Our latest news, additions to the biographies, and events starting from March 2023!
Our latest published story traces the lives of the Foster family and especially Daniel FOSTER, a police sergeant who served Reading for 33 years. Among the many cases he was involved in, Sergeant Foster once caught a man stealing shrubs from the Reading (Old) cemetery grounds.
23/12/2025: We are sharing the very sad story of George James MURDOCH, who died trying to save four boys (Charles CHESTERMAN, Victor D’ARCHANBAUD, Albert Oliver LANG, Charles SWEETZER) who were in his care from the local orphanage where he was a warden.
14/12/2025: We welcome the story of William Henry DENTON who died at a tragic work accident leaving behind him a young family.
01/12/2025: Owindia– ‘the weeping one’ was the name given to this little girl also baptised as Lucy May. She was First Nations Indigenous child rescued as an infant under dramatic circumstances after a catastrophic family tragedy. Read her story, how she ended up in Reading and please note that some of the written accounts may be upsetting and reflect the historical context of the time.
28/11/2025: Sidney Clarence Stuart COLLETT was 25 years old when he embarked on the RMS Titanic as a passenger in the second class. Parts of Sidney’s life story are well documented. As a Titanic survivor, he was invited to give a number of interviews and talks. But why is Sidney buried in Reading Old when he died in a London Hospital? Read his life story to find out more about the Reading connection with this Titanic survivor.
26/11/2025: We welcome the story of Oliver ROBOTHAM, Deputy Chief Constable, Berkshire Constabulary, who remained in service for 44 years.
23/11/2025: How about some Christmas Carols singing and tree decorating with uncoated paper baubles and natural fibre twine on Sunday 14th December at 1pm? Meeting by the cemetery entrance (Wokingham Road) and will use the space around division 64 and 70. We will have a little Christmas-themed walk if it rains. What to expect: Cheerful dispositions, recorded background music (don’t worry; skipping the rock versions used last year 😄), paper baubles and biscuits.
19/11/2025: We welcome the stories of the LAKE family (George & Elizabeth Ann and one of their sons Alfred and his wife Sarah Ellen) as shared by one of their direct descendants. We are humbled when relatives share the life stories of loved ones with us.
16/11/2025: Remembering Thomas Edward Henry FOSTER and his wife Kate Eliza, who rest together in Reading Old. Thomas was a fireman who lost his life in a tragic accident.
28/10/2025: We welcome the life story of William GRANT, Deputy Police Chief Constable of Berkshire who unfortunately died a few days before his retirement date.
27/10/2025: Paul PASCAL and his brother-in-law Alexandre LOUQUE are buried in the same grave at Reading Old Cemetery. Little is known about the lives of the two men but Paul’s tragic death and his brother’s reaction were reported widely in the press of the time.
26/10/2025: Join us on Sunday 9th November, 12.30 for the Memorial Service for Armistice Day and see our beautiful artwork of crochet poppies put together by lovely volunteers.
24/10/2025: Jean Helen CALLANDER’s life was quiet and constrained by Pott’s disease and MS, limiting her mobility and social prospects. Unfortunately, we know little about her life and more about her family.
She died young, but her siblings honoured her with the grave’s anchor, a symbol of resilience.
20/10/2025: We welcome the life story of Charles Henry PLUMMER. His gravestone originally had a football and an angel on the top but these have disappeared. Reading Football Club has no record of his involvement and he is not known as ‘Jack’ in any official records. We invite you to read the curious tale of the teetotal cowman confectioner.
08/10/2025: Remembering Sylvia Bessie BRIDGES (1879–1938): Born on Christmas Day, Sylvia’s life was defined by resilience, love, and quiet courage. Three times married and twice widowed, she faced loss, hardship, and war, yet she never stopped moving forward. She raised nine children and served in the Women’s Royal Air Force during WWI. Today, Sylvia rests in an unmarked grave in Reading Old, but thanks to her family’s kindness and shared memories, her story lives on. We are deeply grateful to the community for the trust to share the stories and photos of their ancestors together, we keep their memory and history alive.
