ARTHUR WEBB NEATE

PROMINENT IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE

AUCTIONEER: LAND AGENT

AGRICULTURIST

          The death of Mr Arthur Webb Neate, which, as reported last week, took place on April 4th, at his residence, St Mary's Hill, Newbury, removes a prominent and familiar figure in professional and agricultural circles for over half-a-century. Owing to failing health, he had for nearly two years retired from active practice, having handed over the conduct of the business to his two sons, Frank and Stephen. He was seventy-nine years of age on the day previous to his death.

          Mr Neate was a member of an old Wiltshire family, being born at Cricklade, son of Stephen Neate, his mother being Miss Neate of Aldbourne. He was articled to a firm of auctioneers in Russell-square, London, and afterwards went to Messrs. Humber, Watford.  On the 1st January 1876, he took Anvilles Farm, Hungerford and started as an auctioneer in the district, with offices in Hungerford and Newbury. In 1869 he came to live in Newbury and among the various residences occupied was an old manor house in Argyle-road, since restored as the residence of Dr Essex Wynter. Mr. Neate married Ellen, the daughter of George Whistler, of Cannon Heath, Kingsclere, who predeceased him. There were four sons and four daughters. The eldest son and daughter died, and there is one married daughter in Canada, a son in Melbourne. Miss Nellie Neate, who has established a studio in Paris as a miniature artist and came over for her father's funeral. The Webb, in the Christian name, came from Major John Richmond Webb, who figures in Thackeray's novel “Esmond,” and whose full-dress uniform, 200 years old, is a prized family possession.

          Mr Neate's practical experience as a farmer stood him in good stead in his professional duties, and he was exceptionally helpful to farmers in carrying out valuations when they were taking up or quitting holdings. He had some exciting times when conducting tithe distraint sales in the district. Mr Neate acted as agent to several leading landowners, Shaw House, West Woodhay, Prior's Court, and at Ashmansworth. In the exercise of his duties. In the exercise of his duties, Mr Neate was well known in Berkshire, Oxon, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and other counties in the south of England. He was an interested member of the English Arboricultural Society, and was instrumental in arranging a visit to the Highclere Estate.

          Mr Neate took a part in all the movements for the betterment of agriculture, back in the early days, Newbury Agricultural Society, and later, the National Farmers' Union, of which his youngest son, Stephen, is the present secretary. The Neate family did a great deal to revive and maintain a market at Hungerford, as well as the annual Christmas Fat Stock Show, and establishing the weekly produce market.

          Mr Neate celebrated his professional jubilee at the beginning of 1926. During those fifty years he had witnessed many ups and downs in the agricultural industry., in the depths of depression and periods of prosperity. From his long experience, he could tell of good and bad seasons, high and low. On 'Changes he would remind young farmers that their fathers had seen far worse times, and survived. He was always optimistic, and offered cheerful encouragement for those inclined to despair. In the Auctioneer's rostrum, he had a genial manner, encouraging bidders by pleasant chat, and interchanging little jokes. Interested in all public affairs; he took no part in local government, but was willing to render service on various organisations. He was a Freemason, and many years ago acted as a secretary of the “Lodge of Hope.”

          Apart from the active pursuit of his professional career, Mr Neate was a keen controversialist. He had a rooted objection to all forms of ceremonial observance in religious services and the doctrinal teaching they symbolised. His great concern and interest in life was the maintenance of Protestantism, which he considered essential for the safeguarding of the country. He actively identified himself with the Church Association, and was always ready to bring his pen into action to defend the principals of which he was so stout a champion. He was a doughty opponent opponent and a close student of ecclesiastical history. He could quote chapter and verse in support of his arguments, and never admitted conclusive reply to his contentions. Letter writing was his hobby but it was not for mere amusement. Rather it enabled him to express views which he held very strongly and earnestly. Occasionally he indulged in lighter composition, in topical allusion to current events. Many of these articles have appeared in the columns of the “Newbury Weekly News” to which he was one of the earliest contributors. He wrote a descriptive articles on his experiences as a Tuttiman at Hungerford. Sometimes, like Silas Wegg, he “dropt into po'try”, and had a happy gift for pleasant rhyming on man and matters. He had been known to paraphrase Shakespeare for submission to a Bishop on a subject of episcopal administration.

THE FUNERAL

          The large attendance at the funeral, which took place on Saturday afternoon at the Old Cemetery, Newtown-road, was a tribute to the high regard and respect in which the deceased gentleman was held in all circles. Brother auctioneers and estate agents,farmers and townspeople generally were represented. There was a short service in the Cemetery Chapel followed by the committal to the grave, the ministers officiating being the Rev. A. H. Fowler and the Rev. J.W. Harford, the present and former pastors of the Newbury Congregational Church.

          The family mourners were Mr and Mrs Frank Neate, Mr and Mrs Stephen Neate, Miss Margaret Neate, Mr and Mrs G.W. Rose, Mr Francis Neate, Mr Alfred Whistler, Miss Kate Whistler, Miss Louie Whistler. The staff was represented by the oldest member, Mr Wallace King, others to be at a sale previously arranged, at which Mr S. H. Haggar of the firm of Messrs. Dreweatt, Watson and Barton, kindly officiated. Amongst those related to the family by marriage present were Alderman Rankin, Mr Henry McIlroy, Mr and Mrs H.P. Davies, and Councillor A.C. Elliott.

          Those also present included the Mayor (Councillor J. H. Thompson,) the Rural Dean (the Rev H.D. Butler), Mr Harold Barton, Mr R. Thake, Mr A. O. Theodosius, Mr H. D'O. W. Astley, Mr W.R. Pettifer, Alderman F.O. Hopson, Mr Roland Clarke, Mrs Wyatt Lawrence, Mr F.P. Brooks, Mr and Mrs William Penhale, Mrs George Griffin, Mr and Mrs T. H. Cullum, Miss Wickham, Miss Barnes, Councillor R.P. Elliott, Councillor Arthur Chivers, Councillor G. Slater, Capt. Stephen Knight, Messrs.J.H. Spackman, G.W. Slade, E.W. K. Slade, Morley Slade,E.H. Bance, F.R. Bance, W.I.Drake, Hugh Turner, E. Turner, Joseph Alexander, Donald Alexander, Alfred Hissey, A.A. Lawrence, Richard Lawrence, J.W. Lawrence, Frank Moore, W.B. Moore, Henry Booth, E. Rowles, Rowles (jun).,J.W.Long, H.J. Munday, W. Wysse, F.W.Leach., Percy Chillingworth,  T.H. Bishop, Brice Kimber, D. Taylor,

John Bradfield, A. Attewell. A. Allnatt, H.M.Walker, A.E.Marshall, Walter Midwinter, T.I.Ward, J.H.Brown (Peasemore), Ronald Neate (Devizes), A. Pearce (Chilton), A.E.Lynch, E. James, J.W.Rosling, H. Smith, J. Batten, J. Brown, J.C. Froude, s. North, E. Green, J.V.Froude, G. Kimber, H.J.Spackman, F.Dodds, R.D.Newhook, W. Gore, F. Hughes, Henry New, D. Ross, John Webb, Arthur Smith, Nash, F.G. Pavier, Talbot (Wellhouse), W. Butler and C. Rogers.

There were no flowers by request.