In Loving Memory of
JOHN BRIAN LECK
BELOVED SON OF JOHN TOWERS AND MARY LECK
WHO WAS ACCIDENTLY (sic) KILLED ON MONDAY
AUGUST 28TH 1950, AGED 17 YEARS.
“AT REST”
ALSO JOHN TOWERS LECK, HIS FATHER,
BORN 19TH APRIL 1908. DIED 9TH JUNE 1963.
AND MARY LECK, HIS MOTHER,
BORN 7TH OCTOBER 1909, DIED 18TH SEPTEMBER 1988

On 9 September 1950 the following letter appeared in the Barrow News:

The late Brian Leck

Sir. – We were all very grieved to hear of the fatal accident to Brian Leck.
As one of the oldest sporting men in the district, I would like to offer our very deepest sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Leck, of Mayfield, Springfield Road, Ulverston, and their family.

I have judged Brian riding at the shows and in the leaping competitions and often watched him. He was a courageous, capable rider.

It grieves us that such a bright, promising career should be cut short.

GEORGE DICKINSON, The Mount, Cark.

INQUEST ON ULVERSTON SCHOOLBOY

“I DON’T think he ever saw me at all”, a tractor driver said at the inquest at Ulverston on Friday last week – briefly reported in our last issue – on John Brian Leck, a 17 years-old Ulverston Grammar School boy, of Mayfield, Springfield Road, Ulverston, who was fatally injured when riding his motor-cycle, in a collision with a tractor on the previous Monday.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

Evidence of identification was given by John Towers Leck, the boy’s father, who said that his son had held a provisional licence and had driven motor-cycles since Easter. On August 19 he bought him a 350c.c. motor-cycle, and was satisfied the boy was competent to drive it.

P.C. Gee told the Coroner (Mr. J. Poole) that it was practically a straight piece of road where the accident occurred in Swarthmoor Hall Road, Ulverston. The road was 7ft 10in wide and the tractor 5ft 3in wide. 

Alfred Charles Burch, of Crowtrees Farm, Pennington, the driver of the tractor, which was owned by his father, said he was travelling at 6 M.P.H., when nearing Swarthmoor Hall he saw about 60 yards ahead a motor-cycle approaching at speed on the wrong side of the road.

The motor-cyclist had his head turned round to the right and appeared to be looking at his exhaust pipe. He did not lift his head.

Burch said he pulled in to his own side and had almost stopped when the motor-cycle hit the tractor, mounted the grass verge and finished upside down.

“I don’t think he ever saw me at all”, he said.

The Coroner expressed sympathy with the relatives, with which Supt. J. H. Bell, Mr. C. G. Penny and Mr. J. Heron, for the tractor driver, associated themselves.

Mr. G. N. Worthington appeared for the relatives.
Mr. C. G. Penny was foreman of the jury.

AN ULVERSTON COLLISION

A Lowick motor-cyclist, John Towers Leck, of Moss House, and his two friends, Edward Cotton, Lowick Green, and William Lionel Brinklow, Fountain-street, Ulverston, who were riding in the side-car and on the pillion-seat respectively, had a narrow escape from serious injury on Sunday afternoon when the motor-cycle combination was badly smashed in a collision with a motor-omnibus, at the corner of Market-place and Queen-street, Ulverston. Leck was riding towards Queen-street, and the ‘bus in the opposite direction. The off-side mudguard of the ‘bus was damaged. The driver of the motor-cycle escaped with cuts above the eyes, and his two friends, apart from the shock, sustained minor injuries.

MR. J. T. LECK, LOWICK

Mr. John Towers Leck, of Lowick House, Lowick, near Ulverston, who died on June 9 last, aged 54, left £8577 gross, £220 net value.

Mr. Leck, a builder and contractor, of John Leck and Sons, was a follower of racing under National Hunt Rules on most Northern tracks, area representative for the British Show Jumping Association and a judge at many jumping events, vice-president of the Furness and District Motor Club, and had taken part in the Monte Carlo rallies.

Probate has been granted to his widow, Mrs. Mary Leck, of the same address, the sole executrix.