05/10/2025: Henry WICKS (1840–1892) was a dedicated railway guard who tragically lost his life in a train crash near Chilworth, Surrey, on February 29, 1892. In his memory, a topiary known as “Jessie’s Seat” or the “Chilworth Chicken” was planted in March 1892. This living tribute, crafted by railway workers, featured a pheasant-shaped bush atop a chair, symbolising peace and remembrance. Over the years, it became a cherished landmark, maintained by volunteers and railway staff. End of September 2025, the memorial was accidentally cut off during railway upgrades but is set to be replanted in a safer, more visible location with a commemorative plaque.
04/10/2025: Colonel Thomas Boswall BEACH’s story reads like a 19th-century epic, from London’s King’s College to the Boer War battlefields and the deserts of Egypt. He was born in 1866 into a family of artists, doctors, and reformers. Trained by Joseph Lister himself, the father of antiseptic surgery, Beach he worked as an army doctor around the world in India, South Africa, Egypt.
He left behind letters, diaries, and photographs that open a remarkable window into his life, the world of medicine and military life at the turn of the century.
21/09/2025: Meet the DRYLANDS and THOROWGOODS,
a family of wealthy non-conformists, solicitors, and strong personalities who left their mark on Reading. From dissenting ministers to million-pound estates (in today’s money), their story winds through love, loss, privilege, and faith. Their plinth tomb still stands in Reading Old Cemetery, whispering the lives of generations who contributed to the town’s history.
20/09/2025: In a family of soldiers, sailors, and privateers Saumarez MOUNTSTEVEN stood apart. Instead of battlefields or the high seas, his life was marked by ill health, quiet lodgings, and an early death in Reading at just 43.
03/07/2025: Jane and James’s great-grandson wishes to restore their grave. As is often the case with graves of this age, it is difficult to locate the current legal owner or any other parties who may have an interest in the grave. To ensure that proper due diligence is carried out, he is sharing this public notice to give anyone who may have a claim or interest in the grave an opportunity to come forward.
28/06/2025: Thank you to the COOPER family who shared information about Annie Butcher COOPER and her daughter Florence Maud SPENCE.
21/06/2025: We are sharing the story of Harry SIMMONS tribute to one of the many silent victims of Victorian baby farming.
14/06/2025: Sally’s love for William is one of the many stories of love we find through our cemetery research. She was in a financial position to honour William’s memory with a lasting legacy in his name. We commemorate both Sally and William BRADSHAW, a couple whose love left a lasting mark.
06/06/2025: TY to the family of John and Jane DREW who shared their life stories with us.
27/05/2025: We are grateful for families who share their lovingly researched histories and treasured photographs with us. The life stories of the Moss and the Manning families are on the website. Read about William and Jane MOSS, Stephen and Jessie MANNING, William and George MANNING, George and Charlotte Annie MOSS, George and Charlotte Eliza MOSS, George and Sarah MOSS, George, William and Sarah MOSS.
21/04/2025: A heartfelt thank you to our community members, who kindly share some of their incredible family research with us. It is truly special to learn more about their ancestors’ life stories. We are so grateful for contributions like this: commemorating Ellen and Charles CHILDS and discovering our community heritage. Thank you!
28/02/2025: Great to see the top of the Barrett monument cleaned and restored- TY to Reading Council for leading the work! The rusty part of the plaque on the other Grade II listed urn (Andrewes grave) has been patched-hoping that it will be restored soon as not sure whether this patching protects the monument and gives the air of care and safety to it and others.
Around 111 years ago to this date the mysterious and heartbreaking death of eight-year-old Winifred (Wiinnie) BALLARD shook the town of Reading. Her case remains unsolved marked by sorrow. Such stories are difficult to revisit, and our aim is not to sensationalise but, to remember, reflect, and acknowledge the lives affected.
26/01/2025: Through our ‘Then and Now’ photo gallery, we want to capture a glimpse of the the rich heritage, evolving landscape, monuments, and surroundings of Reading Old cemetery.
We invite you to contribute to this journey through time! If you have photos of the cemetery to share, such as historic snapshots or family, please use our contact form or email us: readingoldcemetery1843@gmail.com. Together, we can build a vibrant tapestry of memories and preserve the legacy of Reading Old Cemetery for future generations.
Please help us by sharing on your social media accounts.
25/01/2025: We are exploring ways to showcase the monuments in Reading Old as widely as possible and share glimpses of them as they currently stand before further decay (especially our sandstone monuments). 3D scanning (photogrammetry) is one of these ways. Of course we are looking for ways to support restoration and that is very important. We would like to engage further with our communities and especially schools in such activities. We would love you to join us if you can- contact us via the website contact form or email us: readingoldcemetery1843@gmail.com
This is the grave of the SALMON family, the parents and brother of Joseph Smith SALMON Junior, the tea merchant who helped the Deaf community in Reading and Oxford.
