1867: A letter written on this day and published in the Newbury Weekly News the following day with regards to the way an elderly blind man has been treated.  The gentleman, Mr John Thorn aged 90 years, had been standing at the corner of Jack Street almost every day,but a few years ago, instead took to leaning, in a niche, against the Baptist Chapel in Northbrook Street. 

He was asked not to stand there and if he did so he would be taken into custody.  His wife asked that he be allowed to continue but was told it was not possible here or in any other part of the street and should he do so he would be sent to jail which would do him good.

Mr Thorn ignored the warnings and continued to lean against the wall, subsequently he was hauled away by PC Justice and on Monday was charged, at the Borough Police Court, with obstructing the footway. 

The letter also states that a girl who walks Thorn to the chapel would also have time in jail if she continued to do so.  When he died in 1877, articles in the newspapers stated he had been selling cabbage nets made by his wife, it is this that may have been the cause of his court appearance.

BLIND CENTENARIAN
It is only a short time since that the grave was open to receive the remains of a well-known centenarian of this town, Mr. Coxeter, of King John's Almshouses; and now there has just died in Dredge's-yard, Northbrook-street, John Thorn who had attained the age of 101 years on the 14th February last, he having been born on the 14th February 1776, as entered in the parish register of Welford. He was originally a gardener, and by his first marriage he had a family of thirteen children, several of whom are still living, the youngest being now 50 years of age. He lost his sight when about 50 years old, whereupon he entered upon the duties of a rural postman, being accompanied upon his rounds by one of his sons. He held the appointment for 21 years, and at the age of 70 he again married, and his wife is still a hale old woman.

The deceased was a recipient of an annuity of £5 per annum from the West Charity, through the Clothworker's Company, London, ever since 1834; when he was granted the pension, Joseph Smith, who now resides at Chieveley, having been appointed at the same time. These two worthies have received during the last 43 years no less a sum than £430, which the charity of a past age has rendered available to those who live in later times. We may also add that blind persons of Newbury, Reading and Twickenham, are entitled to pensions from the same source. Thorn for many years took his daily stand in Northbrook-street, where he was in the habit of selling cabbage nets and receiving alms.

He was never ill until two years ago, since which time he has been confined to his house, and on Friday he died from decay of nature. He was buried in the cemetery on Friday last.