WILLIAM HENRY BOOTH

DEATH OF Rev. W.H. BOOTH IN HIS 95^th YEAR

FROM GROCER TO VICAR

The death occurred yesterday (Wednesday) at his residence in the Newtown road of the Rev.William Henry Booth, who was in his 95^th year.

William Henry Booth was a member of the well-known Sydmonton family so long associated with Hampshire agriculture, his father being the late Mr Joshua Booth of that parish.  He might also be said to be connected with farming by marriage as well as by birth, for his wife was Miss Annie Spackman, a daughter of Mr Clare Spackman of Eastbury.

As a young man, Mr Booth started in business with his brother Daniel as a grocer.  The firm was known as Booth Brothers, and their shop was on the Bridge at the premises which are now the Forest Stores.

From a grocer he went into the Church. When in business, he was always interested in Church matters and used to do duty as a lay reader at St. John’s.  He went to Lichfield College and was ordained from there in 1879, being appointed curate at Eyam, Derbyshire. He was curate-in-charge at Basford, Staffs, from 1881 to 1882, in which year he was appointed Vicar of Gleadless, Sheffield.  Then in1887 he became Vicar of Woodhouse, Sheffield, which he held for 30 years until his retirement, when he came to live at Newbury.

Although a frail-looking man, Mr Booth had a wonderful constitution.  Up to 93 years of age, he would be seen taking his walks abroad.  The keenest east wind would not keep him indoors.  He was upright, alert and wonderfully active.  Apart from his books of devotion, his rule of life was taken from a work “How to be useful from sixty to ninety”  Once when on a summer holiday he was a bit indisposed and allowed his landlady to call a doctor.  The medico found there was not much the matter, but prescribed the next volume “How to be happy from ninety to one hundred”.  There seemed every likelihood that Mr Booth would attain his century, but a day or so after his 93^rd birthday he received so many letters of congratulation that the excitement brought on a stroke.  He had never been the same since then.

The death of his son, Mr H J Booth, in September, 1929, was a great blow to him. The funeral is fixed for Monday at the Old Cemetery, Newtown road

Newbury Weekly News 28^th May 1932

WILLIAM HENRY BOOTH

Funeral of the late Rev. W. H. Booth

Oldest Freemason in Berkshire

The funeral of the Rev. W H Booth, whose death in his 95^th year was recorded in our last issue, took place on Monday afternoon at the Old Cemetery, Newtown road.  The Rector of Newbury, the Rev. W L Cooper, officiated, and Mr Booth was laid to rest in the same grave as his wife, who pre-deceased him by 62 years.  Mr Booth was the oldest Freemason in Berkshire, having been initiated a member of the Loyal Lodge of Hope over 60 years ago.  Members of the craft were present, and at the conclusion of the service performed the customary ritual of dropping sprigs of acacia into the grave.

Those present at the funeral were: Mrs H J Booth, Mrs Church, Mrs Wyatt Lawrence, Miss Piggott, Mr Ernest Booth, Mr A E Booth, Mr Frank Comyns, Mr Herbert Comyns, Mr J H Spackman, Miss Andrews, Mr Philip Applegate, Mr E Piper, representing his old parishioners at Woodhouse, Sheffield, Mr Arthur Watson, Mr E Parfitt, Mr E J Davis, Mr Rupert Adey, Mr T I Ward, and the following members of the Loyal Lodge of Hope: Messrs. E Turner, P Chillingworth, G Salkeld and F W Neate.

Flowers were sent by the following: Mrs Booth and Mrs Church; Mr Ernest Booth; Mr A E Booth; the Misses Piggott; Mr and Mrs H Thorn; Mr Herbert Comyns; his Housekeeper; Mrs Gawler and Mr Parks; from his Old Friends at Woodhouse; and members of the Loyal Lodge of Hope

Newbury Weekly News 2^nd June 1932