09/01/2025: Lieut Col Charles Young BAZETT of the Indian Army and his good wife Harriot SLESSOR are buried in Reading Old. Harriot was born in India, the daughter of William Slessor, Captain in the East India Company Army and possibly of an Indian mother …but who is better to tell their story than their 3 x great-granddaughter, the famous and amazing actress Olivia Colman, who tried to trace her maternal ancestors in an episode of the series ‘Who do you think you are’: [link: https://tinyurl.com/bazett]
There are more famous ancestors of Olivia in Reading Old-to be shared soon!
08/01/2025: Delighted to share an updated map of the cemetery and the first of our self-guided walks. Thank you to the talented students from the University of Reading Typography Department for their amazing work and dedication. Check them out on the Audio guide and Walks and History of the Cemetery.
04/01/2025: The brothers John Ritso Nelson and Stewart (Stuart) Bladen Nelson BOLTON are commemorated on the maternal grandparents’ grave. They both died in the Great War within 9 months from each other. They belong to a family with long ties to the armed forces.
03/01/2025: We are adding to the stories of the Roma community buried in the cemetery, the life story of Cornelius FENNER, who at the age of 45 years married a young widow, Caroline SHEEN, aged 30 years. They had 6 children. Three of the girls were considered very beautiful with one of them, Ferenza, reputed to be the most beautiful Roma woman in the home counties! Her wedding was well-publicised in the local and national press.
02/01/2025: Frederick Dudley ELLIS was only 7 months old when he died. His short life reflected the harsh circumstances of the time.
30/12/2024: Very pleased to share another Roma story connected to Reading Old. The well-documented life story of Frederick DRAPER, another centenarian and well-known Reading inhabitant buried in the site.
29/12/2024: I AM SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE the latest in our research of Roma people buried in Reading Old. Plato BUCKLAND died in 1926 at the age of 102. His funeral attracted a lot of attention in the national news. His well-published funeral was also immortalised in a 33 seconds Pathe News clip that gives us a special and rare insight into what the Reading Mortuary Anglican Chapel looked like before it was demolished in 1960s.
28/12/2024: So far we have found 5 life stories connecting the Roma community to the cemetery. One of them is of Mrs. Sarah BUNCE, a well-known Reading Roma show-woman and fortune teller, who died at the age of 73 as a result of a fall down the steps of her caravan in the Fair Ground, Reading. Read her story.
08/12/2024: Sharing stories from the cemetery on our Graphics Poster page.
07/12/2024: We are delighted when life stories are shared by families who trust us with beautiful photos and precious memories. We are welcoming the life stories of George and Charlotte Annie MOSS, the next generation of the George MOSS family whose stories have been shared previously.
29/09/2024: George MOSS and his family are now part of the website. Read about George’s life as gardener and publican.
22/09/2024: Frances MATTHEY, William TURQUAND‘s sister buried in the cemetery with her daughter Constance Emma.
21/09/2024: We welcome the thoroughly researched life story of Constance Emma MATTHEY, niece of William TURQUAND. Her story includes wider discussion and research about the role of the governess during Victorian times.
Written in stone-Sunday 15 September, Time: 1-3pm, Dressing up optional but fun!
Greetings and felicitations!
Where: Meet us inside the arch in the cemetery. There will be a marquee and you can register there. There will be some information about the history of the cemetery and some activities for children/families.
Guided tours are about 45 minutes and start at: 1.10, 1.30, 2.00, 2.15 (timings may change depending on number of visitors). Please be patient with us as we organise the groups or let us know what time you would prefer by emailing back.
What else to expect: We will also provide you with a map if you want to do a self-guided tour. We also have a GPS-enabled audio guide of the cemetery that you can download for free and follow on the day if you prefer. Here is the link with instructions of how to download the guide.
There will be volunteers around the cemetery role playing as some of the people who are buried in the cemetery. They will be very happy to tell you about themselves, so please ask them questions and will show their permanent abode to you! They may introduce you to some of their neighbours! Our volunteers will have a pink lanyard.