Picture from Jowett 1901-1954 by Noel Stokoe (Tempus 1999) (Permission to use granted by Noel Stokoe 11/07/2025), showing (L-R) Tommy Harrison, Bill Robinson, and Towers Leck.

Bill Robinson ran Mill Brow Garage at the time. Bill Robinson, Les Hall and Tom Ward competed against Towers Leck, Bert West and Tom Iddon in the Tulip Rally 1949 (to Amsterdam). Leck’s team had engine trouble near Paris, according to Noel Stokoe’s book Sporting Jowetts (The History Press 2009). However, contemporary press coverage in the Barrow News 7 May 1949 suggests that Robinson and Leck were in the same car, which finished 21st out of 162 competitors.

Leck Construction is the current entity of the long-standing building company founded by John Towers Leck. It has been responsible for local projects such as Emlyn Hughes House on Abbey Road, Barrow; the houses that replaced Arlington House on Abbey Road; extensions to Ostley House; the Lantern House in Ulverston; Barrow Sixth Form College; replacing the roof on St. James’ Church, and rehanging the bells, numerous housing projects, and building Abbey Meadow Nursing Home on Flass Lane, Barrow.

 In Loving Memory of
KENNETH
BELOVED HUSBAND OF
DORIS PETTMAN
KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE 4TH JUNE 1942

And underneath, on a separate stone, is:

IN
LOVING MEMORY OF
A GREAT PAL
FROM HULL MEN
AND BOYS AT FLEETWOOD

Killed in Action

Twenty-eight years old Able Seaman Kenneth Pettman, only son of Mr. Isaac C. Pettman, of 27, Birch-street, Fleetwood, has been killed in action in a motor launch.

Able Seaman Pettman was acting gunner. He was born in Hull, and before joining up in 1941 managed his father’s business on Wyre Docks.

Able Seaman Pettman married a Hull girl. They have X children. The funeral was at Bardsea, near Barrow-in-Furness.

Fleetwood Chronicle 4 June 1943

 DAVID, THE RECTORY, ULVERSTON, AGED 21
KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE, DECEMBER 9TH, 1941
THE REV. CANON J. STUART RIMMER, M.A. F.R. HIST.S.
HON. CANON OF CARLISLE, RECTOR OF ULVERSTON FROM 1917-1965
DIED OCTOBER 1ST 1965
ALSO OF HILDA MAY RIMMER, BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE
DIED MARCH 24TH, 1974

F.R. Hist. S. means that Canon Rimmer was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

ULVERSTON RECTOR’S SON

FATALLY INJURED IN MOTOR ACCIDENT

Widespread sympathy will be extended to the rector of Ulverston (the Rev. J. S. Rimmer, R.D.) and his wife and family, in their sudden bereavement by the death in hospital of their son, Theodore David Rimmer, following a motor accident in Scotland on Tuesday. A notification that he has been seriously injured in a motor-cycle accident and was in the Law Emergency Hospital, Carluke, Lanarkshire, was received by his parents yesterday morning by telegram. His mother and brother left for Scotland by train, but he had died before they arrived, a further telegram being received later in the day by his father announcing his death.

He was the third son of the rector and Mrs. Rimmer, and was 22 years of age. An old boy of the Ulverston Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford, he had been in the Army about two years.

His two older brothers, Lt. Gordon Rimmer and Captain Norman Rimmer, are also serving with the Forces.

A well-known musician, David Rimmer played the organ, violin and piano. He frequently played the organ at Ulverston Parish Church, and was a member of local orchestras.

FUNERAL SERVICE

Ulverston Parish Church was crowded this afternoon with mourners representative of every section of the life of the church and congregation, assembled for the funeral service of Lance-Bombardier Theodore David Rimmer (21), third son of the Rector and Mrs. Rimmer.

The service was impressive, the officiating clergy being the Venerable Archdeacon of Furness, the Rev. F. Levison, chaplain to the Forces, the Rev. J.A. Frankland and the Rector, while many clergy from the surrounding district were also present. Mr. W. Rogers was at the organ, and the choir, under Mr. E. Telfer, attended in force.

The service included the hymns, “Thine for ever, God of Love”, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”, and the 23rd Psalm, concluding with the Nunc Dimittis as the coffin, covered by the Union Jack, was borne from the church by soldiers.

