Life story retold by Yota Dimitriadi
Plato BUCKLAND was a well-known as a horse dealer in the Reading and Marlow districts. He was described as “a true born gipsy”*. He died at on 25 September 1926 at the age of 102 at Waterworks Pit, Marlow. Death burials have his age at time of death as 101.
We do not know much about his life at this stage. A source states that he was the son of Peter and Dorothy BUCKLEY but the date of birth is given as 1772. He lived at 1 Chalk Pit Lane in Marlow and it seems that there was a settled Roma community. He seemed to have links with the Buckland family.
In Reading Mercury Saturday 22 February 1840 the following appears:
“MARLOW, SATURDAY, February 22. Plato Buckland, a well-known gipsy, appeared to prefer a case of assault against Jonathan Hickman, of Little Mallow. It appeared the parties had been playing at ” Hussle penny” in a public-house, when a dispute arose, and the defendant tore the plaintiffs hat to pieces and put it in the fire. The plaintiff stated his case with gestures fitting and tongue most voluble. The worthy Magistrates, however, very properly dismissed the case as a public-house quarrel., much to the satisfaction of the defendant and his solicitor. Mr. May. Plato was anything but philosophic under his defeat.”
After his funeral that too place at Reading Cemetery at 10am on 2nd October 1926, his van and contents, harness and belongings were burnt and the horse destroyed, according to Romany custom. His funeral attracted a lot of attention in the national news. Photographs of his burning caravan made it to a number of newspapers of the time, including London Illustrated.
“An unusual sight witnessed at Marlow on Saturday, when the funeral took place of Plato Buckland, the 102-year-old gipsy, for, in accordance with the gipsy rites, the old chief’s living-van and all his personal possessions were burned”.
Plato’s well-published funeral was also immortalised in a 33 seconds Pathe News clip. It gives us a special and rare insight into what the Reading Mortuary Anglican Chapel looked like before it was demolished in 1960s.
Plato had bought a family grave in Division 33 on 22 January 1889 for the 31 year old Roma Job Williams (d. 1887 or 1888). Ann Williams is also buried there (age 79-d. 1919) (possibly Job’s sister). Plato followed in 1927. Plato is recorded as a ‘salesman’.
*The term “Gypsy” or “Gipsy”, historically used to refer to the Romani people, is increasingly recognised as problematic and potentially offensive due to its association with stereotypes and marginalisation. While it appears in early 21st-century writing, readers are encouraged to approach its use critically and use terms like “Romani” or “Roma” when discussing this community.
Division 33, Row H, grave number 9225, unmarked (family) grave