Dr Bernard Wall

Local Cameos

No. 30. – DR. BERNARD WALL

SON of the late Dr. J. B. Wall, who practised in Coleshill for over 50 years, Dr. Bernard Wall, B.A., B.M., B.Ch., of “Greenways,” Coventry Road, Coleshill, was educated at Lancing and Lincoln College, Oxford.

He qualified in 1914, just before the outbreak of the first world war, and from 1915-1919 he was appointed house hill with his father. In 1926 he took over the practice.

Dr. Wall is also well known locally as a bloodstock breeder and farmer. He farms the 120 acre Bogs Farm, Chester Road, Coleshill, which is managed by his daughter, Miss Joan Wall, who holds the Diploma of Agriculture of Reading University.

Last season Dr. Wall bred four winning horses which between them won for their owners over 6,000 sovereigns. One of them, First Night, one of the leading two-year-olds, won more than 4,000 sovereigns. Dr. Wall also farmed at Hurley for some years. His father was also a successful bloodstock breeder.

KEEN HUNTSMAN

A keen huntsman, he has hunted with the North Atherstone Pack for many years.

Dr. Wall has been a Governor of Coleshill Grammar School since 1921 and is, at the moment, vice-chairman of the Board of Governors.

In 1946 he retired from the Warwickshire County Council on which he had represented the Coleshill Division since 1942.

From 1940 to 1946 he was Company Medical Officer to the local Home Guard.

His wife, Dr. Doris Wall, B.Sc., M.B., B.Ch., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., was educated at Birmingham University and is anaesthetist to several Birmingham hospitals.

Engagement of Joan Ryland Wall, 1951

Engagements

ASTLEY COOPER – WALL. – The engagement is announced between Major Gerald Nigel Astley Cooper, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, son of the late Lt.-Col. G. B. Astley Cooper, O.B.E., and Mrs. Astley Cooper, of Thurston, Suffolk, and Joan Ryland, eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Wall, of Coleshill.

(Birmingham Daily Post, 28th May 1951)

Funeral of Dr Bernard Wall, 1973

Funeral of Dr. Bernard Wall

The doctor who always said he would die with his boots on did just that when he passed away suddenly last Tuesday.

Dr. Bernard Wall was the last remaining family doctor in Coleshill. Aged 84 he was the son of the late Dr. J. B. Wall and followed him into the practice.

Retirement was not for him and only on the day he died he had visited some of his old patients where he was always welcomed.

He was joined in the practice by his daughter, Dr. Rosemary Edge.

Dr. Wall had lived a full and active life. His childhood days he spent on family farms at Coleshill and Shustoke. He was a breeder of race-horses, including several winners.

He farmed until quite recently and was a former member of the Atherstone Hunt. He was president of Coleshill Civic Society.

A man of forthright views, Dr. Wall was held in the highest respect. He took an interest in Father Hudson’s Homes and the orthopaedic clinic.

Coleshill Parish Church was filled with all religious denominations for the funeral service, which was followed by cremation.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Canon F. Morgan. Prayers were by the Rev. D. Reddish, Methodist Minister and a tribute by Mons. J. V. Healey, the Catholic Church. Other clergy present were Canon Smith, Father Heokey, Father Coyne, Father Flint, Rev. Carr, Rev. Kelly.

Mourners were: Dr. Doris Wall (widow); Major and Mrs. J. Astley Cooper, Mr. L. and Dr. R. Edge, Mr. and Mrs. G. Rodgers (daughters and sons-in-law); Miss F. Astley Cooper, Mr. D. Astley Cooper, Miss C, Miss J. and Mr. N. Edge, Mr. P. Rodgers, Mr. J. Rodgers (grandchildren); Mr. G. Wall (brother); Mrs. K. Saunders sister); Major K. Agnew, Mrs. M. F. Rodgers.

Among those present in church were: Dr. J. Stuart; Dr. and Mrs. D. Milledge; Dr. P. Cole (also rep. Dr. and Mrs. Holliday); Sister M. King, Miss M. Lawson, Miss H. Share, Miss M. Pratt, Miss Adams (surgery staff); Dr. and Mrs. W. Cant; Dr. and Mrs. McBain; Dr. and Mrs. Smythe; Dr. and Mrs. K. McColl.

Mrs. F. Morgan (rep. Coleshill Church); Nurses Lermit, Jones and Morgan; Mr. D. Compton (rep. Sir William and Lady Dugdale); Capt. and Mrs. Featherstone Dilke; Mrs. J. Staurt; Mr. and Mrs. H. Goldberg; Mr. E. White (rep. Varley, Vaughan and White, chemists); Miss J. Tuckley (rep. Tuckley’s Ironmongers); Miss T. Weare (rep. Mr. S. and Mr. I. Weare); Mr. and Mrs. Aston.

