Geoffrey NEW (1858-1932)

Geoffrey New (1858-1932), a prominent Evesham solicitor, was a friend of the Sladden family.

Geoffrey was born at Evesham on 12th July 1858, the youngest of six children of Herbert New, a solicitor, by his first wife, Mary (née Alock).  His mother died shortly after he was born.  His father married again in 1865 and he had six half-brothers.  Geoffrey grew up at Greenhill, Evesham.  At the time of the 1871 census, Geoffrey and his brother, Roland, were pupils at a school at 17 Queen Square, Lancaster, run by David Davis, aged 49, described as BA Schoolmaster and Unitarian Minister without charge.

Geoffrey married Margaret Henrietta Roscoe in 1882 in the Lambeth district of London.  They had three sons and two daughters, all born in Evesham:  Geoffrey Roscoe (1885-1888), William Stanley (1886-1937), Margaret Caldwell (1888-1934), Richard Hampson (1891-1962) and Mary Roscoe (1895-1878).

Geoffrey was a senior partner in the firm of New & Saunders, solicitors, Evesham, and was well known in the town.  Geoffrey became a councillor in 1891, following in his father’s footsteps, and served continuously until his death.  He was elected as alderman in 1911 and in May 1929 he was made the first honorary freeman of the borough.  For 22 years he was chairman of the Finance Committee of Evesham Town Council and for some time prior to his death was chairman of the Sanitary Committee.  He was Mayor of the borough several times.  His wife died in May 1919 during one of his tenures as Mayor, so his daughter, Mary, stepped in as Mayoress in her place.

Alderman New was a prominent member of the Oat Street Unitarian Church and in politics an active Unionist.  He was keenly interested in infant welfare and hospital work.

Geoffrey died at Hampton House, Evesham, on 9th November 1932, aged 74; his home address was 12 Bridge Street, Evesham.