Prominent Badsey Worker
The death took place on Wednesday of Mrs Frances Ellen Holding of Briarlea, Badsey Road, Badsey. Deceased had been ill for some considerable time, and for the last few months had been confined to her room. A native of Coppull, near Chorley, Lancs, she was the only surviving child of the lat Mr John & Mrs Ann Dickinson of that place. Her father was the Manager of the Blainscough Colliery Company, Coppull, Lancs, for over 50 years, and was also a Director of the Company for many years. Whilst living at Coppull, Mrs Holding was connected with the Sunday School and Girls’ Friendly Society, and was Hon Secretary of the Primrose League on its inception.
Mrs Holding was married to Mr James Holding, youngest son of the late Mr & Mrs Thomas Holding of Coppull, on April 28th 1897. In January 1908 they went to live at St Anne’s-on-Sea, and again Mrs Holding took an active part in public affairs, especially church, social and political work.
At the outbreak of war she was Hon Treasurer of the Primrose League, and in August 1914 became a Red Cross worker. A working party was formed, of which Mrs Holding was the Hon Secretary, and her husband Hon Treasurer. In connection with this work close on £2000 was raised, and thousands of soldiers were the recipients of articles collected by the party. On leaving St Anne’s in 1919, deceased and her husband received valuable presents from the members of the Primrose League and the Red Cross Party.
Mrs Holding, with her husband, took up residence at Badsey in September 1919, and in recent years she had taken a keen interest in local activities. She was enrolling member of the Badsey Mothers’ Union and was Chairman of the Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford branch of the Nursing Association.
For the last two years Mrs Holding had been under the attention of Dr Leslie (Evesham). She leaves a husband and one son, Mr James D Holding.
The funeral takes place on Monday at Chorley Cemetery, Lancs. Mrs Holding’s cousin, the Rev J R Yates (Rector of Weldon, Northants) officiating.
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Elsewhere in The Evesham Standard of that date was the following report:
Badsey and Wickhamford Women’s Institute
A meeting was held at the Old School, Badsey, on Wednesday. Mrs Carter was in the chair. Before the business of the evening commenced, Mrs Carter referred to the great loss the villages had sustained in the death of Mrs Holding. The members stood in reverent silence for a few moments.
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In the following week’s edition of The Evesham Standard was the following report:
ALDINGTON – THE LATE MRS J HOLDING
A memorial service for the late Mrs J Holding of Briar Lea was held in the Parish Church, Badsey, at 3 pm on Monday last, the time of the interment at Chorley. The Vicar (Rev W C Allsebrook, RD) officiated. A large congregation was present, including a number of friends of the deceased, and members of the Badsey Mothers’ Union, Women’s Institute, and Nursing Association, of which bodies the deceased was a great friend and helper. The hymns sung were “Through the night of doubt and sorrow”, “Abide with me” and “On the Resurrection Morning”. The Vicar, by request, also conducted a short service at Briar Lea, on Sunday evening.