A WORKING MAN WORTHY.

—The death took place last Wednesday of Mr. Richard Allen Prestoe at the age of 70. He had been ailing for some time from heart disease, but the end was very sudden. He was a worthy type of a working man, an able and intelligent mechanic of the school who had done so much to bring about perfection of mechanical appliances to be found in large works of the present day. He was apprenticed at the age of 14, and continued in the service of Messrs Plenty, and the Eagle Ironworks, for the long period of 56 years, serving them honourably, and industriously throughout. His work was in the engine-fitting department, of which he was latterly foreman for some twenty years, being associated with the firm from its early beginnings until it rose into prominence as the makers of marine engines which have been sent to all quarters of the civilised world.

Mr. Prestoe was for many years secretary of the Eagle Works Sick Fund , and always had a kindly consideration for those disabled by sickness, and was foremost in any movement for the alleviation of distress.

Mr. Prestoe had several hobbies which occupied his spare time. He was an enthusiastic mineralogist, and had quite a representative collection, which he classified and labelled with much correctness. He had also archaeological tastes, and had a number of interesting curios. Old china always attracted him, and of this he had some valuable specimens.

Evidence of the great respect entertained for him by his employers and fellow-workmen was afforded at the funeral on Saturday afternoon, which was conducted at the Cemetery by the Rev. F. W. Clarke, pastor iof the Congregational Church, and the Vicar of St. John’s (Rev. R. Wickham Legg) was also present. The firm was represented by Mr. E. P. Plenty, (managing director). Messrs. S. J. Smith , E. J. Davis, and Booth, of the office staff, Mr. J. Wyse, the general foreman, and some seventy of the workmen, some of whom acted as bearers.

The mourners included two daughters, four sons, a brother, and other relatives. Wreaths were sent by the children, Messrs. Plenty, from the Staff, Eagle Ironworks, from the Boiler Works, and the workmen.

The Rechabites, of which deceased had been a member for 26 years, was represented by Messrs. Sainsbury and Cullum.

Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser - Thursday 27 December 1906

By the death of Mr. Richard Prestoe a veritable local G.O.M has been taken from us. He had long since passed the Psalmist’s limit, and indeed had reached the patriarchal age of eighty-four year almost up to the last was hale and hearty. For more than fifty years he worked at the Eagle ironworks and could tell an interesting tale of the development of that firm. Mr Prestoe was one of the old school of mechanics, one who took pride in his work for its own sake. He always had a strong aversion to piece-work, believing it to be neither for the advantage of master or man. One of Mr. Prestoe’s characteristics was a love of long rambles in the early morning, and perhaps he owed his long life to this good habit. At any rate it made him an observant student of nature, which he practically turned to useful account by supplementing hid usual employment with the interesting work of a naturalist. For some years past he had been an inmate of Kimber’s Almshouses