Principal mourners included the Rev. J. S. and Mrs. Rimmer, parents; Miss Rimmer, Lieut. Gordon Rimmer, Captain Norman Rimmer, Miss N. Rimmer, Messrs. Michael and Paul Rimmer, brothers and sisters; Mr. H. Rimmer, uncle; the Misses Rimmer, aunts; Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Newby (Crosslands); Miss Newby (Church Walk), Messrs. B. Prior Allen, J.P., J.F. Newby, H. Jenkins, W. Garnett, H. L. Eckersley (churchwardens), together with many sidesmen and representatives of the numerous sections of the church.

Members of the congregation were represented and included Lady Fell, Mr. R. Crossfield, J.P., Miss Crossfield, Major N.E. Barnes, T.D., Mr. G.F. Longbotham, Mr. G.B. Forrest, Mr. S. Robinson, Mrs. Cousins, Mr. Wilson, the Rev. H.S. Betts, M.A., Mr. A. Thompson, L.R.A.M.*, Mr. J.B. Rose, Mr. F. Atkinson, Miss Walker, Swarthdale; Mr. J.H. Cragild, Dr. J.H. Patterson, J.P., Miss Thompson and numerous others.

There was a wealth of floral tributes.

Barrow News 3 January 1942

 In
Loving Memory of
DAVID L. FLETCHER
DIED 24TH DEC. 1955, AGED 76 YEARS
AND ALICE G. HIS WIFE
DIED 26TH OCT. 1971, AGED 88 YEARS
ALSO WILLIAM, THEIR SON
DIED 30TH DEC. 1941. AGED 26 YEARS
AND THOMAS JACKSON SON-IN-LAW
DIED 19TH NOV 1964, AGED 54 YEARS

 A brief explanation from the Liverpool Daily Post 3 December 1941 reads

The disaster occurred as the 6.53 a.m. train from Kenyon to Manchester, which had only a minute before left Eccles station, was crossing on to the fast line. A workers’ special – the 6.30 a.m. Rochdale to Pennington – travelling in the opposite direction, tore through the middle of the Manchester train, and the engine overturned and crashed into a steep embankment.

There is a plaque near Eccles station commemorating the dead.

BARROW VICTIM OF RAIL CRASH

COST ACCOUNTANT AT VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS
FIANCÉE WITH HIM?

William Fletcher, one of the victims of the Eccles train crash, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. David Lancaster Fletcher, of 189, Marsh-street, Barrow, and was the chief support of his invalid father and mother.

His parents had just received the tragic news by telegram from the Leigh police when a “News” reporter called at his home, and particularly poignant was the blow, because it was only on Sunday afternoon that their son had returned to Leigh after spending Christmas at home.

Twenty-six years of age, the deceased was a cost-accountant working at the Vickers-Armstrong works, Openshaw, Manchester, and had worked at Manchester about eight years, after leaving Messrs. Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow.

He had been living at Leigh for some months, following the raids on Manchester, and travelled daily to the city.

He was a former troop leader in St. Matthew’s Church Scout Group, and also played football for St. Matthew’s and prior to that the Rawlinson-street Boys’ School team. He also won a number of trophies as a runner.

NO NEWS OF FIANCEE

No news had been received in Barrow on Wednesday as to the fate of his fiancée, Miss Elizabeth Hirst, of Leigh, who, his parents believed, would be travelling on the train with him.

“Betty also worked in Manchester, and they travelled together every morning,” his father told a reporter. “We are anxiously awaiting news of her.

They were planning to get married in June.”

MR. W. FLETCHER, BARROW

The funeral of Mr. W. Fletcher, the Barrow Victim of the Eccles train disaster, took place on Monday. Following a service at St. Matthew’s Church conducted by the Rev. G. Smith (vicar) who also officiated at the graveside, the body was laid to rest in the Borough Cemetery. Many friends and former work associates attended to pay their respects to the deceased, who was held in high esteem over a wide area.

