Name: George Westbrook
Burial Number: 1807
Gender: Male
Occupation: Groom: Chef: Laundryman; Gardener; Pig Breeder.
Distinction: Parish Councillor
Born: 23/10/1858
Died: 21/08/1947
Buried: 25/08/1947
Story
George Westbrook 1858 – 1947
Local Character
Heene Hallmark
George was born in the Lord Raglan pub in Emsworth, Hants, after his parents had been forced from their home due to flooding. He was baptised at St James Church, Emsworth on 5th December 1858. As a young boy, he was employed to scare crows and was excluded from school for throwing a book at a teacher. On 23rd November 1876, he became a father to a son. The mother was Lucy Utley and they named the boy William Cornford Westbrook. George married Lucy at Chalton, Hants on 30th December 1879. In later census records, William’s age was always three years adrift. The family moved to Mitcham in Surrey where George worked as a groom. George moved from job to job, working at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich for a while but gave it up and moved to Worthing in 1884 to work in the railway goods yard. By 1891, he was working as a laundryman in Broadwater. Living with the family was Thomas and Kate Cornford. Kate was Lucy’s sister and she and her husband were both later buried at Heene. George finally found his calling breeding pigs and became something of a local expert. He was a member of the Tarring Bonfire Boys, Broadwater Fire Brigade and a Parish Councillor. By 1911, the family had moved to West Worthing, living in The Drive with Lucy’s mother and brother, who was mentally disabled. By 1928, George and Lucy were living in Chancton View Road where Lucy died on 15th March 1929. George carried on living in Chancton View Road and making regular visits to the West Worthing Working Men’s Club of which he was a founding member. In early 1942 at the age of 83, George married Minnie Gomersall in Worthing. He was interviewed several times by the local paper about his life and adventures. George died on 21st August 1947 and was buried beside Lucy. Minnie died in 1955 and was buried at Durrington Cemetery. No probate.
Researcher: Carol Sullivan
The Grave
Location in Cemetery
Area: EB Row: 3 Plot: 11
Exact Location (what3words): toned.prime.steps
Ashes or Urn: Unknown
Headstone
Description:
No description of the headstone has been added.
Inscription:
In loving memory of my dear wife Lucy Westbrook died March 15th 1929 aged 70 "At rest" Also of George, husband of the above died August 21st 1947
Further Information
Birth
Name: George Westbrook
Gender: Male
Born: 23/10/1858
Town: Emsworth
County: Hampshire
Country: England
Marriage
Maiden Name: Not applicable
Marriage Date: 30/12/1879
Spouse First Name: Lucy
Spouse Last Name: Utley
Town of Marriage: Chalton
County of Marriage: Hampshire
Country of Marriage: England
Marriage Date: //1942
Spouse First Name: Minnie
Spouse Last Name: Gomersall
Town of Marriage: Worthing
County of Marriage: Sussex
Country of Marriage: England
Information at Death
Date of Death: 21/08/1947
Cause of death: Unknown
Address line 1: 2
Address line 3: Chancton View Road
Town: Worthing
County: Sussex
Country: England
Obituary
Worthing Herald August 29th 1947
Death of Mr G Westbrook
Mr George Westbrooke, a founder member of West Worthing Working Men’s Club, died at his home, 2 Chancton View Road last Thursday aged 89. All his life he was fond of singing, and at the age of 88 took part in the club’s socials and smoking concerts. Two days before his death, he sang one of his old favourites to his wife. Mr Westbrook came to Worthing from Emsworth, Hants 62 years ago. Most of his working life was spent in the railway service; then he retired and became a pig keeper. Formerly a Parish Councillor and once a candidate for Worthing Town Council, he was a prominent allotment holder at West Worthing. At the funeral on Monday at Heene Churchyard, the mourners included the widow, Mr Westbrook (son), Miss D Gomersall and Mrs Cornford (sisters-in-law) and Mrs M Ghent.
Personal Effects
Money left to others: No value recorded
Current value of effects: Not calculated
Census Information
1861
Hampshire Terrace, Queen Street, Warblington, Hants.
John aged 36, farm labourer. Emily aged 35. William aged 10. George aged 3.
1871
Hampshire Terrace, Queen Street, Warblington, Emsworth, Hants.
John aged 46, labourer. Emily aged 45. William aged 20, gardener. George aged 12. Fanny Cuffell aged 3, boarder.
1881
6 Baron Roa, Mitcham, Surrey
George aged 22, groom. Lucy aged 22. William aged 3. Boarding with John Richards, engine drive and wife.
