Preece Family Tree

Dedication Of Memorial Screen

THE LATE ALDERMAN J. R. DEACON

THERE was a crowded congregation at St. Chad's Church, Lichfield, on Saturday afternoon for an impressive service of dedication of an oak screen which has been presented by Mrs. E. Deacon, in memory of her husband, Alderman Joseph Richard Deacon, J.P., in whose memory a fine eulogy was given by Prebendary H. S. Cresswell, M.A.

The ceremony of dedication was performed by the Dean (Dr. F. A. Iremonger).

The screen is a splendid example of the designer's art and carpenter's craftsmanship and is indeed a fine addition to the interior of the church. The screen is placed near the bell-chamber - one of the bells there being one of the very oldest in the country.

The Memorial, which is placed across the arch leading to the tower, takes the form of a Parclose Screen.

The main beam is carved to represent a number of the principal building trades, namely Carpentry, metal working, Stonemasonry, tiling, brick-laying, drain laying. In the centre is a panel portraying the Paschal Lamb.

Supporting the main beam are the figures of four Angels, each bearing a Coat of Arms, namely: The Province of Canterbury, The Diocese of Lichfield, The City and County of Lichfield, The National Federation of Building Trades' Employers.

The whole is surmounted by a statue of St. Chad, holding in the right hand a model of the Cathedral, and in the left hand a Bishop's Crosier.

In the centre of the Screen, a door gives access to the tower and ringing chamber, and on the door is the following inscription :-

"In loving memory of Joseph Richard Deacon, Builder, Alderman, and Justice of the Peace of the City and County of Lichfield. 1877-1942."

The theme of the Memorial is to portray his life interests: work, worship and citizenship.

OF ENGLISH OAK

The Screen is made of English oak, and has been designed by Mr. Holland W. Hobbiss, F.R.I.B.A.

The carving is the work of Mr. William Bloye, F.R.B.S., P.R.B.S.A.

The Memorial has been made and erected by J. R. Deacon, Ltd., the firm of which the late Alderman Deacon was the founder.

The Mayoress (Mrs. A. W. Handford) deputised for her mother, Mrs. Deacon, and was accompanied by the Mayor (Councillor A. W. Handford), Major T. J. R. (Theo) Deacon and Captain G. A. (Tony) Deacon, grandsons of the late Alderman Deacon; and Diana (daughter of the Mayor and Mayoress). There were present Mrs. M. J. Handford (mother of the Mayor), Mr. George Deacon (brother of the late Alderman Deacon) and Mrs. Deacon; Mr. and Mrs. George Deacon, Junr., and daughter; Mr. G. A. Knight (nephew), and Mrs. Knight, of Walsall; Mr. and Mrs. F. Boardman (of Messrs. Deacon and Boardman, Ltd., Walsall); Mr. and Mrs. Noel Boardman (Walsall).

Amongst the congregation were the Sheriff and his Lady (Counsillor and Mrs. F. W. Long); members of the City Council; Alderman L. G. Hall, C.C., Mr. and Mrs. E. Woolley, Mr. H. W. Shipley (architect); Mr. G. Burkes (Birmingham manager of the firm) and Mrs. Burkes; officials and employees of the firm.

For many years Alderman Deacon was a churchwarden at St. Chad's Church.

The hymns "O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace" and "Lead, Kindly Light" were sung, and subsequent ot the service of dedication "Now thank we all our God."

FINE EULOGY

Prebendary H. S. Cresswell referred to the absence through illness of the former Rector of S. Chat's (Mr. Coussmaker) and the Rector (the Rev. D. K. Robertson), and he was deputising in a sense for both.

Prebendary Cresswell said: "In this service of dedication of the screen we realise at once that there are two aspects of the dedication: the first that it is offered for the service of God and for the adornment of His house; the second that it ties the links with others we have both known and loved and lived among us with a kind of attachment with the Church they worshipped at and have supported.