Please remember that some parts of the site are uneven; wear comfortable and flat shoes. If there are access requirements on the day there will be some adaptations for people who cannot access some of the parts.
We would like to take photos on the day. Please let us know when you arrive if you do not want to be in any photos.
Any questions, please email: readingoldcemetery1843@gmail.com
Ever, our dearest friends, faithfully yours,
Reading Old Cemetery History, Heritage and Education group
08/09/2024: Henry AMOR, Frederick James GRUTBRODT, Oliver James WHITBURN are three of the babies buried in Reading Old.
07/09/2024: Read about the HAWKINS family and their contributions to the life of Reading and abroad.
29/07/2024: We welcome the lifestory of the accountant William TURQUAND. Every time you buy from a company, you are protected by an important legal principle called the Turquand Rule, named after him.
22/07/2024: Baby STANIFORD was 2 days old when she died of influenza that she probably contracted before she was born by her mother. She was buried on 14 February 1927.
16/07/2024: There are parts of the history of Reading that are hard to share. We have thought for a long time about this story that shook not only Reading but the whole nation. It is the story of infants Doris MARMON and Harry SIMMONS, victims of the notorious Victorian baby farmer and infant killer, Amelia Dyer. We have decided to share Doris’s and Harry’s story (in progress) as we do not want their names to be forgotten but made two decisions as well: 1. not to share the house number that Dyer lived when arrested in Reading; 2. not to share the post-mortem of the babies. This info is available online but for now we have not included it on their pages.
15/07/2024: The DAWBNEY Family well-known in Reading with Mr. Dawbney being the landlord of the “Plasterers’ Arms,” and then the “Kennet Arms”. His son Frank Groves died in WW1 and is buried in a registered war grave in Reading Old.
14/07/2024: Read the life story of Paul PASCAL, Teacher of French, at the Collegiate School for Boys in Reading. Paul died of cocaine overdose which he used to take to combat insomnia. His brother (or nephew) and widow believed that he was in a trance, not dead, and postponed the funeral for 2days in the hope that he will wake up.
13/07/2024: We have added the life story of John (Jack) CASSIDY commemorated on the Screen Wall in the War Plot of Reading Old.
13/07/2024: With great sadness we are reporting the theft or disappearance of almost ALL the bronze plates from the Simonds monuments. 9 of them gone including Blackall Simonds. Gone for ever! When will this vandalism stop?!! We ask for the gate to close at night-time!!
01/07/2024: We have been quiet for a while but we have so many life stories to share. We start with Luciano de PINHO, whose name we accidentally found looking at burial registers. The discovery of Luciano’s name shines a light on a little known aspect of the wartime era – the provision of timber to help shore up the trenches – grown in England, but harvested by the Canadians with the assistance of the Portuguese and other nations, truly a joint effort.
28/02/2024: We welcome the story of Edward Henry GOWER, one of the cemetery keepers, as told by his granddaughter. Part of his job as a superintendent was to sell plots, deal with the paperwork, employ the grave diggers and arrange funerals and services in the chapels.
23/02/2024: Jessie Mary DURBRIDGE was a teacher at Alfred Sutton Primary School. She qualified in 1926 and died a year later of ‘virulent influenza’ at the age of 21.
21/02/2024: Bernard George KNIGHT was 6 years old when he died at a tragic accident on his way to Alfred Sutton Primary School. His grandfather, Joseph Henry KNIGHT, started J.H.Knight at 39 Erleigh Road and the Arcade making and selling ‘K’ shoes. He was the Sunday School superintendent at the Wycliffe Baptist Church and a member of the National Temperance League.
19/02/2024: Alderman William James Justins BRINN became the sole owner of the Justins and Brinn brewery, later known as Truro Brewery. As an entrepreneur he also became a partner to White’s Electric Vaudeville Theatre venture, one of Reading’s most successful cinemas operating until 1957.
12/02/2024: Charles OWEN was a careful family man. He worked hard in local businesses including Suttons Seeds as a Seedman’s Assistant. He was also a member of the Royal Berkshire Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. He died unexpectedly at the age of 60 but had suffered from asthma for 20 years.
07/02/2024: We know very little about Henry ALLEN, ‘Goosey Allen’, another of our caravan dwellers who rests eternally in Reading Old.
