Preece Family Tree

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.