FREEMASON DIES
The death is announced of Mr. W. C. Neville Bosworth, of 38, Cremorne Road, Sutton Coldfield, well-known among Midland Freemasons. He was 66.
Until his retirement a few years ago Mr. Bosworth was Distribution Engineer of Birmingham. Water Department. He joined the department in 1904.
Mr. Bosworth had been a member of more than 50 Masonic Lodges.
(Evening Despatch, Birmingham, 14th May 1954)
ANTLEY’S ENTERTAINERS. – Alcester has a special attraction on Thursday next, when Autley’s Royal (No. 1 company) of entertainers make their first visit for one night only. There is a full company of first-class artistes, including Little Maudie Goodman, the child male impersonator, who has had such wonderful success in the Midlands. Others in the bill include Stuart MacLellan, Scotch comedian; Mr. Will Deakin, baritone; Mr. Syd. Owen the renowned London comedian; the Sisters Linden, refined serios and duettists; Master Leslie Adams, light comedian and dancer; Miss May Collins, contralto, London and provincial concerts; and Mr. Neville Bosworth, at the piano. For full particulars, see advertisement.
(Alcester Chronicle, 2nd October 1909)
Midland Portrait
SPOKESMAN, BUT NO DIEHARD
“WE have a happy home life, but there’s nothing colourful about us.” This is Coun. Neville Bosworth’s self-assessment and, indeed, he personifies middle class solidity on Birmingham City Council, where he is Conservative spokesman on finance, and in his politics generally, for he is no spectacular diehard Tory.
His bland brow corrugates in thought and his deceptive drawl quickens as he warms to his chosen theme of a full enquiry into Birmingham’s civic administration as a means of keeping down the rates.
Councillor Bosworth opposes the present system whereby committees present annual estimates for consideration by the Finance Committee, believing rather that the Finance Committee should tell them what they can each spend.
The start of it all
Neville Bosworth was born in Victoria Road, Aston, in 1918. His father [William Charles Neville Bosworth] was a Corporation official and often acted as presiding officer at polling stations. Thus Neville found his first interest in elections.
Educated at Albert Road, Aston Grammar School, and King Edward’s where he was school organist – he graduated as Bachelor of Law at Birmingham University while working in the office of the late Ald. Bailey Cox who took him as partner on his admission as solicitor in January 1941.
Councillor Neville Bosworth
Denied military service on medical grounds, Neville Bosworth was an A.R.P. warden in the city centre, and on April 9, 1941 he watched his office in Temple Row go up in flames. Later he was commissioned in the Home Guard.
In 1945 he married the daughter [Lady Bosworth] of an Erdington builder [William Jacob Davis (1873-1949)], and fought his first municipal election, getting “a good licking” in Saltley Ward.
It was 1950 when he was elected to the City Council for Erdington Ward, which seat he has twice retained, and he hopes to keep it next May, for, as he says, “Council work gets in your blood.” The Finance Committee, on which he has served for six years, has been his particular interest.
No limit to talking
Councillor Bosworth is not one who would limit Council speeches – he sees little evidence of members trespassing on their colleagues’ patience. He is most impressed by the wide cross section of opinion expressed in the Council.
Councillor Bosworth is President of Kingstanding Ex-Servicemen’s Club and a trustee of Sir Josiah Mason’s School and of the Hook Memorial Homes.
For relaxation he plays golf and watches Birmingham City, reads historical novels and thrillers, and enjoys evenings at home with his wife and three children.
He lives at Sutton Coldfield and is Deputy Chairman of Sutton Coldfield Conservative Association. His Erdington Ward is part of Sutton parliamentary constituency.
(Birmingham Weekly Post, 14th November 1958)
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
METROPOLITAN EXAMINATION, CHRISTMAS, 1913.
The following CANDIDATES have passed:-
IN PIANOFORTE.
AS TEACHERS. – […] William Charles Neville Bosworth
[…]
EXAMINERS. – Carlo Albanesi, Oscar Beringer, Sydney Blakiston, York Bowen, Henry R. Eyers, T. B. Knott, Herbert Lake, Tobias Matthay, Frederick Moore, Chas. F. Reddie, Felix Swinstead, Septimus Webbe, Cuthbert Whitemore.
(The Musical Times, 1st February 1914, vol. 55, p. 75)
TOWN HALL,
WEDNESDAY NEXT, NOVEMBER 3RD.
GRAND CONCERT BY BAND
ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS
(By kind permission of Lieut.-Col. Jones-Williams).
Bandmaster: S. HAYES.
ARTISTES:-
MISS HILDA LETHWAITE (Mezzo-Soprano).
MR. JOHN RAMSDEN (Baritone).
MR. NEVILLE BOSWORTH (Accompanist).
SPEAKER:- RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR (W. H. BOWATER, ESQ.).
ADMISSION FREE.
DOORS OPEN 7.30.
COMMENCE 8.0.
