Death of William Henry Cox, 1947

DEATH OF FORMER HEADMASTER OF CLEEVE

The death has occurred, at the age of 81, of Mr. William Hervey [sic] Cox, for many years the Headmaster of Bishop’s Cleeve School.

Educated at Winchester College, Mr. Cox, after taking his M.A. degree, came to Bishop’s Cleeve as Headmaster at the beginning of the century.

His particular interest lay in art, and at the close of the 1914-18 War he designed for Bishop’s Cleeve Church a beautifully illustrated list of “those who served” from the parish. He retired from his position as Headmaster 24 years ago.

Mr. Cox’s death occurred at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. L. Norman, of 78, Brooklyn-road, Cheltenham, where he and his wife had been staying since Christmas. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. L. Norman and Mrs. R. Shipway.

(Cheltenham Chronicle, 1st March 1947)

Wedding of Christine Cox to Ralph Shipway

WEDDING AT BISHOP’S CLEEVE – In the presence of a very large congregation, Mr. Ralph Shipway and Miss Christine Carmen Cox were wedded in the old parish church of Bishop’s Cleeve on Wednesday. The brdegroom [sic] is a son of Mr. Hemming Shipway, of Malvern View, Bishop’s Cleeve, and the bride, who is well-known in the Cheltenham district as a talented vocalist, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Cox [William Henry Cox (1865-1947) and Emily (Mathews) Cox], of Church View, in the same parish. Rev. R. Newman officiated, and the service was choral, Mr. L. V. Wheeler, organist of the Cheltenham Parish Church, and an old friend of the bride’s family, officiating at the organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress with cream satin foundation, lace overslip, and pearl ornaments. She also wore an embroidered veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a sheaf of lilies. Attending her were four bridesmaids, viz., Miss Clarice Cox (sister) [Clarice (Cox) (Norman) Meredith], Miss Ivy Mathews, of Thrift Hall, Waltham Abbey (cousin) [Winifred Ivy Mathews (1904-1990)]; Miss Annie Shipway (sister of the bridegroom); and Miss Doris Bosworth, of Ward End, Birmingham (cousin of the bride) [Dr Doris (Bosworth) Wall]. Their dresses were of pink silk with ninon sleeves and vests; and they wore gold chains and pendants of rubies and pearls, given by the bridegroom, as were their carnation bouquets. After the ceremony the parents of the bride held a reception in the Bishop’s Cleeve school. The honeymoon will be spent at Weston-super-Mare and Bristol, the bride’s going-away dress being in fawn tweed, with hat of biscuit straw to match, underlined with shell pink. The bride’s presents to the bride[groom] were a ring and bracelet, and that from the bridegroom to the bride a diamond ring. Congratulations and presents were received from Mr. and Mrs. Bert Cox (Arle), Mr. and Mrs. Wright (Birmingham) [Kate (Mathews) Bosworth and her second husband, William Wright (-1938)], Miss Bosworth (Birmingham), Mr. and Mrs. T. Mathews (London), Mrs. Horne (Cardiff), parents of bride, parents of bridegroom, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Shipway, Mrs. Adcock, Mrs. and Mrs. C. Adcock, Miss Shipway, Miss Vera Shipway, Mrs. and Mr. Hitchman, Miss N. Shapcott, Mrs. Hinks (Moor), Mrs. and Miss Roberts, Miss Warwick (Birmingham), scholars and teachers of Bishop’s Cleeve Council School, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Matthews (Cheltenham), Miss Clarice Cox [Clarice (Cox) (Norman) Meredith], Miss Ivy Mathews, Mrs. Grover and Miss Bucknell, Mrs. Adamson (Alderton), Mrs. Foort, Mr. Foort, Mrs. and Misses Price, Mrs. Dobbons, Miss K. Short, Miss E. Morgan, Master J. Morgan, Mrs. Irons, Misses Oldacre, Mr. Fred Shpway, Miss Bradden, Miss Lane, Miss Jeynes, Mr. and Mrs. Kent and family, Rev. T. Jesson and family, Mrs. R. Beckingsale, Mr. and Mrs. Catt (London), Mr. and Mrs. F. Wheeler (London), etc. Peals were rung on the bells of Bishop’s Cleeve Parish Church during the afternoon and evening of the wedding day in honour of the happy event.

(Gloucestershire Echo, 14th August 1918)

An excellent artist and teacher

To-day’s Gossip

An Artiste

MR. William Hervey [sic] Cox, for many years Headmaster of Bishop’s Cleeve school, whose death has taken place at the age of 81, was not only an excellent artist with the brush himself, but he had an extraordinary capacity for teaching quite young children to produce beauty of colour and form.

The art exercise books of the children at Bishop’s Cleeve School were such matters of surprise that one Inspector, on an occasion of a visit to a local exhibition at which he was lecturing, mistook them for “teachers'” work.

This the teachers of the district whom he was addressing knew quite well was not the case, for in Mr. Cox’s day many members of the teaching profession visited the school to see the children at work and to catch, if possible, some of the magic of his teaching.

(Gloucestershire Echo, 28th February 1947)

Schoolmaster’s retirement

SCHOOLMASTER’S RETIREMENT. – A large and very sympathetic company gathered at the Bishop’s Cleeve Council School on the occasion of a presentation to the retiring headmaster, Mr. W. H. Cox, after 32 years in that capacity. The presentation was made on behalf of the subscribers by the Rev. N. M. Morgan-Brown, and took the form of a charmingly illuminated address and a handsome wallet. The address had an added charm in being the work of an old scholar (Mr. Harry Goring). At the same time the present scholars and staff presented Mr. and Mrs. Cox with a beautiful Queen Anne silver-plated tea service with tray and toast-rack. Owing to ill-health Mr. Cox was unable to be present, but Mrs. Cox, with much feeling, thanked the subscribers for their extreme kindness. The Rector, managers, and many of the old scholars spoke feelingly of the kindness always shown by Mr. Cox, not only in the school, but in connection with village affairs. In conclusion thanks were given to Mrs. W. Roberts and Mr. W. Shipway for their kind thoughts and personal help in organising the presentation.

(Gloucestershire Echo, 8th August 1924)

Death of William Henry Cox, 1947

DEATHS

COX. – On February 23rd, William Henry Cox, late headmaster of Bishop’s Cleeve School, in his 82nd year. – Funeral Thursday, 27th February, at 11 o’clock, Bishop’s Cleeve. Flowers to Selim Smith.

(Gloucestershire Echo, 25th February 1947)