ALFRED THOMAS WHITINGTON

DEATH OF MR. A.T. WHITINGTON

OLD NEWBURY TRADESMAN

By the death of Mr. Alfred Thomas Whitington, of 151 Bartholomew-street, which occurred very suddenly on Friday, one of the oldest tradesmen in the town has been removed. Although he had not been feeling well during the week, his illness was not thought to be serious, and he was out and about as usual up to Thursday, when he took to his bed and passed away the next morning.

 Mr. Whitington, who was 70 years of age, established the business of greengrocer and florist at the shop in Bartholomew-street afterwards occupied bby the late Mr. James Tufnalll, removing from there to the present shop next door, seven years later. With his father, he carried on business as a market gardener in West Fields, and later he transferred the nursery to Enborne, where he grew most of the produce for the shop, his strawberry beds in particular being noted. He was a clever horticulturist and was the first secretary of the Newbury and District Gardeners’ Association, which recently celebrated its twenty-first birthday. His chief hobby was motoring, and he was never happier than tinkering with a motor or machinery. He was the inventor of a lichen wreath with a tin trough for keeping the flowers fresh. Mr. Whitington leaves a widow, two daughters and a son.

 The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, the service in the Baptist Church being conducted by the Rev. W. Chas. Johnson. The mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Whitington (son and daughter-in-law),Mr. And Mrs. Denham (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. and Mrs. Willes (son-in-law and daughter), Miss A. Franklin (sister-in-law), and Mr. A. Denham.

 Members of staff present included Mrs. Hallet, Miss Harris, Miss Fray, Mr. J. Watling and Mr. H. Cottrell. In addition many friends were also present in church. The interment was in the Newtown-road Cemetery, the grave being lined with box and tulips by men of the staff in lieu of a wreath.

Floral tributes were sent by the following:

"the one who loved him best" Mag and Theo; Kath and Arnold; Frank and Agnes; grandchildren Walter, Ethel and Eddie; the staff: Mrs Herbert, and Mrs harmsworth; Boss and Grace; Mrs Denham and family (Birmingham); Mr and Mrs Cartwright and daughters; Harry (hambleden); Fred and A Burn; Mrs J E Brown; Mr and Mrs S H Benn and Douglas; Edith Streat and Dorothy Rowell; Annie; K and L M; Mr and Mrs Shave; James Brindley and son; Mrs Hughes and Betty; employees of Denham's and Bert of the Welcome cafe; Mr Gaskell Isaacs London.

The Funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr T H Cullum

 Newbury Weekly News 26 March 1931

Died 20 March 1931 aged 70

Mrs P.p 185 c13

Bk 1917 p 153 no. 10820

Also Lizzie Janette Whitington died 2 February 1932 aged 70