1BIRTHS,MARIAGES AND DEATHS

(We have chosen a few Births, Marriages and Deaths for individuals well known in or around the town and about whom we can make comment)

Births:

WILLCOX- April 14th, 1878. Robert James, son of Frank and Laura Willcox, at Manor Farm, Shipperdine.

GRACE- December 30th, 1878. Francis Henry, son of Edward Mills and Annie Grace, at Park House, Thornbury.

Marriages: HOWELL-SCREEN-October 31st 1878. Charles Howell to Tryphena Screen.

Deaths:

COLLINGS- 20th July, 1878. Samuel Collings, aged 87, of Castle Street, Thornbury.

Robert Willcox: After leaving school in 1893, Robert worked for a year in a grocer's shop in Thornbury, then taught for three years at the Thornbury Board School in Gillingstool before finally going to sea, which he had always longed to do, in 1897. He quickly worked his way up to Captain and took part in the tea clipper races between Shanghai and the Port of London. He sailed round the world on three occasions, via the treacherous Cape Horn route.

After the birth of his second child, in 1913, he was persuaded, very reluctantly, to give up the sea and to settle down to farming, firstly at Ashworthy Farm, Cromhall and then at Stidcote Farm, Tytherington. In 1947 he assisted in the founding of the Thornbury Sailing Club at Oldbury on Severn. Robert died in 1952, aged 74.

2Francis Grace: Francis was the second son, but the ninth child, of Dr. Edward Mills Grace and his wife Annie. Overshadowed to a degree by the cricketing exploits of his father and his famous uncle, W.G.Grace, Francis Grace is, perhaps, best remembered in Thornbury for two things - firstly for partnering Mr. Edmund Cullimore in the running of the Thornbury Gas Company, introducing electricity to the town sometime around 1906, and secondly for managing, with his wife Helen, daughter of Edmund Cullimore, Thornbury's Picture House Cinema.

The cinema was built in 1919 by Mr. Cullimore for Helen. Francis and Helen ran the cinema up to the time of Francis' death in May 1949.

3Charles and Tryphena Howell. Charles farmed for many years at Duckhole, Lower Morton. They were married for over 50 years.

4Samuel Collings: Sam Collings was one of four members of his family who were engaged in the clock and watch making trade. Born in Mangotsfield some time about 1791, Sam was living and working in Chipping Sodbury at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Harris, in Thornbury Parish Church, on May 3rd, 1814. He set up in business in the High Street, where he is recorded in a directory of 1839. The couple had at least five children, one of whom, Alfred, took over the business in Thornbury when his father retired around 1856

There are numerous surviving examples of Sam Colling's long-case clocks. One of these is currently owned by the Thornbury & District Heritage Trust. It was made in 1836 for Mr. George Cossham and is in a case that was built by Mr. Cossham, also of Thornbury, a carpenter and amateur cabinet maker. The Thornbury Town Clock, in the Old Market Hall in the High Street, was also built by Sam Collings around 1836.

Sam Collings is credited with the invention of the solid-headed pin. Prior to his invention pins were made in two pieces, the head being soldered to the pin. He patented his idea and subsequently sold the patent for £100. He died in 1878, his wife in 1859.