1891
The Square (Laundry), Broadwater, Worthing, Sussex.
George aged 31, laundryman. Lucy aged 31. William aged 13, baker’s assistant. Thomas Cornford aged 21, brother-in-law, carpenter. Kate Cornford aged 23, sister-in-law. Edith Utley aged 14, sister-in-law, laundry maid.
1901
2 St Dunstan’s Road, Tarring, Worthing.
George aged 42, market gardener’s labourer. Lucy aged 42, laundress. Joseph Honey aged 19, boarder, market gardener’s labourer.
1911
48 The Drive, Worthing.
George aged 52, market gardener. Lucy aged 52. Mary Ann Utley aged 76, old age pensioner. Thomas Lawrence Utley aged 38 (after birth feeble minded).
1921
Living at 1, Mill View Terrace, Worthing, Sussex.
| George | Westbrook |
Head
|
Male | 1858 | 62 | Emsworth, Hampshire, England | Laundry Man | Mrs Henderson Steam Laundry |
| Lucy | Westbrook |
Wife
|
Female | 1858 | 62 | Chalton, Hampshire, England | Laundry Man | Mrs Henderson Steam Laundry |
1939
2 Chancton View Road, Worthing.
George Westbrook – retired, widower. Florence Langridge – single, domestic worker.
Miscellaneous Information
Worthing Herald 27th December 1927
An Old Hand
I had the pleasure at a recent informal concert of meeting one of Worthing’s “old hands” Mr George Westbrook and he told me some interesting incidents. He mentioned that Mr Harry Hargood JP and he were the only survivors of the original committee of nine which was responsible for the formation of the local Conservative Association. Mr Westbrook is one of the old Tarring Bonfire Boys, he has fought for a seat on the Council (and lost to Mr Farncombe), and he was also one of the leading spirits of the Tarring Flower Show. The show, by the way, has been allowed to lapse although there still exist the silver trophies and a sum of money in the bank to £50. To cap all, Mr Westbrook showed that he is not a negligible quantity by contributing to the concert the song “The Old Armchair” which takes one back several years.
Worthing Herald 5th July 1940
Aged 82-He Works 12 Hours a Day and Likes It.
82 years of age, hale and hearty, Mr George Westbrook of Chancton View Road, Worthing, believes in hard work and plenty of it. Although well past his allowance of three score years and ten, Mr Westbrook still puts in 12 hours of work every day and enjoys every minute of it. Since getting his first job at the age of seven, he has never known a day’s unemployment. His first wage packet earned by seven days scaring crows from crops, contained one shilling. “And my father took that” said Mr Westbrook with a rueful grin. He gave me one penny for myself which I spent on mint and lemon drops. Unfortunately, my parents were very fond of minties, so in the end all I had were the lemon drops. Realising he had his own way to make in the world, young Westbrook gave up crow scaring and went to work turning a spinning wheel for a woman who made spun twine into horse nets. For this he received, if he turned properly, 2s 6d and “a smack on the head if I let the wheel stop”. This sudden wealth fired the boy with ambition. He worked for his father in the timber yards, he took a job as “boots” in a Havant hotel and later became second chef at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He liked the work and thought he had settled. But he eventually had to leave and for an unusual reason. The kitchens were underground and were gas lit. Electricity was installed but the constant flickering of the early installation began to get on his nerves.
Out into the open again, he secured a post in the Worthing goods yard. This lasted for some time and then George tried job after job. “Anything and everything. It was all experience” he said. Finally, he decided to go into business for himself and took up the pig rearing he still carries on. For thirty years he had studied and bred pigs and now even likes them!
During his life, Mr Westbrook has had countless adventures. He was a member of Broadwater Fire Brigade-they only had the most primitive outfit but plenty of enthusiasm! He was the first member of the brigade to do a whole night’s duty. A fire broke out next door to George, and after the brigade had done its stuff, the Captain detailed a man to stand by all night. George was that man.
George’s discovery that a pal had his heart on the right side resulted in quite a lot of free refreshment for the pair of them. Both members of an ambulance brigade, George couldn’t find his friend’s heart when he followed doctor’s instructions during a drill. This led to the discovery of the transposed heart and the doctor was so intrigued that he made numerous examinations of the man at his surgery and paid twelve and six a time to the man for his trouble.
Mr Westbrook was for three years Captain of the Tarring Bonfire Boys and has been a great worker for numerous slate clubs. He has saved five lives, one from burning, the others from drowning. Now he is perfectly happy with his piggery taking all his working time, and a glass of beer and a yarn with his pals in the evenings.