06/02/2024: Selina SMITH, The Queen of the Berkshire Roma was 100 years old when she died in May 1912. In accordance with the gypsy tradition her caravan and all her belongings were destroyed by fire. They were publicly burnt on the Reading Fair Ground the afternoon after her funeral. She was buried with her shawl, scarf, and other personal belongings. She was laid to rest in the grave in which her husband was buried 2l years ago, and her son, Alexander.
05/02/2024: Alfred and Jane COLLINSON were born in Reading, very near each other, grew up, fell in love, got married and lived their whole lives in Reading.
05/02/2024: Albert WOODWARD PARRY and his family moved to Reading following his appointment as Borough Surveyor to the Corporation of Reading which included the duties of management of the waterworks. During his 20 years with the Borough of Reading he was involved in the completion of the sewerage works, the widening and paving of a number of streets, the enlargement of the waterworks and the erection of the Sewage Farm Buildings at Manor Farm.
26/01/2024: Edgar STEPHENSON died from Mustard Gas poisoning, Influenza and Pneumonia in War Hospital 1 in Reading. He was 25 years old. He was born in Australia and is thought to have spent most of his time in the trenches in both France and Belgium.
13/01/2024: Gunner Alan McKINLAY died in one of the Reading War Hospitals in 1915 far away from his home in Nyngan, New South Wales, Australia where he was a farmer at Demonstration Farm and a member of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for saving a wounded comrade trapped in the enemy line.
07/01/2024: Who exactly Thomas Harry WITHERS was will probably remain a mystery. T.H. Withers is commemorated on the Screen Wall at the War Plot.
06/01/2024: In 1916 in the battle of Mont Sorrell in Ypres Salient Cpl Hugh Arthur REES, a machine gunner with No. 2 team of the 16th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Division) also known as the Canadian Scottish, kept the gun in operation for four hours, as Vancouver was increasingly pounded by German artillery, and broke up one attempted counterattack after another, even when it became clear the enemy artillery were attempting to zero in on him. Finally a shell found the mark and the crewmen with him were all killed while Rees was badly wounded. He died in one of War Hospitals in Reading. Read his life story.
02/01/24: Arthur Charles BRUNT is buried in Reading Old Cemetery and commemorated on the Screen Wall. He had a long involvement with the Army including the South African War/Second Boer War. In WW1 he joined the Army Service Corps which was mainly responsible for the provisioning, procurement and distribution of supplies such as food, water, fuel, clothing and military equipment. Due to ill health towards the end of 1915 he joined the Forage Department of the Army Service Corps.
30/12/2023: Dr William Thomas FREEMAN was devoted to the care of others. During WW1 he was in charge of Redlands War Hospital in Redlands Road and carried on working there until his sudden death on 23rd December 1918.
19/12/2023: Charles UNDERWOOD is commemorated in the War Plot at Reading Old. He was at the front line helping the wounded as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
16/12/2023: Derrick Frank HOLDER is commemorated in the War Plot but his grave is in Division 10 and CWGC is to install a headstone to mark it. He died at the age of 19 in an exercise when he was tragically killed. What happened remains a mystery. The exact circumstances were not revealed but Derrick was shot by another airman.
11/12/2023: Thomas ROUND was a cabinet maker and his son Henry an Apprentice Upholsterer. They are buried in Reading Old with other members of their family, including Henry’s 5-year old grandson Arthur Frederick PAINTER.
04/12/2023: Jesse PALMER, the last surviving son of Alfred and Mary Ann Palmer died in a tragic boating accident near Sonning.
28/11/2023: James Robert PULLEN‘s and Michael Arthur TAYLOR’s war graves are reminders of sacrifices across the age ranges made during the world wars.
26/11/2023: Read the life stories of war casualties Cecil Temple ALLUM, John ROWE and Alice Maude RUSSELL buried in Reading Old.
Getting ready for the memorial service at the Reading Old Cemetery War Plot-tomorrow, Sunday 12 November, at 12.30pm. The photos of some of the people buried or commemorated at Reading Old casualties of WW1 and WW2.
07/11/2023: Both Ronald James GRAY and Reginald John HORTON served at RAF and died in 1945. They are buried in CWFC war graves in Reading Old.
05/11/2023: Cecil Edward MAYNARD’s grave is one of the WW2 CWGC graves at Reading Old.
30/10/2023: Robert James HOUCHIN was an RAF pilot and only 25 years old when he died. He is buried in the family grave which is looked after by CWGC.