"Many people coming into this church will look at that screen and see it a thing of beauty which it is - they see in it concentration of thought of the designer and execution of craftsmanship and the fine material of which it is made; they will go away thinking it is part of the fabric of this church; but to others who are here it is an unbroken link with a man who lived his life amongst us and was loved with a deep and abiding respect.

"Amongst the qualities which represent the Christian life in its fullness, St. Paul uses these three phrases: 'Not sloth in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.'

"I do not think in my long experience I have ever known a man to whom this first phrase could be so strictly applied. I had known him for the greater part of my own life, 40 years or more, he was one of the first men I met in this city. I shall not forget the kindness he extended to me on that occasion, a kindness which he maintained all through his life."

"His reputation for personal care and concentration upon the job in hand spread very quickly. He was reliable, material he used were selected with care and precision. He himself gave constant personal oversight to all the building entrusted to him, and when most men felt free to claim their leisure after working hours of the day he was to be found in that office in Lombard Street in the small hours of the morning, considering work of the next day, probably going through bills of quantities and specifications so that by his careful consideration and calculation he was able to undertake as his business extended contracts running into six figures. Of many things he has produced as a builder, perhaps one of the most attractive of the all and one which gave him personal pride was rebuilding the King Edward School in Birmingham, and I can well remember how he took me to the timber yard to see some of the prepared timber which was to be erected in the large assembly hall in that new school.

SCRUPULOUS CARE

"Nor was he without care to be scrupulous in all his transactions. One has never heard a breath of suggestion that any action of his was without complete integrity and honesty. But after all great as his attainments were as a business man it merely represents one phase of his character and life. It may have been a dominant part of his life - but it was perhaps the expression in practical form of what the man really was and for that we should have to look further and see the principle of his whole life.

A busy man as Joseph Richard Deacon was, he was among those who recognise the claims and responsibilities of the citizens and from the moment he was first urged to undertake public work in the city as a member of the Council, unto the day of his death, he never failed to give of his very best in the service of the community in which he lived. He was 'fervent in spirit' and in whatever he undertook whether in the public good, or whether, as I knew him so well, in so many instances of private philanthropy, he was 'fervent in spirit,' typical of the best Christian teaching.

"Then we turn to that which to me is most essential of them all. He was always conscious of God's claim upon him. He was indeed a God-fearing man. I have had many talks with him, both in his house and in his office and there was always borne in upon me, here is a man whose Christianity is not upon his sleeve.

"Here in this church he worshipped for the longest part of his stay in Lichfield. He often spoke to me of very happy memories of the parish of St. Mary's, when he attended that church."

At the conclusion of the service the hymn "For the beauty of the earth" was sung.

Leading Midland Builder Dies

Lichfield has lost a former Mayor and its largest employer of labour in Alderman J. R. Deacon. J.P., building contractor, who died at his home, Oakleigh, yesterday, aged 64.

He had erected more private dwellings in Lichfield than any other modern builder, and carried out many important contracts in the Midlands, including King Edward's High School, Bristol-road, Birmingham.

Mr. Deacon entered Lichfield City Countil in 1908, and for two years, 1916-17, was Sheriff. He was Mayor in 1920 and 1921.

OBITUARY

ALDERMAN J. R. DEACON

Alderman J. R. Deacon, a building contractor, died at Lichfield yesterday, aged sixty-four. A native of Leicestershire, he started business as a builder and contractor at Lichfield in 1901, and since that time has carried out many important contracts in that city and the Midlands including the new King Edward's High School, in Bristol Road, Birmingham, the original tender for which was £176,782. In 1905 he entered Lichfield City Council, and in 1916-17 he occupied the position of Sheriff, and was Mayor in 1920-21. In 1923 he came a magistrate of the city. He was elected an alderman in 1933, and he had been president of Lichfield Chamber of Commerce and a warden of St. Chad's Church. He leaves a widow and a daughter.

