DAVID WHITE

DEATH OF MR. DAVID WHITE

NOTED AUCTIONEER AT LEADING RACECOURSES A REMARKABLE CAREER

We regret to record the death of Mr. David White, which took place at his residence, Bedford House, Andover-road, Newbury, on Sunday. Mr. white, who was approaching his 82nd birthday, had been an auctioneer and valuer all his life and in his latter years had gained a reputation for being the most well-known and expert auctioneer of bloodstock throughout the country. He had been in ill health for a year to fifteen months but refused to relax his business engagements, which took him long, distances, and only last week he was selling at Taunton. Mr. White's name was a household word on all the leading racecourses, where he was recognised as an outstanding judge of horses. For 25 years he had been disposing of winners of selling races and other bloodstock, and although his valuation had on several occasions been the subject of litigation, the arbitrators called in never once failed to uphold his figures and confirm his opinion.

But one has to go back well over half a century to unfold the story of his remarkable career. His family originally hailed from Wiltshire, but migrated to Hampshire, where they had a holding, and established themselves as farmers, auctioneers, land agents and timber valuers. David White first held a license to about the year 1875 at Basingstoke, and he was soon widely known throughout the Basingstoke and Andover districts, dealing mainly in the disposal and valuation of farm stock, agricultural land and timber. Although never actually farming on his ovum, he had experience of managing farms. The young man was an ardent member of the Hampshire Yeomanry and became a skilled shot. He was frequently seen out with the Garth and Hampshire Hunts, and often recalled in recent years memorable runs in the country extending from Virginia Water to Old Basing.

From Basingstoke he removed to London, where he became a manager to a celebrated dealer, Mr. John Hetherington, who supplied horses to the nobility of those days. He next managed a horse and carriage repository at the Elephant and Castle, where he had to sell everything in horses from costers' cobs to cab, 'bus and tram horses, and vanners of all descriptions. Prices varied from as low as £2 to £100 for an animal, but there was no shrewder judge of their value than David White. Then came the influx of American and Canadian horses which absorbed the London markets and they passed through his hands at the rate of 300 a week. When the American trade slumped, Argentine horses were shipped to England, and David had great difficulties in handling these wild and reckless beasts.

Meanwhile he had never severed his association with the country, and he would go racing with the Messrs. Stevens, the well known trainers and horse owners of North Berks. Mr. White acted as auctioneer, starter and also judge at some of the smaller meetings, and eventually he got more firmly established at racecourses, and his business widened in its scope until he was recognised as second to none at his job. His connections with the Newbury course dates back about 26 years, and he had resided at Bedford House for seven years, previous to which he lived at Welford and then Hermitage. Since 1927, Mr. White has been running sales of bloodstock at Ascot, which those who are managing his affairs hope to carry on and run on the same successful lines

One story is told of Mr. White which illustrates his outstanding capabilities as an auctioneer. It was just after the South African War, and he was selling army cast-off horses in a big yard in the north of London. At the end of the sale an officer came and congratulated Mr. White upon disposing of no less than 183 horses, every one of which was sold, in the amazingly quick time of 180 minutes. Probably this is a record, which has never been beaten.

The funeral

The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday) at the Newtown-road Cemetery, the Rev. R.P. Beckingham, curate-in-charge of St George's, Wash Common, officiating.

The family mourners were: Mr. D.. White (son), Mrs. T.V. Roberts (daughter), Engineer-Commander and Mrs. S.F. Coopper (sic) (son-in-law and daughter). Others present were: Sir William Cooke, Bart., Mr. C. Vincent, Mr. A.E. Hancock, Mr. Fred W. Phillips, Mr. C.H. Pratt, Dr E.S. Hemsted, Mr. Harold Barton, Mr. E.F. James (Hungerford), Mr. James Brown, Rev. T. Dewe (Shefford), Major D. Macnee (Lambourn), Mr. J. Greenshields, Mr. J.A. Clarke (Goring), Mr. A.C. Elliott, Mr. Charles Masters, Mr. Cecil Brown, Mr. C.A. Denton, Mr G.F. Baylis, Mr. Edwin Midwinter, Mr. Fred Hillman, Mr. W.H. Butt, Mr. F.J. Cambridge, Mr. a. Feacey (representing Sandown Park Racecourse Company), Mr. A.J. Hills, Mr. Cecil Davidson, Mr. D.W. Bushby, Mr. and Mrs. William. Keep, Miss Beryl Keep, Mr. and Mrs. Simms, Mr. and Mrs. Dering Oxley, Mr. W. Cook (Hermitage), Nurse Loveridge, Mr. R. Buckle (gardener), Mr. H. Hamblin, Mr. W.J. Jarvis, Mr. F.W. Richards.

Wreaths were sent by Stace and Daisy; Nan and  Tommy; Toby, Sid and Morris; John;  Kitty, Arthur and Ada; Diddy, Sue, Malcolm and Percy; Jane; Mervyn and Ruth; Edith and Jack; Mr and Mrs W P Pope; J Charles Manning; W Buckell; H Hamblin; Mrs T J Hillman and family; W J Davidson; C D Davidson; D W Bushby; Mr and Mrs A E Hancock and John; F F J Cambridge; Charles Pratt; Fred W Phillips; George; Mr and Mrs Jas. Stevenson (Edinburgh); W Wells; Mr and Mrs G A Cazalet; Freddie Fox; J A Clarke; Mr, Mrs and Miss Gilbert (East Ilsley); Mr and Mrs William Keep; Miss Beryl  Keep; Mr Greenshields; Mr W A Bilney; Mr A J hills; Mr Mrs Clare Vincent; Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs Augustus Oppenheim; miss Christine Oppenheim; Mr and Mrs Ben Warner; Mr  R W Armstrong; Mr and Mrs V Hobbs;R and N Simms and  G Haynes; Gilbert H Turner; Dr Edmund S Hempsted; Edward Gwilt; H B Bletsoe; Florence New; Mr Albert Samuel Manning; Mrs F T Halse; Mr and Mrs C R Wigney; C J Langland; directors and officials of the Wolverhampton racecourse Co; directors of the Sandown park racecourse company; Northholt park racecourse; Royal Ascot hotel; A stud groom

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Camp Hopson and Co.Ltd.

Newbury Weekly News 29 November 1934

Mrs. P p.48 WB 12 Book 1917 Page 183 no. 11063

Mr. White died 25 November 1934 aged 81

Mrs Frances White died 1 November 1928 aged 72