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A Death Bed Wish
- James Newey |
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James Newey was appointed
Curator of Boston Park in 1908. He was to remain in the role for
the following 16 years and, with his family, resided at Boston Castle.
A native of Worcestershire, prior to his appointment he worked at
the park for 13 years as a gardener under Henry Albiston, whom he
succeeded as Curator. His wife was Mary Habershaw Newey, a native
of Rotherham.
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| In 1912 Mrs Newey's
best friend, Beatrice Parry, became terminally ill and, on her deathbed,
asked Mrs Newey to take responsibility, after her demise, for the
upbringing of her eight-year-old daughter, Elsie.
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Beatrice's death occurred within
a few days of her making the request, whereupon Elsie Parry became
a member of the Newey household at Boston Castle. |
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James and Mary Newey
were kind to Elsie, and arranged for her to receive lessons which
resulted in her becoming an accomplished pianist. However, as
was the practice of the time, she was required to carry out domestic
chores and work long hours in the park cafe at weekends and during
school holidays.
One of Mary Newey's nephews was Ernest Watson, then aged twelve
years, of Carrington Street, Clifton. It was at Boston Castle,
during Ernest's visits to his aunt and uncle, that Elsie became
acquainted with him. In later life she was to say that at that
time she hadn't liked him very much.
However, at the age of eighteen Ernest joined the Royal Navy,
and his service took him away from Rotherham for several years.
On his return and while on leave, he visited Boston Castle. There
he found that, in his absence, his aunt Mary's foster child had
become an attractive young woman.
Furthermore, it became apparent that now she did like him very
much! After Ernest's eventual release from the navy the two married
in 1929.
That happy event was a tribute to the kindness of James and
Mary Newey. Had they not taken an eight-year-old orphan into their
home, Elsie may never have met the man who eventually became her
life's partner. |
| James Newey was
a long-serving member of the Boston Park Bowls team, which he captained
for many years. After a short illness he died in Sheffield Royal
Infirmary on 14th May 1924, aged 59. He was interred in Moorgate
Cemetery. On his death being reported at the next meeting of
the borough council's Parks Committee it was resolved that the
widow receive £1. per week for three months. At the end
of that period Mrs Newey and Elsie Parry were required to vacate
Boston Castle, thereby ending the Neweys' 29-year association
with the castle and parklands.
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