THOMAS COLE

THE LATE MR THOMAS COLE

A REMARKABLE CAREER

The death of Mr. Thomas Cole, which took place yesterday at his residence, Hampden House, Berkeley-road, at the venerable age of 84, removes a familiar figure from Newbury life.

In the course of his long career Mr. Cole had played many parts, and by persevering energy and keen business-like instincts he had raised himself from a humble position, so that his declining years were spent in comfort and comparative luxury.

Born at Southampton, he was early set to work on the land, but the monotony of farm life had no attraction for the lad, who was determined to see the world, and like many another, he ran away. His youth was spent in a precarious manner, roving about the country in search of a livelihood. Eventually he found himself in the service of a travelling dealer, one of those men who travelled from village to village with a varied assortment of articles more or less necessary to existence, but not generally to be found in rural shops. Young Thomas- or “Tommy,” as he was dubbed, and was more or less familiarly known till the end of the chapter- was sharp, and had an eye to the main chance, and while his master was temporarily absent from the van, he was allowed to try his hand at selling. He did this with so much success that when the master died, and Thomas was for the time being stranded, it was not long before he made a venture on his own behalf. He started with a basket, but found the house-to-house business was not in his line. So he acquired a van, and began to trade therefrom. There was a good deal of rough experience endured in those days, and the man who travelled rural England then had to be ready with his tongue, as well as his fists. The “Cheap Jack” was at that time a welcome visitor to the country towns and villages, as his van was dazzling with articles that may have not been more ornamental than useful, but helped to brighten the homes while they lasted. Mr. Cole was an adept salesman, with a ready wit, and had a happy knack of suiting the public fancy. He used to make periodical journeys to Sheffield and Birmingham, lay in good stocks of hardware and other saleable articles, and then tour the country, making a harvest at the fairs and feasts. Gradually he acquired substance, and some forty years ago decided to relinquish the nomadic trading for a more permanent establishment, which he set up in Bartholomew-street, where Mr. Porter carries on the butcher’s business. Some years later he had to move from these premises, and migrated further up the street, where his emporium has been established for so long a time. “Multum in parvo” was the motto which Mr. Cole inscribed over his shop, and it correctly described the multifarious character of the business. He was the pioneer of miscellaneous stores, where cheapness and variety were the rule. There was little in dry goods that couldn’t be obtained there, from a penny watch to a gold chronometer,a packet of pins to an eight-day clock, a box of matches to a case of fireworks; jewellery, hardware, brushes, something of everything. At one time Mr. Cole held the largest stock of matches in the town, some tons being stocked in a warehouse in Westfields where a destructive fire took place, although rags were the principal stock at the time. Mr. Cole was a buyer as well as a seller and was able to turn many unconsidered trifles into current cash. He would drive a bargain over anything from a rabbit skin to a horse, bones and bottles, rags or relics, all had their value in his eyes and the collectors of household jumble brought their wares to Mr. Coles warehouses, to be there exchanged for coin of the realm. Now and then a superannuated vehicle would be picked up as a bargain, and if a customer was not immediately available, it served for an occasional drive to Southampton or elsewhere.

` The deceased was a member of the Hampshire Carabiniers, and subsequently of the Royal Berkshire Yeomanry. To Mr. Cole, a former generation of Newburians owed their first experience of rowing, for renting the land adjacent to the river, he purchased boats at Southampton, transported them to the Kennet, and thus afforded a good deal of amusement and recreation to youths, who aspired to be oarsmen. Happily the boats were as safe as barges, and nothing worse than an occasional wetting resulted.

As Mr. Cole prospered, so did he adapt himself to circumstances. The travelling salesman developed into the licensed auctioneer; the driver of bargains, into the professional appraiser and valuer. With the weight of advancing years, he gave over the active superintendence of his business to his nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. Bond, and he retired into private life at Hampden House, and after a long life of activity, the rest and freedom from business worries were very welcome. A splendid constitution, combined with devoted nursing, prolonged life beyond the allotted span and death was but the physical decay of nature.

The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, the first part of the ceremony being conducted in the Parish Church by the Rector (Rev. L.R. Majendie). Several old friends were present, and the mourners were Mrs. Cole (the widow), Mr. and Mr. T.Bond (nephew and niece), Miss Ida Bond, Mrs. S. Lucas (nieces), Mrs. Adams, Mr.A.J. Pullen, and Mr. F. Povey. The coffin of polished oak with massive brass furniture, bore the inscription

“Thomas Cole

died March 25, 1902

aged 84”

Newbury Weekly News 3 April 1902 Obituary