Page 30 - link magazine

30 The Link Magazine • November 2000
We take great granddaughter of first railwayman
to see him remembered on Wall of Names
wufl^o
Just under two years ago, in the December 1998 Link, we interviewed Connie Groves
YOUR NEAREST CLASS from Toothill about her great grandfather George House, the first man to work for JL'.
Monday: 6.00pm & 7.30pm the GWR in Swindon. So moved were we by her story that we nominated George,
St John's Church, Haydon Wick. his son in law Bill, Bill's son Fred, and Connie, to the Wall of Names at STEAM the
Nicole, 338786 Museum of the Great Western Railways.
Tuesday: 9.30am
Toothill Community Centre, Last month we were able to take His obituary
Dunwich Drive. Jenny, 613423 Connie to the wall to see the names in the Swindon
displayed amongst the 3,000 pen- Advertiser (5
Thursday: 7.00pm pie commemorated out of the January 1903)
Freshbrook Community Centre, many hundreds of thousands who 'tat d that
Worsley Rd. Jenny, 613423 & Kinesiologist built the railways and created the George was 'if not the originator of
foundation of Swindon's wealth. this benevolent movement, one the
Only £3.25 weekly. £6.95 membership CLINIC AT HIGH STREET
It was an emotional experience pioneers, who never ceased to take
WOOTTON BASSETT for Connie. "It really is lovely to an interest in the efforts made to
see all the people remembered," promote the comfort and happi-
Wootton Bassett For an appointment with she said. "George House was a ness of these unfortunate poor.'
Physiotherapy Mrs Lesley Taylor very special man who cared for the The late Trevor Cockbill de-
1 )MBChA, MSSCh, MIIR, ASK other workers in the GWR." scribed George as one of the found-
& Sports Injury Born in 1817 at Wargrave, Berk- ers of modern Swindon.
Clinic shire, he started work for the GWR George had seven children. One
Call (01793) 849914 in 1835 and came to Swindon in of his five daughters Rebeka mar-
Mrs Lesley Catling anytime 1838 to set up and equip the first ried Bill Kirby, Constance Grove's
grandfather. Bill's son Wilfred (fa-
MCSP workshops. ther of Constance) did not work in
He was one of the founders of
the Mechanics Institute and the the GWR, but his brother Fred (her
Chartered BACK PAIN famous annual children's fete. He uncle) did.
Physiotherapist was instrumental in giving pau- Constance herself worked for
If you are suffering from: per children from the Stratton and the GWR Enginemen and Fire-
Tel: 01793 848424 Purton workhouses the chance to men's Mutual Society paying sick-
0 Backache, Leg pain
Mobile: 0378 553703 attend the event in Faringdon Road ness and widows benefit for a few
0 Neck, park, which in its heyday was at- years. Now 72 and being an only
60 High Street
Shoulder, FREE tended by up to 20,000 people. child, she is not aware of any rela-
Wootton Bassett
Arm Pain Chiro- tives of George House.
Connie described
O Headache checks STEAM as a lovely record
CHIROPODY & Migraine availabl of Swindon's history.
0 Sciatica "The wall is a wonder-
WILTSHIRE 0 Sports Injury ful link to the past. The
displays are impressive;
0 Whiplash the figures are so lifelike.
76 Bridge Street
You should consider Seeing the horse and cart
Swindon consulting a Chiropractor brought back memories.
(01793) 511284 So much as changed in
SANDRA E. DAVIES D.C. Swindon."
t/ (P% (Iti
Shaw Chiropractic Clinic Visitor services assistant at
L3 C3 L^ Shaw Village Centre STEAM Elizabeth Day
points out Connie's name
For appointments
Tel: (01793) 887801 and her relations on the Wall
Freephone / of Names. In due course bio-
0800 7316879 C Member of the British graphical details for each of
Chiropractic Association the names will be accessed on
wwwmy-clinic/chiropodywiltshire
a computer