29/10/2023: Lewis John KIRK‘s war grave has a plaque in the form of a star bearing the name ‘Lewis’ along with the symbol of a circle with a dot in the centre which is recognised by Scouts around the world and means ‘I have Gone Home’. Scouting’s founder Lord Baden Powell has the symbol on his gravestone.
28/10/2023: William GRANT, who rose to the rank of the deputy chief constable of the county constabulary, was mourned by many parishioners.
28/10/2023: The life stories of John Alfred ‘Jack’ REYNOLDS, Arthur James George ‘Jimmy’ KING both in CWGC war patterned graves are now shared on the website. Also expanded version of the life story of Alfred John LEVEY (WW1 casualty) also hosted on War graves in the Old Reading Cemetery.
27/102023: We welcome the life story of Arthur John (Jack) TOWNSEND whose war grave memorial b (WW2) is in Reading Old.
24/10/2023: Albert Edward ALEXANDER is buried in a war grave as he was Leading Aircraftman (L.A.C.) when he died. At his funeral a guard of honour was formed by members of the Fire Brigade of Messrs H. and G. Simonds where he had worked before WW2.
15/10/2023: Annie Caroline PETERS nee JOHNSON and her family are buried in Reading Old. We welcome their story shared by Annie’s great granddaughter.
01/10/2023: Detective Constable John Herbert HUTCHINSON was a well-respected officer with the Reading Borough Police. His accidental death at the age of 30 shocked the police force and the town.
01/10/2023: Samuel PIKE and his wife Jane supported many local organisations and charities like the Reading Branch of The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Samuel was a member of the Reading and District Cage Bird Society and was breeding canaries and finches. In 1911 a new winners cup came into being known as the ‘S. Pike Cup’ or ‘Challenge Cup’. Read about his and his family’s life.
03/08/2023: Delighted to share Caroline WHITE‘s life story told by her third great grandson Her occupation as a laundress would be passed on from mother to daughter(s) to granddaughter(s).
31/07/2023: We welcome the story of young Nicholas (Nicky) James LOVEGROVE. Loved and remembered by his family.
24/07/2023: Updated our page on Edith Mary SUTTON, a social innovator, the first woman to become a councillor in England and the first female Mayor of Reading.
23/07/2023: Thank you to the Friends of the University who have shared information about the ‘Acacias’, the house of Mary WIENHOLT and a portrait of her. Close your eyes! How do you imagine this powerful woman? Click on the link and find out!
23/07/2023: The PHILBRICK family, 4 generations tanners in Reading. Read their story and find out more about the family business and the Philbricks’ role in the lfe of Reading.
19/07/2023: Does the surname ‘Guinness’ ring any bells? Amelia (Amy) Jane D’Esterre GUINNESS was a great granddaughter of Arthur Guinness 1st, the inventor of Guinness beer and founder of the famous Guinness brewing business! Her brother Arthur and her two sons are buried with her in Readig Old. Her husband Captain George Pomeroy Nelson MASON was a grand-nephew of Lord Admiral Nelson.
16/07/2023: Find out about young Ellen Rose Florence COOKSEY, who died at the age of 15. Thank you to Nick Cooksey for sharing Ellen Rose’s story.
15/07/2023: The life story of John HARRIS, a beloved head teacher of Reading Blue Coat School, is now added to the site. Thank you to Peter van Went, the school archivist for sharing his invaluable knowledge on the topic.
15/07/2023: Very excited to see the restoration of Mary WIENHOLT’s sarcophagus.
Super excited to see the entrance to her vault!
We have some vaults in Reading Old but never sure whether they are rooms or ‘boxes’ protecting the coffins.Mary’s vault is the first one uncovered that shows a magnificent entrance to a space as big as a small room containing the coffins of her, her two nieces and her aunt.
14/07/2023: We welcome the stories of Arthur and his father Richard PENSON. They both worked for different branches of Lloyds Bank with Richard being the manager for the Reading Branch.
Arthur died in WW1 and he is commemorated at the Lloyds Bank First World War memorial.
We are grateful to Richard’s granddaughter for sharing a wonderful anecdote about the process of locking the bank’s strong room.
09/07/2023: Hello Mr Hieatt! So pleased to see you looking so dashing again! What a make over! Pollution has roughened the carrara marble but not the intricate details of the monument. Read Bern’s story, the Tom Cruise of his time!
