exemplified in all that he did.

The family mourners were Misses Grace and Millicent Eggleton (daughters), Mrs. Stephens and Mrs. Ball (sisters); Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Eggleton, Mr. and Mrs. J. Eggleton, Mr. H.M. Eggleton, Mr. and Mrs. A. Eggleton (brothers and sisters-in-law); Mr. and Mrs. M. Eggleton, Mr. and Mrs. A. Eggleton, Nurse Domons, Mrs. Pope, Mrs. Quartermaine, Miss K. Eggleton (nephews and nieces), Mrs. W. Keep, Miss V.K. Bishop, Mrs. Curtis, Mr. F. G. Keep, Mr. R.W. Atrill.

[There follows a list of several hundred people who attended and the names of those who sent floral tributes]

The interment was in the Newtown-road Cemetery, Newbury.

On Sunday morning, at the service held in the Methodist Church, Bartholomew-street, the Rev. John E. Ogden paid a further tributes to Mr. Eggleton's devotion to his church and other causes.

Newbury Weekly News 3 October 1935

Mrs P .p.1  aged 71

also wife (Jennie) died 15 October 1922 aged 56