LICHFIELD MOURNS A BELOVED CITIZEN

DEATH OF ALD. J. R. DEACON, J.P.

Former Mayor and City's Largest Employer of Labour

"HIS CHIEF OBJECT IN LIFE WAS TO HELP OTHERS"

CIVIC COLLEAGUES' GLOWING TRIBUTES

IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL GATHERING

LICHFIELD has experienced a sad loss by the death of its largest employer of labour, Alderman J. R. Deacon, which took place at his residence, "Oakleigh," St. Chad's Road, on Sunday morning. Alderman Deacon, who was 64 years of age, had only been confined to his bed for about a week, and his passing will be received with regret by everyone who knew him, especially by his employees, by whom he was held in the utmost regard and esteem by virtue of his unfailing fairness and unbounded considerstion and generosity.

SOME IMPORTANT CONTRACTS

Alderman Deacon was a native of Leicestershire and came to reside in Lichfield in 1897. Four years later he commenced business in the city as a builder and contractor, and since that time he has not only carried out many important contracts in Lichfield and neighbourhood, but his activities have extended much farther afield, especially in recent years. One of his largest contracts was that of the new King Edward's High School in Bristol Road, Birmingham, for which the original coptract price was £176,782. He was also the builder of the attractive business premises of Parker, Winder and Achurch in Broad Street, Birmingham, the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, the Children's Hospital at Ladywood, Sutton Roman Catholic Church, Nuneaton Roman Catholic Church, and many churches in the Birmingham area.

In Lichfield itself, Alderman Deacon has been responsible for the erection of numerous private properties in the city and the development of several building estates; in fact, it might be said without the slightest fear of contradiction that the large number of modern houses of the villa type which the city now possesses owe their existence to Alderman Deacon's initiative and business enterprise. He has in all probability done more than any other individual person to increase the rateable value of the city. In many instances the development of Lichfield has been carried out on the outskirts of the city, and not infrequently the citizens have been the gainers in another direction in that, by giving up land from time to time, Alderrhan Deacon enabled the Corporation to carry out much-needed street-widening schemes. He was keenly interested in the Lichfield Victoria Hospital and was not only responsible for the erection of the Hospital's present up-to-date buildings, but also the recent addition of the very modern Maternity Block.

AN EX-MAYOR AND SHERIFF

Alderman Deacon entered the City Council as one of the representatives of the North Ward in 1908 and he has served on practically all the committees. He occupied the position of Sheriff in 1916-17 and that of Mayor in 1920-21, being elected an alderman in 1933. In 1923 he was made a Justice of the Peace for the city. He was an elected member the Conduit Lands Trust, a representative on the Lichfield Municipal Charities and Hinton's Charity, and a member of the following committees: Estates and General Purposes, Health, Housing, and Rating and Valuation.

He was a past president of the Lichfield Chamber of Trade and an active member of the Lichfield Development Committee, which formerly functioned with the primary object of securing the introduction of new industries to the city. He was also a director of the Lichfield Foundry Ltd., in Sandford Street. For a number of years he was a sidesman at St. Chad's Church and for five years he filled the office of people's warden. Alderman Deacon was a member of St. John's Lodge of Freemasons, St. John's Chapter and St. Chad's Rose Croix Chapter.

In 1903 Alderman Deacon married the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Knight, of Newbold, Leicestershire, and he leaves his widow and one daughter, to whom the utmost sympathy is extended.

THE FUNERAL

Crowded Congregation at St. Chad's Church

It is doubtful if the present generation in Lichfield has seen a more striking tribute to the personality and memory of one of its citizens than that which was paid to the late Alderman Deacon at his funeral at St. Chad's Church, Lichfield, on Wednesday. The old church, which he loved to attend and serve, was not large enough to comfortably accommodate all who desired to pay their last respects to the deceased, and no report could give an accurate impression to those unable to be present of the varied sections of the community represented in that impressive farewell gathering, which included quite two hundred employees of the firm of J. R. Deacon, Ltd.