29/06/2023: We welcome Charles and Florence SEDGBEER’s life story on the website.
25/06/2023: Read about the life of Charles POULTON, livestock dealer and involved in the opening of Reading Cattle Market in Great Knollys Street in 1850.
12/06/2023: A trip to Berkshire Records Office helped with many explorations about Reading Old but more detective work we need to do more detective work for the owner of the terracotta grave marker!
09/06/2023: Today whilst on a geological exploration of Reading Old with the geologist Lesley Dunlop, Dr Musominari noticed this unusual terracotta grave marker, which Lesley described as unique! We are now determined to find the owner, an interesting but tricky task! Updates will follow!
08 June 2023: Mary Wienholt‘s Carrara marble sarcophagus is one the 3 Graded II listed grave monuments in Reading Old. Find out more about her family and her life story.
04 June 2023: We are sharing the life story of Samuel Jeremiah COLLIER, brother of E.P. COLLIER of the famous Reading brickworks family. We will be sharing information about other members of the family buried in Reading Old. You can also read about his grandson, Samuel Robert COLLIER, known as Bob, on the website War Graves in the Old Reading Cemetery.
03 June 2023: A small addendum by Simon Shiel about the famous artist Kathleen Wheeler Crump, Samuel WHEELER’s granddaughter.
03 June 2023: For #VolnteersWeek2023 a huge shout out to everyone who supports the history, memories and preservation of Reading Old Cemetery in so many and wonderful ways by reading the posts, researching the life stories, spreading the word, etc!!
03 June 2023: We will be sharing the life story of Mr George LOVEJOY, philanthropist, estate agent and above all bookseller and the founder of a remarkable private circulating library. We have found some wonderful photos, one of them being taken by the famous Henry Fox Talbot, a photography pioneer who had set up his studio in Reading. Compare it to the painting of Mr Lovejoy in Reading Museum.
30 May 2023: Read about our Cambridge scholar Mr Eustace FYNES-CLINTON. We are very protective of his cast iron grave inscription, which is written in Ancient Greek. Mr Fynes-Clinton is also the uncle of Sir Hubert Parry, composer or the hymn Jesusalem and the coronation anthem I was glad.
28/05/2023: Excited to locate the grave of Maria GILBERT, the granddaughter of Thomas Gilbert who proposed the Relief of the Poor Act in 1782, known as Gilbert’s Act. The inscription on her grave includes reference to her famous grandfather. More of her life story soon.
25 May 2023:Read about Alice Sarah TRUSELL, her first husband George SNOW and her second husband Charles BARTLETT.
29 April 2023: Thank you to Malcolm Gray for sharing precious information about Thomas & Martha Wilson, family members.
14 April 2023: Sit comfortably and read all about the life and adventures of our arctic explorer, William Joseph Ibbett , chief engineer for the Intrepid that sailed with the Resolute. Find out about his son, the poet, and don’t forget to read the last line and his son alleged involvement in a notorious crime!
08 April 2023: Read all about Edward JACKSON (yes of the iconic Jackson’s Corner) and his good wife Elizabeth JACKSON (nee Collier).
06 April 2023: Find out more about William Silver DARTER, well-loved Mayor of Reading 1850-1852, one of the key figures in modernising Reading.
03 April 2023: Meet three of the VENNERS, another family of the Bs of Reading: Richard James VENNER, his mother Martha Annie VENNER, the force behind the family sausage and bacon empire and her grandson William Frederick Fouracre VENNER.
02 April 2023: Sharing the biography of Samuel WHEELER Senior. He and his brother John set up one of the three big brickmaking businesses in Reading! One of Samuel’s granddaughter’s is the sculptor Kathleen WHEELER CRUMP.
27 March 2023: Really excited to share the biography of Henry BURNETT, Charles Dickens’s brother-in-law!
26 March 2023: Updated the biography of James George TATEM
24 March 2023: New biography added: James & Janet DYMORE BROWN
22 March 2023: One new biography added: William Ellis GIBBS
11 March 2023: Two new biographies added: Joseph NOAD & Frederick ALDRIDGE
8 March 2023: Happy International Women’s Day! Read about our Reading suffragist, Eliza RATCLIFFE
3 March 2023: APPEAL for the return of the 2 Old Contemptibles grave markers at Reading Old! HELP spread the word!