The mourners were Mr. and Mrs. D. Fletcher, father and mother; Mr. and Mrs. T. Jackson, sister and brother-in-law; Mrs. W. Fletcher, aunt; Mr. A. Foster, uncle; Miss C. Hems, cousin; Mrs. A. Round, cousin; Mr. and Mrs. J. Bull, Mrs. N. Bull. Mr. H. Jackson, Mr. E. Jackson, Mrs. E. Braithwaite, Mr. Eric Fallows, Mr. J. Daly, Mr. A. Crichton, Mr. T. Bowker, Mr. J. Houghton, Mr. E. Wilkinson, Mr. J. Duffus and Mr. W. N. Williams, representing the Scouts, representatives from Openshaw, Mr. Killiner, Mr. Gresham, Mr. Craven, and Mr. J. Fallows.

The bearers were Messrs. J. Geldart, M. Wallace, G. Parnham, H. Fisher, W. Crawford, C. Spry.

There were many beautiful floral tributes including those from Vickers-Armstrongs Commercial staff, Barrow; Messrs. Grasham and Craven, Salford; Mothers of the Boy Scouts; and Messrs. Vickers-Armstrongs, Openshaw.

The undertakers were Mr. J. M. Unsworth, Leigh, and Messrs. J. Tickle and Son, Barrow.

 In
Affectionate Remembrance
of
WILLIAM CLARKE KENDALL
OF HOLM NOOK, ULVERSTON
WHO DIED ON
THE 21ST DAY OF JANUARY 1937,
AGED 69 YEARS.
ALSO OF HIS ONLY SON,
WILLIAM CLARKE KENDALL,
FLT. LT. R.A.F.
KILLED IN AN AIR ACCIDENT
16TH AUGUST 1955
WHILST SERVING IN GERMANY
AND INTERRED AT HAMBURG
AGED 30 YEARS.
ALSO
GLADYS MARY KENDALL
NEE DEASON,
16TH DECEMBER 1893
22ND JUNE 1986.

ULVERSTON’S LOSS

THE PASSING OF MR. W. C. KENDALL
THE TOWN AND DISTRICT LARGELY REPRESENTED AT THE FUNERAL

The large and representative concourse of mourners at the funeral on Monday of Mr. William Clarke Kendall, an Ulverston solicitor whose death occurred on Friday week at the age of 69, manifested the public’s deep sense of loss at a worthy townsman and a most generous and good natured gentleman.

Apart from the deceased’s numerous business colleagues and associates the many public and private institutions with which he was connected were strongly represented, while people of all stations, to whom he had endeared himself, were present in large numbers.

Prior to the interment at Pennington a service was held at Holy Trinity Church.

The rector, the Rev. J. Stuart Rimmer, M.A.. read the introductory sentences, the lesson was read by the Rev. Trevor J. Jones, M.A., R.D., (Dalton) and the prayers were read by the vicar the Rev. H. S. Betts, M.A. Mr. A. Nelson was at the organ, and the choir was in attendance. The psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd”, and the hymn, “Abide with me”, were sung, and as the coffin was borne from the church the Nunc Dimittis was softly rendered.

Other clergy present were the Rev. Canon Kenworthy, M.A., vicar of Pennington, and the Rev. Canon T.P. Hartley, of Moorland, formerly vicar of Colton.

At the graveside in Pennington Churchyard, the Rev. T. P. Hartley pronounced the committal.

There then follows a lengthy list of mourners: family, firms and the general public, and a list of donors of wreaths, of which there were 100.

Barrow Herald 5 December 1891

While he was in London W.C. Kendall, who had been captain of Askam rugby team, played at least once for Rosslyn Park (Barrow Herald 10 October 1891).

The Examinations list for Law exams on 3 November 1891 names William Clarke Kendall B.A. of the Rundell Road address, employed by Mr. J. A. Dickinson, Paddington.

On qualification W.C. Kendall first had a partnership with William Postlethwaite in Barrow and Ulverston. The notice dissolving the partnership appeared in the London Gazette 19 January 1900.

The Tatler 6 August 1952

As is clear from the gravestone, William and Gladys had a son, (DoB 15 July 1925), named after his father William Clarke Kendall.

This son married Maire Prattley in Q2 1952 in the Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Registration District. Pictures of the wedding appeared in society magazine The Tatler 6 August 1952. 

