Mrs Cantrell.
Mrs. MARY CANTRELL was a daughter of Mr. Sutton, of Shardlow Hall, whose family had long been connected with the carrying industry. She was generous to a fault, was active as a worker, and delighted to take the control of all necessary church work. At a silver wedding party in 1889, a service of plate was presented by the congregation to them. Mr. Cantrell told with glee how much younger Mrs. Cantrell was than he, for he said that when curate at Bramcote he had christened her, she being a baby. He died in 1890, aged 82, and she 1909. Five memorial windows in the chancel of St. John's Church were presented by Mrs. Cantrell in 1902, with appropriate mottos, and there is an alabaster tablet, on which is inscribed the words "Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God," and "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," which words best recalled the character of the man.
MRS. BUCKBY, widow of the late Dr. Buckby, must be mentioned as a lady who was not only a good church worker, but one who took great interest in the welfare of the people of the parish. Of the first Dr. Buckby, who came to Bulwell in 1856, it may be said that he was very good to the poor as a medical man—working for them whether he was paid or not. He died in 1884, aged 58. His son, the husband of the lady above-named, succeeded to the practice, and died in 1901, aged 44.
MRS. COOPER, the widow of the lord of the manor in 1873, spent £600 in putting a better organ into the parish church, in memory of her husband, the old organ being sold to Mr. Charles She was very kindly and generous, fond of giving public entertainments to the children, treats to the villagers, and balls for the servants ; thoughtful, and glad to do all that she could for the parish. She is still alive and well at the age of 83 or 4. Her husband, Mr. S. T. Cooper, bought the estate about 1865, enlarged the hall, and built the stables. He largely built the National Schools, and died in 1871, aged 39.
HENRY CAREY was a. lace manufacturer, and head of the firm of Henry Carey & Sons, of Nottingham and Bulwell. He took an active part in the building of Wesley Chapel, in 1839, and a warm interest in the Social Guild, and Convalescent homes. He had many young men under his influence, for in his classes were over 100 persons, one of them being at one time General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, then a very young man. He was very methodical, always acting under a sense of duty, and he never relinquished his religious work, especially his treasurership of the Benevolent Society, until feebleness set in. He died in 1894, aged 82.
W J Dawson.
WILLIAM J. DAWSON'S father died while his son was very young, and the boy had the misfortune to be crippled in his right leg. At a school near Greasley he could not join in the sports of other boys, and this caused him to be of studious habits, and largely led to his self-education. Early in life he acted as schoolmaster, and was very successful, being a born teacher. He also helped his mother, who kept a small shop. He continued his studies, learned Hebrew and Greek, and became somewhat of an expert scholar. Before he was twenty-one he began to preach, and being a profound thinker his services were valued, and he was invited to become a minister, but declined, and having married as a second wife Mr. Hiram Smith's widow, who was a first-class business woman, he established a grocery business, and at the same time gave his voluntary labours in preaching, and other ministry, and this he continued for fifty years, his whole life being spent in doing good He, with others, promoted the establishment of a British School, for which he became secretary. He wrote and published various pamphlets, one of which was entitled "The ordinary and extraordinary income of the Apostolic Church; how and when collected: a lesson for the times," which indicates an extensive knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, a good command of language, and is devoid of bitterness. He is described as being energetic, kind, and generous. He bequeathed £400 towards his chapel at the time of his death, which took place in 1897, at seventy-four years ot age. There were three-hundred and twenty persons in the fellowship where he laboured, and his memory is revered by them, and others, as that of a good man, who laboured for the public welfare.
THOMAS HARDY, of Bulwell Hall, by his will directed his executors to invest as much as would produce £10 a year, to be distributed at Christmas to the poor, irrespective of creed, or religious denomination, or whether of any religion or not, as they might select for the purpose. He died in 1897, aged 64. His widow and children erected the reredos in the church to his memory.
The REV. THOMAS B. HARDY, son of the above, was rector of Bulwell eight years. He died 1904, aged 45. The rectory was built by him.
T Aslin.
THOMAS ASLIN was born at Gedling in 1813, and died as Bulwell's oldest inhabitant in 1908. At fourteen he was apprenticed to Mr. Wilkinson of Bulwell, wheelwright, and married his master's daughter, find had a numerous family. He was churchwarden seventeen years, and on retiring was presented with a clock in appreciation of his services. He was a man of very simple habits, active, and highly respected.
W. F. FAULCONBRIDGE served on the Leen Sewerage Board, the Local Board, the Board of Guardians, and for three years in the Town Council. He was very kind to the poor in respect of Christmas dinners, and was much respected. He secured the regulation at Basford Workhouse that children there should be dressed in the ordinary way, and not with a distinctive dress. He died 1909, aged 74.
GEORGE WILLIS WALKER was a bleacher. He acted as churchwarden eight years, and made himself generally useful. He was always called "Gentleman Walker," which honour he appeared to appreciate. He died in 1909, aged 62. Mrs. Walker worked as a district visitor in conjunction with Mrs. Cantrell, and was noted for her kindness. She died in 1908, aged 77. She showed great care and consideration for dumb animals and birds.
MRS. MARY WESTON was the daughter of John Gent, the postmaster of Bulwell. At the age of twelve she began her service at the post office by delivering letters, and her connection with the post office continued up to within a few weeks of her death, in August, 1913. Mrs. Weston was familiarly known as Aunt Mary, and with going about so much, and being of a kindly disposition, she gradually became an authority among the poor for consultation as to their ailments, concerning which they never thought of consulting a doctor, and, of course, medical and nursing advice was not compatible with the quick delivery of letters, but time was not of importance in those days.
JOHN KEEBLE lived for 40 years on Bagnall Road. After leaving school he worked on a farm, and went thence to be butler to the celebrated Mr. Justice Hawkins. He was afterwards employed by Colonel Holden, at Nuthall, as a scripture reader. He was the secretary of the Cinder Hill Co-operative Society for 28 years, at the end of which time he was presented with a testimonial of his services, and a cheque for £25. He was clerk in the office of the Babbington Colliery Co. for some years. He used to read the lessons at Christ Church, Cinder Hill. He was an active Band of Hope worker— a teetotaller for 60 years—and non-smoker. He was an amiable, kind-hearted man, and left many descendants. He died in 1913, in his 91st year.