Personal Details of William Robert Pettifer

 

Born:  
Died:  
Buried:  03/01/1939

Listed below are all the details we have been able to find so far on William Robert Pettifer.

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Birth

There is no information in our database regarding the birth of William Robert Pettifer.

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Death

There is no information in our database regarding the death of William Robert Pettifer.

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Burial Register
Name at death William Robert Pettifer
Age at Death 82
Burial Date 03 January 1939
Abode 42 Howard Road
Newbury
Official at Burial Cecil F Guy
Comments
Burial Register Index
Book 1917
Page Number 216
Reccord Number 11324
Sources Burial Register

Burial Register entry for William Robert Pettifer
©Newbury Town Council
Reproduced with kind permission


Memorial Details
  West kerbstone: In Loving Memory/ South kerbstone: Emily the beloved wife of William E. Pettifer, at rest Jan. 3rd 1932 aged 76. North kerbstone: Also of William Robert Pettifer, born Aug. 31st 1856, died Dec 31st 1938.
 
Name on Memorial William Robert Pettifer
Date of death 31/12/1938
Age 82
Gender Male
 
Memorial Type Kerbstones and corner posts
Construction Material Limestone
Condition of memorial Weather stained, inlaid letters
Pattison Location Code C4
Others named on memorial
Emily Pettifer

Newspaper Cuttings

The articles below have been transcribed from newspapers and magezines.

William Robert Pettifer
Source: Newbury Weekly News
Article date: 05/01/1939
Copyright: Newbury Weekly News
Transciption:

WHEN EACH JUSTICE COULD HAVE HIS OWN CLERK
Mr. W.R. Pettifer, whose death is recorded this week, held public appointments in the town for 51 years. Only last week it was mentioned in the Justice of the Peace, in an article written by his eldest son, that Mr. Pettifer's reminiscences extended back so fa that he could clearly remember the days before the Justices' Clerks Act, 1877, was passed; when every justice could have, if he wished, a personal clerk of his own, and many did. These men sat in front of the magistrates, and on any point of difficulty each justice consulted his own clerk, with the consequent confusion and wrangling about fees. Sometimes this even resulted in a free fight amongst the clerks on the floor of the court.

William Robert Pettifer
Source: Newbury Weekly News
Article date: 05/01/1939
Copyright: Newbury Weekly News
Transciption:

DEATH OF MR. W. R. PETTIFER
NEARLY 50 YEARS MAGISTRATES' CLERK
Former Deputy Town Clerk
Mr. William Robert Pettifer, who had a record of 51 years' service to the Newbury Borough magistrates, died at his home in Howard-road, Newbury, on Saturday morning, at the age of 82. He had been in failing health for some time, and it was a great disappointment to him that in recent years his favourite hobbies of walking and reading had to be restricted. Even up to date years he used to walk miles every day, but since last Easter he had to depend upon a bath-chair to get about.
Mr. Pettifer was a native of Leighton Buzzard and began his career at Buckinghamshire in 1872, going to Chorley, Lancs. In 1877 as assistant clerk to the Justices. In 1883 he came to Newbury as managing clerk to Mr. Henry Burke Godwin, who practiced as a solicitor in the town and was also Town Clerk, and clerk to the –Borough Justices. Mr. Pettifer took the position of Borough accountant and frequently acted as deputy clerk to the magistrates.
On the death of Mr. Godwin in 1895, Mr. Pettifer was appointed clerk to the Borough magistrates and served as deputy to Mr. F. Queckett Louch, the new Town Clerk. While Mr. Louch took the position of professional legal adviser to the Corporation, Mr. Pettifer undertook the details of municipal work. Mr. Louch died in 1922 and Mr. Pettifer - in addition to acting as temporary Town Clerk until Mr. Widdicombe was appointed - succeeded him as clerk to the -Newbury County magistrates. On his retirement in June 1934. Mr. Pettifer was the recipient of presentations from both Benches magistrates, and tributes were paid to his ability and the great care he always took to help the court to a reasonable judgment. His long experience and knowledge made him the best of magistrates' clerks, and each succeeding Mayor was only too glad to recognise the help he gave. He had a vast understanding of the human as well as the legal side of Court work, and he was always anxious to ensure that a defendant or a prisoner who was un-represented should receive a fair hearing.
When he came to Newbury Mr. Pettifer was a member of the Church of England of the evangelical school. He was a pronounced Protestant and was strongly opposed to ritualistic practices. This led to his joining the Wesleyan Methodist Church some years ago.
Mr. Pettifer was married at Bardsley, Lancs, two years before coming to Newbury, and in 1931 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. Mrs. Pettifer died shortly afterwards. He leaves six children, two a sons and four daughters. The sons follow their father's calling, Mr. Ernest W. Pettifer being magistrates' clerk in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and Mr. Robert Pettifer being Clerk to the Justices at Dartford. One daughter, Miss Janet Pettifer, has devoted some years to looking after her father and mother.

