RAILWAY STATION
Cliff Owen sent me the original of this photo of the Stowmarket Station staff,
it was accompanied the names of many of the men and by a letter from the late
Hugh Ager who worked at the station from 1911 until 1960. He dates it at before
he joined the staff in 1911, and I would say it would be nearer 1900.
Names from left to right
In the back row
Henry Durrant [probably second left], Flory, William Aldous,
Edgar[?] Davey, Ablett [It is not entirely clearer from the information given who is
who]
Sitting
1. Samuel Keeble 2. Edward Reddish, 3. John Firman 4. George Jeffries 5. Ernest
Chambers 6. Jack Haggar
Front
1. W. Grimwood 2. ? 3. "Bugle" Green
Henry Durrant was born in 1875 and ran the W.H.Smith
newspaper kiosk at the station, later opening his own newsagent and stationers
shop in Ipswich Street in the town. Living at Unity Road in 1901 with Ernest Chambers
and his wife.
William Aldous. Carriage and Waggon Examiner ["wheel tapper"].
He was appointed treasurer when the Stowmarket Branch of the National Union Of
Railwaymen was formed in January 1914. He lived at 42 Creeting Road and died
about 1923.
Edgar [Humphrey] Davey. Goods Porter.
Samuel Keeble. Born 1853. Shunt Horse Driver and then Yard Foreman.
Lived in Union Street in 1891 and later in Milton Road.
Edward [Ted] Reddish. Platform Porter. Born 1866. Lived in Creeting Road
and was killed in an accident on the main line.
John Firman. Signal Man/Platform Foreman Porter. Lived
Childer Road in 1891.
George Jeffreys. Station Master. Born 1844. Retired by 1911.Lived at the
Stationmasters House.
Ernest Chambers. Clerk. Born in 1869. Lived at Unity Road around
this time with Henry Durrant. He later managed Durrant's shop during the
1914-18 war.
John Ernest William ["Jack"] Haggar. Platform Porter. Left the railways and ran the "Duke Of Wellington" from 1908 to
1913 and later "The Greyhound" until 1937. He then ran The Dukes
Head for a while.
W. Grimwood. The wording on his cap band shows that he worked at the
W.H.Smith newspaper kiosk
Information from -
The late Hugh Ager. [letter dated December 1986]
"Serving You Through The Years". Book 2 by Sue Cowling and Steve
Williams
1891 census.
Early 20th C. photo of The Railway Station [photo - Ashley Barnard]
View from the footbridge A Victorian postbox. [Terry Nunn]
STOWMARKET
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
2007
email neil@stowman.plus.com