The service was conducted by the Very Rev. the Dean, the Rector of St. Chad's (the Rev. R. de B. Coussmaker) and the Vicar of St. Mary's (Preb. H. S. Cresswell, R.D., who also represented the Bishop).

Mr. R. Earl presided at the organ, and, led by the full choir, the congregation sang the well-known hymns, "Abide with me" and "Rock of Ages," together with the Psalm "I will lift up mine eyes"; the service, marked by a reverence and simplicity befitting the one whom all had in mind, concluding appropriately with the rendering of the Nunc Dimittis: "Lord, now lettest Thy servent depart in peace."

Six employees, Messrs. G. Gotheridge, T. Wakelin, G. Barnes, G. Bayliss, W. Turner and W. Clews, acted as bearers.

The family mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Handford (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. Theo Deacon and Mr. Tony Deacon (grandsons); Mr. and Mrs. G. Deacon (brother and sister-in-law); Mr. E. Deacon (brother, Kington, Hereford), Mr. A. Deacon (brother, Banbury), Mr. J. Knight (brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. G. Knight (brother-in-law and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. G. Deacon, jnr. (nephew and niece), Miss Doris Deacon (niece), Major J. Stokes, Mr. and Mrs. F. Boardman, Mr. and Mrs. S. Handford, Mr. S. Handford, Miss M. Handford, Mr. Joe Smith, Mrs. Sneyd (Charlotte) and Mrs. Skeffington.

The Mayor and Corporation attended in civic state and were escorted to the church by the local members of the National Fire Service under the command of Chief Officer A. Jones, and a detachment of Special Constabulary under Vice-Commandant N. W. Andrews. Accompanying the Mayor (Councillor C. H. Averill) were the Sheriff (Councillor W. F. L. Salloway), the Mayor's Chaplain (Prebendary P. Howard), the Town Clerk (Mr. A. N. Ballard), Aldermen H. G. Hall, F. Garratt, J. H. Bridgman and Mrs. Stuart Shaw, Councillors F. M. Tayler, T. Moseley, R. J. Nevill, F. E. Collins, F. Halfpenny, F. G. Mantle, C. H. Craddock, F. T. Perry, J. Haworth and F. Williams, Councillor E. Matthews (Hammerwich), Councillask Frank Foster (Whittington), and Mr. F. Thompson (Postmaster).

The St. John's Lodge, St. John's Chapter and St. Chad's Rose Croix Chapter were represented by the following: Brothers H. Davis, R. J. Cook, K Parker. J. S. Brown, C. C. Leach, G. T. Taylor, C. W. Gifford Inge, W. H. Treadgold, W. F. Russell, C. H. Thurston, T. H. Shilcock, H. Sanders, W. Jeffries, J. A. Harrison, H. Newton, A. Pearson, H. Todd, R. Briggs, W. Fewtrill, A. Hodkinson, T. W. Biddulph, H. Q. Biddulph, W. Rutherford, J. Bridgeman, S. Lintern, together with W. Scott, C. Bateman and E. M. Marriner (Visiting Brethren).

