ALFRED LIPSCOMBE                                     9^th November 1878

          Mr. Alfred Lipscombe, a chairmaker in West Mills, on this day was presented with the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal.

          The medal was presented to him by the mayor, Mr. C. Slocock, in the Council Chamber. This was in honour of his repeated bravery in saving people from drowning. A few months previous, 6^th August, Lipscombe had jumped into the canal near the swing bridge at West Mills to save a boy who had fallen in. The boy disappeared under the water but was saved.

          At this time Lipscombe had saved seven lives, but by the time he died in 1900 he is known to have saved at least 13 lives, sadly a further four, or so, did not survive. Last year he had also received a Vellum Scroll from the Society for having saved two lives and in 1882 he was presented with, from the same society, a bronze clasp for rescuing Henry Jessett from the same spot mentioned above.

Reading Mercury

Buried 10 May 1900 aged 58

Book 1899  p.014  no.7311

From “Newbury 365” by Dr. Nick Young ISBN 978-1-326-208841-2015

Reproduced by permission of the author.

LIPSCOMBE  -  May 3, Crown Inn, Westr Mills, Alfred Lipscombe, aged 58 years

NEWBURY HEROES

To the editor of the NWN

SIrs,—While the whole civilized world has re-echoed with a noble enthusiasm at the deeds of that humble but gallant band of volunteers who faced every danger in the successful endeavour to release the imprisoned and exhausted colliers in Wales, it is to be hoped that the same abnegation of self which prompted Henry Dodd to jump into the river at Newbury to try to rescue the two little children shall not fail to be duly acknowledged in some public form beyond a mere local pecuniary reward. Although no swimmer, Dodd succeeded in saving the little girl : and then the boy of eleven years grasped his would-be deliverer's hand, but un-fortunately they both got into deep water in the middle of the stream, and death would have been inevitable had not Alfred Lipscombe appeared on the scene, and like another brave Englishman as he is immediately plunged to the rescue of the sinking Dodd, and the lad who had clung for dear life to the saviour of his sister.

All honour to these Newbury heroes. Probably Lipscombe little imagined when he jumped into the river and grasped poor Dodd, that yet another life depended upon his efforts. Happily for our common humanity, heroes are found in every sphere of life—where duty, or danger, or rescue from peril points the way ; be it on the battle-field, in the coal mine, on the high seas. or wherever else occasion may call forth the energies of the brave in saving the life of a fellow creature. It was for these reasons that the Royal Humane Society was established. Other rewards attend exceptional bravery on the battle-field ; and even the Albert Medal has, I believe, lately extended its sphere at the desire of her most Gracious Majesty ; but the above society's object is to reward gallantry in saving life wherever deserving cases occur, and are brought under its notice.

The efforts of Henry Dodd in saving one life, and the timely and double rescue effected b Alfred Lipscombe, are just such cases which, I believe, the above society delighteth to honour, either with its bronze medallions or its scroll of I parchment. There can be but little doubt that if his Worship the Mayor of Newbury would duly represent the above facts to the Royal Humane Society some recognition will be officially received on behalf of the "Newbury Heroes." I trust you will excuse my intrusion upon your space, but the case is one that deserves and warrants attention.

I remain , sir, yours faithfully

Chelsea, May-Day, 1877   W. FRY

Their follows examples of the societies rewards………….

The death took place on Thursday morning of Mr. Alfred Lipscombe, of West-mills, who had been to ill-health for many years. Mr. Lipscombe held the local record for the easing of life arum drowning, having rescued no less than thirteen peroons. and brought four bodies out of the water, In 1877 Mr. Lipscombe received the vellum scroll from the Royal Humane Society and a sum of money, for saving the life of Henry Dodd,Town Hall keeper, and that of a boy he had jumped in to rescue, both of whom were in great peril of drowning. In 1878 Mr. Lipecombe wee awarded the Humane Society's bronze medal, and in 1882 was further honoured by the receipt of the bronze clasp. On one occasion a body had been in the water to: two hours and dragging had bcen ineffectual, but Mr. Lipecombe dived in and soon brought it to land. These repeated acts of bravery were all the more praiseworthy as he was generally in delicate health.