Funeral of Mr Thomas Bolton

by Anonymous

Funeral of Mr. Thomas Bolton.

 

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The remains of Mr. Thomas Bolton, M.R.M.S., were buried yesterday, in the family vault at St. Peter's Church, Kinver. As mentioned in our sketch of the deceased yesterday, Mr. Bolton was a native of Kinver, and his family in the past had been closely identified with the interests and fortunes of the place. During his residence at Kinver Mr. Bolton took on active part in its educational work. He was a governor of the local Grammar School, and continued so after his removal to Birmingham up to the time of his death. When the Education Act brought School Boards into existence he shared in the labours of the first Board in putting the Act into operation in Kinver. He took an active part in the institution and management of evening classes at Kinver, and in the work of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society, and it has already been mentioned that Mr. Bolton interested himself in the establishment of the first science classes in the district. His devotion to science brought him into connection with the Dudley and Midland Geological and Scientific Society, of which he was for several years one of the secretaries, and his scientific pursuits soon widely extended his acquaintance with men of kindred tastes. During his residence at Kinver Mr. Bolton was an active man in church and parish matters generally, and filled the position of churchwarden for many years. While he held his office he devoted a good deal of time and attention to putting the charities of Kidderminster upon a better footing, and was instrumental, with others, in securing the restoration of some of the bequests. The funeral yesterday afternoon at Kinver was plain and unpretentious, and it was not known generally that it was taking place. Some of the old workpeople of the Hyde Ironworks who had heard of it gathered in the churchyard to pay a last mark of respect to one whom they had been associated with in the past, but with the exception of these the party around the grave were principally immediate friends of the deceased. Amongst those present were Mr. E. T. Bolton and Miss Bolton (the eldest son and daughter), the Rev. W. H. Bolton (head master of Kinver Grammar School), Mr. S. P. Bolton and Mr. Frederick Bolton (brothers of the deceased), Mr. Frederick Turner, of London (his brother-in-law), Mr. Ashby Bolton, of Birmingham, and Mr. John Perry, of Trysull (cousins), Professor Hillhouse, of Mason College (as representing Mr. Bolton's scientific friends at Birmingham), and Mr. T. Grosvenor Lee (of Birmingham). The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. John Hodgson, vicar of Kinver. The coffin had been brought from Birmingham in the morning. It bore a simple inscription, with the name of the deceased and his age, and upon it were a number of floral souvenirs, amongst others from the family of the deceased from the Rev. and Mrs. W. H. Bolton, Miss Bolton, and Mrs. Caldecott, Mrs. Ashby Bolton, Mrs. John Perry, Mrs. Barghope (Shiffnal), Mrs. F. W. Turner, the Misses Turner, Mrs. Nock (Erdington), Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Bolton, and others.

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