April 24 1947

Birthday treat

When Mr James Edward Pratt, of Winchcombe Road. Newbury, wakens from his afternoon nap tomorrow, he will find the table laid for his eight fifth birthday party, complete with a birthday cake and eighty-five candles.

Second of a family of ten Mr Pratt was born on April 25th, 1862, at St Nicholas’ School, where his father Mr Henry Pratt was then headmaster.

In 1873 Mr Pratt won a scholarship to St Bartholomew’s Grammar School then a small community of about forty boys under the headship of the Rev A Steane and occupying the premises now known as the Litten.

 For many years Mr Pratt carried on a stationers' business at 64, Cheap street but his true vocation was old English lettering and illuminating work, two examples or which are to be seen In the Parish Church.

Mr Pratt is a sidesman at St Nicholas and was for many years organist at the mission in Wharf Road being in fact interested in all parochial matters and socials.

Mr Pratt is hale and hearty has good sight and is of the fact that he does not wear false teeth, finding his own quite sufficient to cope with the meagre diet of today.

He enjoys light domestic duties and shopping and is of a kindly contented nature being seldom roused.

PRATT.—

On January 25th, James Edward Pratt (1873-78), aged 85 years

A Familiar Newbury figure, particularly in the Newbury Parish Church where he was a Sidesman for many years, has been removed by the death of J. E. Pratt.

Eldest son of six children of the late Mr. Henry Pratt, Corn Exchange Manager and Inspector of Weights and Measures, who died on January 1st, 1922, Mr. Pratt was born at the National School, of which his father was the first headmaster. He was educated under the Rev. J. Atkins at Newbury Grammar School when it was at the Litten, and upon leaving school was engaged as a clerk at Mr. Black Hawkins Brewery, which later became the South Berks Brewery.

He then kept a stationer's shop in Cheap-steet, until his retirement about 11 years ago.

Mr. Pratt was a skilful illluminator. He was much in demand for executing illuminated addresses, which were popular years ago. Several examples of his craftsmanship are to be seen in local churches, usually consisting of a brief outline of the events in the church's history followed by a list of the incumbents. One of these is in Newbury Parish Church beneath the tower.

Mr. Pratt was fond of music. A pupil of the late Mr. J. H. Godding, Parish Church organist for 25 years, he voluntarily played the harmonium at the Wharf Mission Room.

He was the senior sidesman of St. Nicolas and a member of the Church Council.

A lover of the countryside, he used to take long walks over the commons, and, later, 'bus rides. He married in 1895 Miss Katherine Fitzgerald Clarke, daughter of Mr. P. H. Clarke, headmaster of the Speen and Stockcross Parochial Schools, who herself has devoted nearly 40 years to the scholastic profession. We offer our sympathy to his widow and to his family.