EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY
DEATH OF MR. E. P. PLENTY
MANY YEARS HEAD OF PLENTY AND SON LTD.
The death occurred on Sunday at his residence, Hill House, Andover-road, Newbury, of Mr. E.P. Plenty in his 82nd year.

Edward Pellew Plenty had a long and honourable career connected with the town of Newbury and particularly with the firm of Plenty and Son. Ltd., builders of marine steam engines, of the Eagle Iron Works.

As a young man in his early twenties it fell to him to shoulder a big responsibility as managing director of the firm and he retained this position until 1942 when he retired through failing health and was succeeded by the assistant managing director, Mr. E. Gyles. Mr. Plenty was a member of the Institution of Naval Architects.

There is a business romance about the firm of Plenty. It was started in quite a small way by a William Plenty, a native of Southampton, who came to Newbury and opened up as a millwright and agricultural engineer. He was the great-grandfather of Edward Pellew Plenty who has just died. William Plenty was a knowledgeable man. He invented a plough which made a name for itself and the model for it is still in the possession of the Plenty family. He also invented lifeboats, one of which was tried out on the Kennet before being exhibited to the Elder Brethren of Trinity House. Of the 14 lifeboats placed round the English coast in 1824, eleven were built at Newbury.

The famous admiral. Sir Edward Pellew, created Viscount Exmouth in 1816, became greatly interested in these lifeboats and this was the commencement of a friendship with William Plenty. He was sponsor to Mr. Plenty's son, Edward Pellew Plenty, and the name was handed down to the fourth generation. The last to hold it was Major Edward Pellew Plenty, R.F.C., who died during the influenza epidemic at the end of the 1914-18 war. He was the only son of Mr. Plenty just deceased. In later years the firm made marine steam engines and one of the earliest of these was fitted into a steel launch built at Newbury. Which was entered for the first steam launch race inaugurated by the Royal Yacht Club. The Plenty entry easily beat all comers and from that time Plentys were also one of the first builders of machinery for under-water craft for the Nordenfelt submarines. Numbering of the firm's engines was commenced in 1882 and has reached 2,886. It is a remarkable achievement that a firm started 100 years ago in an inland market town as agricultural engineers, has created such a reputation as builders of marine engines and adding to it every year. The firm has been on the Admiralty list since 1880.

Although christened Edward Pellew, Mr. Plenty was always known to his friends and intimates as Jack Plenty. He was educated at Newbury Grammar School when it was at the old Litten, afterwards going on to Bradfield College. Leaving there he came straight into the firm. Jack Plenty was an all-round athlete and sportsman. He played football for Newbury, and he was a good amateur boxer. With the late Brice Bland he was instrumental in starting the Newbury Gymnastic Society in 1890 and was captain for some years. A pioneer motorist he was associated with Mr. James Stradling when the latter turned from making bicycles to motors and the firm was carried on as Stradling and Plenty, Ltd., until the end of the 1914-18 war.

Mr. Plenty was a man of high integrity and was greatly respected by his employees and those with whom his firm had business dealings. He was made a Justice of the Peace for the Borough in 1938, but the selection committee who put forward these appointments should have made the recommendation at least ten years earlier. During the first world war Mr. Plenty was an active member of the Home Defence Corps. Mr. Plenty had a breakdown in health during the present war and has been devotedly tended by his wife.

Mr. Plenty married Miss Jessie Hamlen, third daughter of the late John Hamlen, proprietor of the Queen's Hotel, who survives him with two daughters, Mrs. Kathleen Mecey and Mrs. Barbara Brocklehurst. The latter lives in Australia.

Yesterday's Funeral Service
There was a large attendance at the funeral service at St Nicolas' Parish Church yesterday (Wednesday), conducted by the Rector, the Rev. Bertram Russell. Mr. L. Newman was at the organ and the hymns were “The King of Love” and “O God, our help in ages past.”

The mourners were Mrs. Plenty (widow), Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Mecey (son-in-law and daughter), Mrs. Harmer Mills {half-sister), Mr. and Mrs. Harold Andrews (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mr. T. Coulson (cousin) and Mrs. M . H. Yeomans (cousin). Messrs. Plenty and Son Ltd. were represented by Mr. Harry Shoosmith, Mr E. Gyles, Mr J. D. Mellor and Mr H. 5. Aplin (directors) Mr. H. Wakely (works manager), Mr. and Mrs. J. Glen, Mr. 5. G. Brown, Mr. A. J. Ashmore, Mr. W. Cox, Mr. C. Pearce, Mr. C. Methley, Miss E. Guy, Miss M. North,Mr. D. R. Smith, Mr. E. A. Pearce, Mr. A. C. Barnes, Mr. L. F. Jones ; Messrs. F. C. Tidbury, F Hunt, J. G. Titchener, L. J. Andrews, N. L. Spring, L. V. Robinson, S. H. E Brooks, H. G. Gregory, W. Miles, H. C. Davis, H. B. G. Parker, J. C. Mead, R. McCartney, A. Bellinger, F. Perris, A. Spicer, L. Pocock, P. C. Cantwell, H. G. Sedlen, 8. J. Collins, E. Booker, H. Humphries, A. Tofield, W. Farmer, W. Batt and W. G. Pinchin. Others present were Mr. A. Corden, Mr. C. R. .Flint and Mrs. Kent-Norris (representing Mr. H. Kent-Norris), of the Newbury Diesel Co.; Mr. F. D. Bazett, Mr. C. W. Burns, Mr S. G. Povey, Mr. Hugh Turner, Mr. Broome Pinniger, Mrs Greet (also representing Mr. R. H. Greet), Mr. H Stradling (representing Mr. James Stradling), Mr Albin White, Mrs J. M. Henry, Mr. E. J. Mecey, Miss H. Mecey, Miss G. Mecey, Mr Michael Barton, Mr. J. S. Herbert, Mr. Arnold Penn, Mr. Arthur Hickman, Dr. Alan Simmons, Mr. H. 5. Dolton, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Daniel. Mrs. J. D. Mellor, Mrs. Wakely, Mrs. Ashmore, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Honnor (also representing Mr. Thomas A. -D. Honnor), Mrs. Kcrr (also representing Mr. Robert Kerr), Mr. 0. M. Turnbull, Mr. A. W. Heawood, Mr. J. N. Bryce, Mr. Frank Lawrence, Mr. W. Colbourne, Mr. H. Bannister, .Mr. E. McCartney, Mr. H. R. C. Balfour, Mr. L. P. Elliott (Gosport), Mr. Charles Cooke, Mr. E. Lyford, Mr. W. Culley, Mr. 5. Thwaites, Mr. J. S. Anderson, Mr.. A. H. Brown (Thatcham), Mr. C. G. Seymour, Mr. G. Few, Mr. W. Withers, Mrs. Frank Rowell, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. B. J. Foster, Mrs. V. N. Marshall, Miss E. Beckley, Mrs. Twist, Mrs. H. Walker. Mrs, John Davis, Mrs G. Shelton, Mrs, F. ; Lovell, . Mrs. Arthur Thorne (also representing Mr. Alberrt Withers).

The interment was in the Newtown road cemetery.