My Great Grandfather, AW, in the 1920s

Sometime before 1920 AW and Lily moved to 40 School Road in Moseley, not far from their previous house in St. Agnes Road. It was a large 3 storey Victorian semi with a long garden that I remember well from the early 1950s when my grandparents lived there. The front garden is now very overgrown and the photo, right, is the best that I could take.

It is many posts ago since I wrote about AW in the context of family, and the last photo was many posts ago, the photograph that he gave to my grandparents in 1918 is shown later in the post; I have included the words that he wrote on the back.

By this time he had 2 grandchildren living close by – my mother born in 1915 and my aunt Pam born in 1919. Pam remembers him as an affectionate old man sitting in a chair and playing with her. The following extracts are from a letter to my mother in 1918 when she was 3:

“Your dear grandfather is writing to send you his love and to say how much he would have liked to be with you at beautiful Bournemouth to paddle on the beach and walk in the fields and gather flowers and make chains of daises to put round your neck…………Good day my little love and mind you come soon to your affectionate Grandfather A. W. Gerrard”

It is obvious that he adored his grandchildren.

His early visits to Dorset were in search of a prestigious identity for his branch of the Gerrard family, but it is clear that he came to love Dorset. He continued his visits long after he was established as a top pharmacist and respected businessman. The many postcards and photos from these later visits are both family related and general images of the county. The header post is a favourite of mine from a large album of various Dorset images.

In December 1922 he wrote the following letter:

“Dear Children,

This is the last letter of affection and loving regard addressed to my children as a help and guide to them after my decease.

The Trustees and Executors of my Estate are my son Alfred Henry, and Archie Douglas, who will distribute all my properties in accordance with my last will, exempting certain personal gifts herein mentioned.

The residue of my estate such as money at bank, life insurance, furniture, and shares not allocated to my will, should yield a fair sum of money to divide equally among my children.

Most of my children received benefits during my life, such have been take into account in framing my will.

The bedroom suites used by my daughters Lily and Maud are their own property, bought and given to them 9 or 10 years ago.

I now make a gift for remembrance to each of my children as follows:-

To my son Dr, A. H. Gerrard, the following books. “Hitchins Dorset”, “Cokers Dorset” “Som. & Dorset Notes & Queries”, “Som. Record Society” all vols. Also my Silver Loving Cup, and Victory oak casket designed by myself, these should be passed on as heir looms.

To my son S. G. Gerrard my watch and chain. Also the Oak Mantel Clock in my bedroom, and my pint plated tankard given to me in 1873.Also the following books. “Living Races of Mankind” “Heaths & Prideaux Manor Houses of Dorset” Hines History of Beaminster” . All my novels by Thomas Hardy. Also the Bookshelves in the Morning Room, open fronts.

To my daughter Lily F. Gerrard, the Silver Plated Inkstand given to me by my dear daughter Kate, also six of my Silver Apostle Spoons, also the Silver Plated Tea Service. And the Black stained corner cupboard on the stairs and the Ornaments therein. Also my gold Masonic jewel of the Campbell Lodge.

To my daughter Blanche Alice Hamlin, two silver salts, which were her Mothers, and six Silver Apostle Spoons, also the pink floral Desert Service, and two coloured pictures of rural scenes in Surrey by Fred Morgan, and two Masonic jewels of the Alchemy Lodge and Chapter.

To my daughter Maud F. Wainwright, the Plated Tea Tray presented to her Mother, also the old Chippendale Book Case and Cupboard and the books therein. The choice of six old China Cups and saucers, and my Masonic jewel of W. M. of the Galer Lodge.

To my son Archie D. Gerrard , my Silver Cigarette Box, a 70^th birthday present to me, also the Silver Plated glass wine Goblet, also the Hall Gong, also the large Sheffield Plate Hot Water Carving Dish and Cover.

To my daughter Florence Goddard the circular fancy table on three legs, also the Silver Plated Egg Holder and Asparagus Tongs, and the two red china egg shaped vases.

To Fred Flowerdew or, if he is not living, John the small Writing Desk I presented to his Mother, also all my Journals of the Chemical Society and other Chemical and Science books for his son John.

In conclusion, I now express my gratitude to the Almighty for the many blessings He has bestowed on me, of Good Health, Good Peaceable Home, and good children and grandchildren, to all of whom I offer my love and wish them all the blessings of good health and happiness to the end of their days.

To the last I remain your ever affectionate Father and Grandfather.

A W. GERRARD

Witness:          Maurice Smith   Dec. 28. 1922                  

This letter is typical of his organised way of doing everything, planning and getting it the way he wanted. Jonet also suggests that consciously or subconsciously, by giving items to his family, he is doing something that he can do, whereas his father was never in a position to give any worldly goods to any of his children.

This is the first time that I found out that he was a Mason. However it’s not surprising and fits in with his desire to be part of the establishment.

Judging by the beginning and end of the letter to his children, one would be tempted to think that he was at death’s door. But he was still chairing a CG board meeting 2 years later. However his health was deteriorating because he missed the 1924 AGM and was recorded as being unwell at the board meeting in September 1925 due to illness.

The footer image is a photo of Virginia Water, one of a number that he took around Chertsey and that are in the back of his Album Dorset Views. He was a good photographer. He seems to have been good at anything he turned his hand to.