Others present in church were: Bros. Rev. E. T. Sidwell and S. T. Isham (St. Augustine's Lodge, Rugeley), Mr. A. Wootton (chief clerk), Mr. E. Woolley (accountant), Mr. C. T. Wigham, Mr. W. E. Pead and Mrs. Hodson (Lichfield City magistrates), Mr. M. H. Hunt (magistrates' clerk), Superintendent H. Jones, Mr. F. D. Winterton (and representing Ald. H. J. C. Winterton), Mrs. E. M. Heath, Dr. T. D. Stuart Shaw and Mr. H. Webb (Lichfield Victoria Hospital), Colonel O. H. Mason (Burton-on-Trent), Mr. F. Shrubsole (National Provincial Bank), Mr. Charles Manton (Walsall), Mr. H. Busill Jones and Mr. T. Gwinnett (Walsall Co-operative Society), Mr. R. Jeffries (Walsall), Mr. H. W. Shipley (representing Ansell's Brewery, Ltd. and Holt Brewery, Ltd.), Mr. C. R. Bailey, Mr. H. C. Higgins, Mr. R. J. Barnes, Mr. G. Tipper, Mr. F. J. Hall, Messrs. Smith and Parker, Mr. F. G. Worthington, Mr. G. S. Russell, Mr. A. G. Whiting, Mr. B. Andrews, Messrs. W. F. C. Long and B. Bedington (Lichfield Chamber of Trade), Mr. F. H. Carter (Birmingham), Mr. G. E. Bagnall (Birmingham), Mr. G. Birch, Mrs. Stokes (Knowle Hurst), Mr. A. Devey (Shenstone), Mr. H. W. Hobbiss (Birmingham), Mr. C. C. Gray (Birmingham), the Rev. H. L Muriel, Mr. H. F. Bather, Mr. and Mrs. W. Kendrick (Walsall), Mr. R. S. Streather (Sutton Coldfield), Dr. F. W. Marshall, Dr. A. W. Vaisey, Mr. C. Bridgeman, Messrs. C. W. Bell and C. R. B. Brown (Tuke and Bells Ltd., and Lichfield Foundary Ltd.), Mr. G. Bird, Mr. W. Frost (representing Mr. G. J. Murray Atkins), Mr. R. Burns (representing George Elvin and Sons and Selfield Cinemas), Messrs. F. C. and D. A. Hewes (representing Barton Cement Co.), Mr. O. A. Wainwright (Birmingham), Mr. J. H. Jones (Birmingham), Mr. F. R. Pennell (Birmingham), Messrs. C. H. Riley and M. Watkiss (Hinckley Building Society), Mr. G. H. Burks (Birmingham), Mr. T. W. Biddulph (Burton-on-Trent), Mrs. P. A. Benn (Grantham), Mr. J. E. Bishop, Mr. A. W. Thorpe (Lichfield Charity Cup and Lichfield Football League), Mr. A. P. Green (Lichfield Foundry Ltd.), Mr. A. R. Gee (Lichfield Gas Co.), Mr. R. A. R. Benn (godson) (and representing Captain G. K. Benn, R.E.), Rev. H. F. Napier, Mr. J. W. Massey (Birmingham), Mr. John Massey (Birmingham), Mr. and Mrs. Shufflebotham, Mr. Carter (N. W. Weedon and Partners), Mr. Jones (Peter King and Co.), Mr. H. S. Willington (Walsall Technical College), Mr. and Mrs. Noel Boardman, Mr. W. Bond, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Arthur, Mrs. Ballard, Father de Capitain (Sutton Coldfield), Mr. G. Mytton (Lichfield City Institute), Mr. Kitchen (Parker, Winder and Achurch), Mr. Ordway (J. R. Lea and Co.), and many others.