Alderman and Mrs. D. Prosser; Mr. R. Prosser; Mr. R. Percy; Mr. James Staurt; Colonel W. P. D. Featherstone; Mr. Stirk Adams; Mrs. Norton Dunne; Mr. R. Calder (rep. John Briggs & Calder and Mrs. K. Alcock); Mrs. Foster; Mr. Barron; Mrs. Hamis; Mr. and Mrs. F. Allen; Mr. Varley; Mr. and Mrs. F. Cartwright; Mrs. Wyldbore Smith; Mr. Penrose.

Mr. T. Varnham (rep. Varnham families); Mrs. Salt; Mrs. M. Cooper; Mrs. R. Nicholson (rep. Shustoke Green Post Office); Mrs. Woodhall; Mrs. Dean; Mr. and Mrs. H. Wheale; Mr. and Mrs. P. Summers (Church-wardens); Mr. and Mrs. A. Clarke (Vergers); Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Brown; Mrs. L. Stephens; Mrs. M. Fulford; Miss I. Mathews; Mrs. Lyodd; Mrs. Anderson; Mrs. W. Mills; Mr. and Mrs. R. Spooner; Mr. and Mrs. H. Uppy; Mr. Hill.

Mrs. I. Barnes (rep. Townsend Brothers, Coleshill); Miss E. Price; Miss B. Price; Mrs. H. Plumb Snr.; Mrs. H. Plumb (rep. Mr. H. Plumb, N.F.U.); Mrs. Mayo (rep. family of late Mr. and Mrs. W. Haywood); Mr. R. Lockhart (rep. Whitacres and Shustoke Show); Mr. B. Lockhart); Miss M. Shotton; Mr. M. Mathews; Mrs. M. Barnes; Mrs. J. W. Cornah; Mr. J. L. Cornah; Mr. H. Kelsey; Mr. E. Miller; Mrs. W. Davies; Mrs. Pointer; Mrs. McAtold; Mr. and Mrs. Cubbitt Smith; Mr. and Mrs. D. Gibson (Market Harborough); Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

Mr. B. Butler (rep. Over Whitacre Parish Council); Mr. G. Small (rep. Mill Garage); Mr. and Mrs. Bowater; Mr. T. Upton; Mr. J. Ibbotson; Mrs. R. Farrin; Mr. and Mrs. J. Wright (rep. Mrs. A. Hunt); Mr. W. Poole; Mr. and Mrs. Noble; Sisters Phillips, Eta, Bastista, Bernadette, Stephanie, Marie, Kevin, Teresa, Bridget, Xavier, Ane, Beatrice, Alouitious, Brendan, Anton (Father Hudson’s Homes).

Mr. and Mrs. Aston; Mr. and Mrs. F. Vigor; Mr. and Mrs. S. Maynard; Mr. R. Wright; Councillor J. Wright (rep. Coleshill Parish Council); Mr. Adrie (rep. Shawbury School, Shustoke); Miss Whitehouse; Mr. and Mrs. Wilson; Mrs. L. Kelsey; Mr. H. Kelsey; Mr. S. Flemming; Mrs. R. Haines; Mr. G. C. Chatfield; Mr. and Mrs. D. Hammong (Banbury).

Miss Ena and Miss Edna Hollis; Mr. Hastilow; Mrs. Newbold; Miss H. Featherston; Mr. Satherwaite (Midland Bank); Mrs. H. Featherston (rep. Mr. and Mrs. T. Withington); Miss Keatley; Miss N. Jones (Leamington); Mrs. Hamis; Mr. Blewitt; Miss Graveson; Mr. Stokes.

(Coleshill Chronicle, 19th January 1973)

Horse-boxes caught fire

HORSE-BOXES CAUGHT FIRE

– 300 Yards from the Fire Station

Two wooden horseboxes owned by Dr. Bernard Wall, the well-known breeder, of Coventry Road, Coleshill, were damaged on Saturday by fire.

The boxes, which are situated off Parkfield Road, were empty at the time. Children are believed to have ignited a heap of straw lying between the structures and the flames spread on either side, obtaining a hold on the creosoted wood.

An appliance from Coleshill Fire Station, which is only about 300 yards away, quickly controlled the outbreak. A water pump was sent from Sutton Coldfield but was not needed.

(Coleshill Chronicle, 5th July 1952)