EDWARD JOHN FORSTER
DEATH OF MR. E.J. FORSTER
A GREAT POLITICAL AGENT
Life devoted to Public Work
We regret to announce the death of Mr. Edward John Forster, which took place last (Wednesday) night at his home “Penyrith,” St John's-road, Newbury, after a short illness. He was 71 years of age.
It is just over a year ago that Mr. Forster had temporarily given up his political work owing to ill-health, but he then made such a good recovery that he was able to take part in the general election of last November, and was re-elected secretary of the South Berks Conservative and Unionist Association. Only recently he represented the Association at the annual Conservative and Unionist Association at Margate, and apparently while there he overdid things, for upon his return his friends remarked how ill he looked.
It is understood that he was suffering from heart trouble. He rapidly went downhill and although he attended a meeting of the Newbury Guardians' Committee last Monday week, he left before the end of the meeting and had to return home. He had not been out since; his illness quickly developed and he passed peacefully away last night at 8.30.
Edward James Forster was the second son of the late Mr. Sidney James Forster, senior partner in the firm of Forster and Abell, who carried on business as wine and spirit merchants in the premises next to the Chequers Hotel, which have since been absorbed into the hotel. He was educated at Newbury Grammar School and on leaving there he was apprenticed at Plenty's Eagle Works. After serving his apprenticeship in the works he entered the drawing office and became chief draughtsman to the firm. He remained there until about 1905.
From an early age, he took a liking to public work, and as a young man he became joint secretary with Mrs. C. Adrijan [sic] Hawker of the Newbury Guildhall Club. Under their guidance the Club developed into an institution which had a wonderful educative influence in the town. There is nothing like it at the present day. He interested many well-known people in the work of the club, such as the Rev. J.M. Bacon, the scientist and pioneer balloonist; Lady St. Helier, who was then Lady Jeune and resided at Arlington Manor; the Countess of Carnarvon, Sir Robert Ball and others.
The Club did many things. It held photographic exhibitions, which aroused more than a local interest, also amateur dramatics. It arranged lectures by such persons as Sir Robert Ball, Edward Whymper, Conan Doyle, Dr. Dallinger, and others, whose names are household words. The Club took a keen interest in local government, and in fact some people said it ran the town. In all its doings Ted Forster was the leading spirit. It was in 1907 that he retired from the club upon accepting a political appointment. It must be admitted that the club gradually declined in its influence from that day.
Mr. Forster was always keen on politics and in the early years, with Mr. Stephen Knight, he used to assist Colonel Sir Howard Vincent in what was then known as the Fair Trade campaign. It was about twelve months before the 1906 election when he left Messrs. Plenty's, that he began to work for the Conservative party. It was in a subsidiary position, for it was not until after the Conservatives were defeated at that election that he was appointed a whole-time officer as secretary of the local Conservative Association.
Mr. Forster was a born organiser and he soon had the party in a state of preparedness that had never existed before. The result was shown by the election of 1910, when he turned a minority of 402 into a majority of 2,358, this being the figure by which Mr. W.A. Mount, as he was then, got into Parliament on that occasion. At only one contest when he was agent was his party defeated. This was after the candidate had been returned unopposed and the party lulled into a false sense of security.
Mr. Forster made a name for himself in political circles as a political agent, and his organisation in the Newbury division has always been regarded as second to none in the country. This was because he left nothing to chance, was thorough, always kept his powder dry, and had a happy knack of inspiring workers with enthusiasm. He was one of the first men to realise the value of the help which women can give in politics. As we have said before, no man better understood the value of newspaper publicity, and it was entirely due to him that the Conservative party in South Berks. has had such a good Press in the last thirty years.
He was well-known throughout the country as an agent, and two or three years ago was chosen as chairman of the National Conservative Agents' Association.
In addition to his political duties, Mr. Forster has found time for a great deal of public work. He has been a member of the Newbury Board of Guardians for over 30 years. He showed himself an able administrator as chairman of the House Management Committee, and was always looked to give a lead. He has made it a practice for many years to visit the institution on a Sunday afternoon, and to go round the wards having a friendly word with all and sundry. We should like to acknowledge the great help he has always given in assisting to raise money for the Two Ts Fund, in addition to which he spent a great part of Christmas Day in lending a hand in its distribution.
He took a great interest in the Navy League, being chairman of the Newbury Branch, and organised the annual school children's excursion to see the Navy at Portsmouth. He was a keen Churchman and was recently appointed hon. Treasurer of the Ruri-decanel Conference.
Edward Forster will be greatly missed. He was loyal to his party right up to the end, and it maybe said that he died in harness. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Forster, who is the daughter of the late Charles Midwinter, of Stroud Green.
No definite arrangements have been made for the funeral, but it is expected it will take place on Saturday.
SOME APPRECIATIONS
The passing of Mr. E.J. Forster will be deeply felt by all who knew him. For 31 years he had been a familiar figure in the Newbury Division, and on no better agent, no more sincere and whole-hearted worker for the Conservative cause could be found in the length and breadth of the land. His work for the cause he loved so well was unstinted, no distance too great, no task too arduous for him to undertake. But apart from his political work, Mr. Forster undertook a great deal of voluntary work, and was always ready to do anything he could to help his neighbours.
Mr. Forster's death will be greatly felt throughout the constituency, and those of us who knew him well and worked with him will miss him sadly, for you could always rely on his ready help and willing co-operation. For the last year Mr. Forster's health has given cause for anxiety, but no one expected the end would come so rapidly.
Mr. Forster was retiring at the end of the year upon the advice of his doctor, but fully intended to carry on with his voluntary work. I think the only thing he dreaded was enforced idleness, which he was providentially spared, for only a week ago he was at the Conservative office superintending. He died, as I am sure he would have wished, in harness, and his work well and truly done.
L.R.W.
Rev. W. Kingsley Kefford, a member of the Newbury Guardian's Committee: The amount of work Mr. Forster did as chairman of the Newbury House Committee cannot be over-emphasised. He was not only an able member, but he took a particularly keen interest in the Newbury Institution, the patients and the staff. It would be impossible to find a better man for the work, and his death is a severe loss to the Guardians.
Newbury Weekly News 5 November 1936
Mrs. P. p.135 LS (A)16 born 24 February 1865 died 4 November 1936
Burial 7 November 1936 Book 1917 p. 198 No 11182
address 55 St. John's Road, Newbury
Also Sarah Ann Crofts Forster wife of the above died 12 June 1944 from Oak Lodge Nursing Home, Andover Rd.
Buried 12 June 1944 Book 1917 p. 254 no. 11625