FLORAL TRIBUTES

The beautiful floral tributes, numbering over 130, were from the following:- The Widow; Marjorie and Arthur (daughter and son-in-law); George, Edith and Doris (Friary Avenue); Ernest and Beatrice (Kington); Evelyn and Arthur (Leominster); George, Jessie, Evelyn; Employees of King Edward School; the Directors, H. L. Jones and Staff of Parker, Winder and Achurch, Ltd.; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Ivison and Jack; Hiskins Bros.; Holland W. and Major Hobbiss; Major M. Farlane; Mr. and Mrs. Skeffington; Mr. and Mrs. Frank R. Pennell; George, Millicent and Mary; Aubury; Mr. and Mrs. Handford (Overstowe); Boardman and Family (Walsall); Alderman and Mrs. Hall; Mr. D. and Mr. Walter W. Webb; Charlotte; Daisy and Arthur (Banbury); F. Connie Son and Family; Joe, Lizzie and Family; Oswald N. Mason; Nellie, Tom and Eric; the Choir and Sexton of St. Chad's; Harry W. Weedon and Partners; Lichfield City Magistrates and Clerk; Mr. and Mrs. A. Seedhouse; Employees, Ash Road; Members of St. Chad's Rose Croix Lodge; St. Chad's Parochial Church Council; St. Chad's Sick and Benefit Club; Alice and John Leese; Clifford and John Atkins; Employees, Hammerwich; Superintendent and Mrs: Jones (Court House); Employees Deacon and Boardman; Mr. and Mrs. Gotheridge and Employees Fradley and Fauld; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bayliss and Dorothy; George Holmes and Workmen, Chatwood; Lichfield Plumbers' Association; Fawcett (Longdon Hall); Directors of Deacon and Boardman; Mr. and Mrs. I A. Hollinshead; Mrs. Davis and Family; Masefield and Reynolds, King's Bromley; Lichfield Staff of Painters; William Basham and William Barker; Alderman and Mrs. Garratt and Family; Employees at Coventry; Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Littleford; Employees at Aldridge; Works Lorry Drivers; Deacon's Office Staff; Committee of Lichfield City Institute; Alderman and Mrs. J. H. Bridgeman; The Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen, Councillors and Officials of the City of Lichfield; Workmen at Ashby and Market Bosworth; Directors and Management of Regal Cinema, Lichfield; Sam and Mrs. J. S. Brown; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Barnes and Family; J. Thorneloe and Sons, Lichfield; Directors Lichfield Foundry; Mrs. S. Heath, Angorfa, Walsall Road; Staff and Employees Lichfield Foundry; A. Devey, Shenstone; Messrs., Cross and Cross; Albertaßarker; Mr. and Mrs. S. Slater and Ray; Whittaker and Sons, Lichfield; Mrs. W. B. Littler; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bishop; Works Apprentices; Fred and Donald Hewes; Directors of R. M. Douglas, Ltd.; Mr. and Mrs. Oakley; From the Bottom Shop and Mill Hands; Mr. and Mrs. A. Cartmale, St. Chad's Road; Shenstone Workmen; J. H. Llewellyn; Directors and Manager Hinckley and Coventry Building Society; Birmingham Employees; St. John's Lodge of Freemasons; Rowe Bros. Company, Birmingham; Joe and Winnie; Mr. and Mre. F. Hodson and Ted; Cissie and Conrad Leach; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weedon; John Salford; Employees F. W. Biddulph; Charles . Manton and Sons, Walsall; Companions of the Holy Royal Arch Chapter of St. John 1039; Lichfield Laundry, Ltd.; Rev. and Mrs. Coussmaker and Chaddy; Noel, Olive and Baby Boardman; Mr. Isham (Shenstone); Mr. and Mrs. Shrubs°le, National Bank; Joiners of the Top Shop; Mr. and Mrs. W. Griffin; Walsall and District Co-operative Society; Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Boardman; William Kentish; Mr. and Mrs. Shipley; Mr. and Mrs. T. Cook; Albert. H. Wootton; Superintendent H. Jones and Members of the Lichfield Police Division; Will Turner and Family; Walsall Building Guild; Ansell's Brewery, Ltd.,; Holt's Brewery; Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Benn and George Benn; Members of the Lichfield Chamber of Trade; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Lintern; J. W. Shaw, Walsall; Roper Benn; Walsall Master Builders' Association; Mrs. and Miss Macdonald; Mrs. Boston; The Longmore Family; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Shufflebotham and Mrs. S. Shufflebotham; Committee and Staff Lichfield Victoria Hospital; Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bagnall; Trustees Lichfield Conduit Lands; T. W. B.; Mr. 7. Wood Massey; The Staff of Deacon and Boardman, Ltd.; All at Harlequin; Misses Austin; Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Burkes.

The arrangements for the funeral were in the hands of Messrs. F. M. and J. Wait, Lichfield.