MR. WILLIAM BRAIN

A well-known townsman this week passed away in the person of Mr. William Brain, head of the firm of William Brain and Son Ltd., who died on Friday last at the age of 74 years.  Mr. Brain had had a varied career.  For many years he was station master at Hermitage, and whilst there took a prominent part in the life of the community, being largely responsible for the building of the Baptist Chapel, Long Lane.  On the opening of the Lambourn Valley Railway he was appointed station master at Lambourn, and was to all events and purposes manager of the line.  Subsequently he started in business as a coal merchant at Lambourn and before the war transferred his energies to Newbury, where he has since worked up the flourishing concern which bears his name.  During the War he did a lot of hard work as chairman of the Fuel Committee, and then upon the return of the soldiers from the front started to develop the gravel pits on the Highfield estate in order to provide work.  He has since developed the estate as a building proposition, it being laid out on model lines.  A man of fine physique and commanding presence, he put a good deal of forethought into all the affairs he took in hand.

The interment took place in the Newtown-road Cemetery in the family grave on Tuesday afternoon, one of the bitterest days.  There was not a large assemblage and those present took the advice of the officiating minister, the Rev. W. Charles Johnson, not to remove their head-coverings; a very wise suggestion.  The opening part of the service had taken place at the residence of the deceased.  The coffin was conveyed on one of the firm’s trolleys drawn by two fine black horses, wonderfully groomed and harnessed.  The trolley was covered with black drapery, the coffin being surmounted by the family wreaths.  A second trolley draped with purple contained the remainder of the floral tributes.

The mourners were Mr. W.H. Brain and Mr. L.H. Brain (sons), Mr. H.E. Dain (son-in-law), Mr. D. Laing, Mr. R. Brazier, Mr. Beatty, Mr. Ifould (Wellington College), Mr. Maurice Ifould (representing Messrs. Dunlop, Reading), Mr. Lambden (Messrs. C. and G. Ayres), Mr. Purnell (Cannock Chase Collieries), Mr. J. Baverstock, Mr. F. Perry, Mr. A.J. Kingston, Mr. S. Baverstock, Mr. M. Walker, Sergeant Lambourn and P.C. Gibbs (representing Supt. Simmons), Inspector Keeler (R.S.P.C.A.).  At the Cemetery, Mrs. Brazier, Miss Brown, Mr. Lister, Mrs. Holmes, Mr. A.P. Morton, Mr. T.S. Waite, Mr. Bennett, and members of the Baptist Church, Mr. T. Carr, Mr. B. Stevens, Mrs. Curtiss, Mrs. Taylor.

The bearers were the following employees of the firm William Brain and Son Ltd.: E. Vokins, F. Tyler, W. Cox, W. Doggett, F. Taylor and T. Maskells.  Other employees following were A. Curtiss, J. Cross, A. Dobson, R. Doggett, F. Davis, W. Davis, A. Collins, M. Rampton, W. Kirkham, F. Chapman and J. Hall.

The coffin was of plain oak and was inscribed: “William Brain, died February 22^nd, aged 74 years”.

Also –    He married Dorcas Norridge (d. 1913) on 21/05/1879 and they had 4 children: William Harry (b. 1879). Ann Ethel (b. 1882), Florence Ellen (b. 1884) and Lionel Horatio (b. 1892).  In his will he left £9090 1s. 9d. to Lionel Horatio Brain, William Harry Brain, Edwin Drain and Daniel Pollack Laing.  In 1914 he married again to Kate Stansfield (d. 28.09.28) and in her will left £2830 4s. 11d to Lionel Horatio and William Harry Brain.

NWN 28/02/1929

Mrs P p. 139 LS (C)

Buried 26/02/1929 from 1, Highfields Avenue

d. 22/02/1929 aged 74

Book 1917, p. 133 No. 10658