JOHN STAPLES

THE LATE MR. JOHN STAPLES

CHEF, CATERER AND CAVALRYMAN

The death of Mr. John Staples, confectioner of Northbrook Street, which took place on Friday morning, removes a familiar figure from the public life of Newbury, as well as one of the oldest and most worthy of its tradesmen. Mr. Staples was born at Fordingbridge, but he came to Newbury just half a century ago, and has since been so closely connected with the social life of the borough, being moreover always ready to say a good word for the town of his adoption, that nobody suspected him of being otherwise than a native Newburian.

He came to Newbury in May 1850, and had he lived till the 15^th, would have celebrated his jubilee as a tradesman of Newbury. He took to the confectioner's business of Mr. Harding, into which he entered with all the zeal of an enthusiastic young man with a supreme b belief in himself, and a natural ability for providing the creature comforts of his fellows. His skill as a caterer became known, until the fame of “Staples of Newbury”, extended beyond the confines of the county, and he was often called upon to travel many miles to undertake feeding of public gatherings. Whether it was the dainty menu of a ball supper, or the substantial fare of a farmers' dinner, Staples was equally at home, and he could provided a wedding breakfast quite as satisfactory as a club supper. At the coursing meetings at Ashdown and Sydmonton no sight was more welcome than Staples and his cosy van, and nothing could be more consoling than the bowls of steaming soup he served from within. Staples was proud of his soups, his pressed beef, his ices, his wedding cakes, and in fact of most of his culinary productions.

Habited in his chef's costume he was a familiar figure for many years in the supper-room at the Craven Hunt Ball, and received the congratulations of the satisfied guests with a modesty which was characteristically of his own. He was past master in the art of catering, and used to go as far afield as Wokingham to cater for the Garth Hunt Dinner, to Faringdon and Hungerford for the county balls, to Savernake for big gatherings of the tenantry, and to Bradfield College for prize day luncheons. For many years Mr. Staples had been the leading local caterer for agricultural dinners, garden parties, and practically at most places where the-commissariat arrangements required professional oversight. Anyone entertaining guests in tens or hundreds had only to commit themselves into Staples' hands to be relieved of all anxiety.

In later years Mr. Staples has been obliged from declining health to take a less prominent part in the catering, but whenever he could he donned his chef's garb and assumed control. Only on Wednesday last week he insisted upon going down to Ham Manor, where his staff were serving refreshments at the wedding reception, but he had to return after a short stay. He took to his bed next day, and never rose again, dying on Friday morning at the age of 76, the cause of death being an internal complaint from which he had suffered in recent years. He was of a kindly and genial disposition, and his death is regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Staples was also well-known through his connections wit the Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry, of which he was a member for the long period of forty-three years. He joined in 1853, when Major Miller, father of the present Colonel Miller, was in command of the regiment, which then consisted of one squadron of sixty men. Hungerford was then the headquarters of the regiment, and the annual training always took place there. As there was a pretty big contingent from Newbury, it was arranged for the annual training to take place there, for a change, and Colonel Honywood, who was then in command, assented to the course. But, either, from misunderstanding or otherwise, the next training took place at Hungerford. The Newbury men, headed by Trooper Staples, revolted, and decided not to put in an appearance. Only one did turn up at Hungerford, and he was not greeted in a very popular manner. Mr. Tull, who then held the rank of Captain, came up to Newbury, and summoned the rebels to account for their action. They, however, stood firm, and it ended in a promise for training to take place the next year at Newbury, the men agreeing to turn out at Hungerford. This led to the formation of troops for Reading. Newbury, Hungerford and Wantage, Mr. Staples being largely instrumental in the formation of the latter troop. Mr. Staples was an enthusiastic man by nature,, but on the subject of the Yeomanry he was very keen. During his 43 years service he only missed two trainings, and those in later years, through indisposition. In his younger days he was one of the smartest men in the regiment. In 1866 he won a handsome gold mounted riding whip for second best swordsman in the regiment, and in the two succeeding years he won the Newbury troop prize for the best swordsman. For fourteen years he rode his black charger “Tom”, and it was on this animal that Mr. Staples was selected as one of the four best equipped men in the regiment, being only beaten in the final gallop by Sergeant John Platt, who was riding a horse with thoroughbred blood in his veins. Mounted on “Tom” Mr Staples, in full uniform, was a picture to be admired. He headed the Jubilee procession with an escort of cavalry in 1887, and this was the last occasion on which “Tom” did public duty, being shot sometime afterwards, as old age had incapacitated him. Mr. Staples was very proud of being elected as the non-commissioned officer to ride at the side of the Royal carriage of the Prince and Princess Christian at Abingdon, and again, when the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of Reading Grammar School, besides many other occasions on which he figured prominently in public demonstrations. Mr Staples served in all ranks, being finally appointed Quarter-Master Sergeant, a post he held for twenty-six years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his comrades. He was just the man for the office, being an expert in the art of looking after the creature comforts of his fellows, and being a jolly and genial comrade on duty. He was the regiment's best recruiting sergeant, for many years kept the Newbury Troop in a flourishing condition.

Newbury Weekly News 3 May 1900