The Funeral
The funeral took place at the Newtown- road Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Rev. Cecil F. Guy, Newbury Methodist minister. The family mourners were Mr. E. W. Pettifer, Doncaster, and Mr. Robert Pettifer, Dartford (sons), Miss J. Pettifer, Miss K. Pettifer, Mrs. J. Clark, Aylesbury, Mrs. A. M. Bailey, Harrogate (daughters), Mr. A. M. Bailey (son-in-law).
Among those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs. G. G. Green), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor G...E. Slater), Major H. L. Archer Houblon, J.P. (representing Newbury County magistrates), Alderman A. C. Elliott, J.P., Councillor J. H. Thompson, J.P., Mr. E. P. Plenty, J.P., Mr. W. N. Hunter, J.P., Mr. A. T. Watson, J.P., Mrs. E. A. Hopson, J.P., Alderman F. D. Basett, Councillor W. H. Bentley, Councillor and Mrs. R. F. Jeffery, Councillor F. W. Taylor (representing the Reading and District Retired Police Officers Association), ex-Superintendent W. Simmons, Mr. W. J. Rosling, Mr. Ross H. Jeeves (Borough Treasurer), Mr. E. H. Hutton (Borough Surveyor), Mr. R. Swingler (Education Secretary), Mr. A. H. Mussell (Town Clerk's office), Mr. J. K. Woollacott (Magistrates' Clerk's office), Supt. R. T. Lambourn, Inspector W. H. Benstead, Miss S Connor (Probation Officer).
Mr. Hugh Turner, Capt. Stephen Knight, Mr. Charles Dalby, Mr. John Freeman, Mr. A Douglas Daniel, Mr. T. Denham, Mr. A. G. a Cox, Mr. J. S. Paine, Mr. W. G. Paine, Mr. L. W. Thorne, Mr. and Mrs. L. Tennant, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Smith, Mr. J. Baverstock, Mr. W. Noakes, Mr. W. R. Lewis, Mr. J. Holmes, Mr. A. M. Hedge, Mr. R. Peachey, Nurse Loveridge, Miss Mason.
Mr. S. Widdiombe (Town Clerk and Clerk to the Newbury Borough and County a magistrates) was unable to attend owing to a chill, and for the same reason Mr. W. M. R. Lewis (Clerk to the City Justices, Bath) could not be present.
Wreaths were sent by: His children, Ernest and Mabel. Janet, Kathleen, Eleanor, Norah and Arnold, Robert and Lily; Nelly, Jim and Dick; Ruth; Dorie; all at Merlindale; W. R. Lewis and Mrs. Swaite; Dot. Geoff and Joan (High Wycombe); Mr. and Mrs. S. Widdicombe; the Misses Butcher A and Nurse; Mrs. Harding and Amy; Mr. S and Mrs. W. J. Mumford Bailey; Mr. and Mrs. Hawtin; T. and M. Denham; Mr. Douglas Daniel; Mrs. Crawshaw; a few friends at Daniels; Members and Friends at Stroud Green Methodist Church.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. A. S. Chivers.
Also – Married Emily Bonner from Aston, Warwicks, in December 1881
In his will he left £1,578 9s. 10d to Ernest William Pettifer and Janet Pettifer

Mr. W. R. Pettifer 77 To-day
Source: Newbury Weekly News
Article date: 30/08/1938
Copyright: Newbury Weekly News
Transciption:

CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. William R. Pettifer, Clerk to the Newbury Borough and County Magistrates, who attains his 77th birthday to-day (Thursday). He recently completed fifty years of association with the town, for he came to Newbury from Chorley, Lancs, in July, 1883. He keeps fit by taking town and country walks. When stopped in Northbrook-street on Tuesday, he recalled the great changes that had taken place in business establishments in that street alone, during the half-century. "And I can remember when the old Borough two-ton roller drawn by three horses used to roll the gravel in on this road", he said, “at least it rolled it, and the traffic did the rest”.

  This obituary entry is awaiting verification.

Biographical Information

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