(Birmingham Evening Despatch, 30th October 1915)
‘Forty-niners’
Presentations were made yesterday to Mr. W. C. N. Bosworth, distribution engineer of Birmingham water undertaking, and Mr. A. E. Fitchett, its chief rating assessor. Both are retiring after 49 years’ service with the undertaking.
(Birmingham Daily Gazette, 5th June 1953)
ANNUAL REUNION OF STUDENTS.
There was a veritable invasion of the spacious entertainment rooms of the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on Wednesday evening, when a crowd of young people bubbling over with excitement and with keen anticipations of holidays and festivities, took possession. They were pupils – present and past, with a sprinkling of parents and friends – of Lawrence’s College, Birmingham. Dancing was catered for in the Grosvenor Rooms, and the young folk had a hectic, but thoroughly enjoyable time. Dances – ancient and modern – were heartily applauded, and Mr. T. W. Bent’s band provided excellent music.
The non-dancing folk had a delightful and informal entertainment in the Windsor Room. Messrs. Frank Thompson and Charles Albert, with Miss Kirby, provided humorous selections, whistling solos, and impersonations, many items of which were received with vociferous applause. A conjuring and ventriloquial turn by Mr. Lawrence Gay was watched by lynx-eyed youngsters anxious to find out the “how” and the “why.” Pianoforte accompaniments were rendered by Mr. Neville Bosworth, who was quite indefatigable, while Mr. Stanley Lane sang some well-known songs.
It may be interesting to our readers to pass on some information which we gathered of the start and development of this “lively” educational institution. Started in January, 1900, in Steelhouse Lane – with modest furniture and equipment and a staff of one – it jumped at once into the public eye by securing first place at the Birmingham Post Office examination. In a short time it came to be said “You must go to Lawrence’s if you would enter the postal service locally,” and indeed until their cessation, in 1915, the College gained nearly all the first places, and once swept the board, capturing all the vacancies.
[…]
(Walsall Observer & South Staffordshire Chronicle, 1st January 1927)
DEATHS
BOSWORTH – Ada
Beloved wife of the late Neville, and dearest mother of Marjorie, Neville and John, peacefully at a Nursing Home, on December 1, 1980, aged 95 years. Funeral service at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium, on Tuesday, December 9, at 2 p.m. Flowers suitable for hospital, please, to E. F. Edwards Ltd., 31, Gravelly Hill North, Erdington, before 12 noon.
(Birmingham Mail, 3rd December 1980)
OBITUARY
WILLIAM CHARLES NEVILLE BOSWORTH
Mr. W. C. N. Bosworth, A.M.I.C.E., who was born in 1888, received his education at Birmingham Technical College, and in 1905 was articled for four years to Mr. William Gray, A.M.I.C.E., engineer-in-charge of the City of Birmingham Water Department, and became senior draughtsman in 1911 and engineering assistant in 1917. From 1920 to 1927 he was head of the local engineer’s drawing office, with responsibility for the preparation of drawings and the keeping of records
In December 1929, after studying in his leisure time, he became an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and he joined the Institution of Water Engineers, as a Member, a few months later. He was also an Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
The whole of his career in Birmingham was devoted to the distribution side of the undertaking, and for eleven years preceding his retirement he was distribution engineer. He was gifted with a phenomenally retentive memory, and appeared to carry in his head a complete map of the very extensive and complicated distribution system, including the smallest service mains.
In recent years Mr. Bosworth rendered service to the Institution as a member of Research Group (f) – Waterworks Fittings, which carried out valuable investigations into the behaviour of materials of construction for hot-pressed and cast fittings.
He was a gifted musician, and his ability as an organist and as an accompanist on the piano led to a great demand upon his spare time. His death occurred on 13th May 1954, only 12 months after his retirement.
C. A. R.
(Journal of Institution of Water Engineers, October 1954)
Obituary
Mr. N. Bosworth
Birmingham Water Department Official
The death has occurred of Mr. Neville Bosworth, sen., of 38 Cremorne Road, Four Oaks, who was Distribution Engineer of the Birmingham Water Department until his retirement last May. He was 66.
Mr. Bosworth was taken ill on Thursday evening when driving Conservative voters to the polls in Erdington. He was supporting the re-election of Coun. A. K. Spencer, the fellow Conservative councillor in Erdington of his son, Coun. Neville Bosworth, a solicitor.
He joined the Water Department engineering staff in 1904, and was appointed Distribution Engineer in 1942. He was an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
For many years Mr. Bosworth was well known as a pianist and accompanist, holding the degrees of L.R.A.M. and A.L.C.M., and for 36 years was honorary pianist to the Rocket Club in Birmingham. A Freemason, he was a Deacon in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire. He leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters. The funeral will take place at Sutton Parish Church at 12.30 p.m. next Wednesday.
(Birmingham Daily Post, 15th May 1954)
Our Family 2 