Flight Lieutenant W. C. Kendall (57546) was stationed at RAF Oldenburg when he was killed on 16 August 1955, and buried in Ohlsdorf Military Cemetery, Germany. He was flying a Canadair Sabre F4 (Serial XB808) 20 Sqd. when it suffered a high speed stall during a high G manoeuvre when pulling up from an attack run on the Meppen Range, West Germany. It hit the ground and exploded killing the pilot. Read more

 

The obituary column of the Barrow News 20 August 1955 had:

ULVERSTON MAN KILLED IN FLYING ACCIDENT

Flight-Lieut. William Clarke Kendall, only son of Mrs. and the late Mr. W. C. Kendall, of Holm Nook, Ulverston, was killed in a flying accident in Germany on Tuesday.

Flight-Lieut. Kendall’s father was formerly senior partner in the firm of W. C. Kendall and Fisher, well-known local solicitors.

No details of the accident have yet been received by relatives, but Flight-Lieut. Kendall was a serving member of the Royal Air Force and was stationed in Germany, where his wife and two children were residing with him.

He was educated at Earseat School, Arnside, and Sedbergh.

NB This should read “Earnseat”, the history of which can be found here. 

 IN LOVING MEMORY OF
F/LT JIM GRUNDY
DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE 4TH OCT. 1943,
INTERRED AT MINDEN, AGED 30 YEARS.
AND F/LT. DENNIS GRUNDY, D.F.C.
DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE 12TH DEC. 1944,
AGED 24 YEARS.
PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.
ALSO SAMUEL GRUNDY,
DIED 30TH NOV. 1948, AGED 68 YEARS.
AND OF EDITH EVELYN, HIS WIFE,
DIED 22ND JAN. 1959, AGED 77 YEARS.

FLT-LIEUT D. GRUNDY, ULVERSTON

R.A.F. colleagues of the late Flight-Lieut. Dennis Grundy, of Ulverston, acted as bearers at his funeral in Ulverston on Monday, and at the close of the impressive service in the Parish Church, bore aloft his coffin covered with the Union Jack as the mourners left the church.

The service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. J. S. Rimmer, R. D., assisted by the Rev. H. G. Underhill, and the choir was in attendance, Mr. W. Rogers being at the organ. It included the Psalm “The Lord is My Shepherd”, the hymn “For all the Saints who from their labours rest”, and Nunc Dimittis.

The chief mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. S. Grundy, father and mother; Miss B. Grundy, sister; Mrs. J. A. Grundy, sister-in-law (widow of Flight-Lieut. J. A. Grundy); Mrs. N. Coates, Mrs. Davison, Mrs. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Horrocks, Miss D. Horrocks, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Todd, Corpl. Robin Todd, Mr. J. H. Cragild, Mrs. Cousins, Miss Terry, Miss Hobley, Mrs. Lionel Robinson, Lieut. H. Robinson, R.N., Mrs. Rimmer, Mrs. Salmon, Mrs. Lester, Mr. N. H. Rogers, Miss Hawkrigg, Miss Newby, Mr. H. Jenkins, Mrs. E. L. Robinson, Mr. C. P. Roberts, Mr. T. Park, Mrs. Barton, Mrs. G. Randall, Miss Randall, Miss K. T. Stevenson, Mrs. James Randall, Mr. E. Randall, Mr. S. Robinson, Mr. J. W. Miller, Mr. Collins, Mr. G. Knight, Mr. W. H. Thompson, Mr. A. Hine. Representing the R.A.F. were S.O. G. Goat, and Flight-Lieuts. W. Hughes, F. Mason, D. Jackson, F/Sgt. Erear. Floral tributes included tokens from the Commanding Officer C.G.J. Office, warrant officers and senior N.C.O.s of an R.A.F. Station.

Messrs. T. H. Cragild and Sons were the undertakers.

In Loving Memory of
MARY, THE BELOVED WIFE OF
JAMES FRASER,
WHO DIED 28TH FEBRUARY 1918,
AGED 38 YEARS.
ALLEN, THEIR SON
KILLED IN ACTION AT SEA, 1941

BARROW MAN MISSING

SERVED ON SUBMARINE REPORTED LOST

News has been received that Mr. Allan Fraser, 24 years-old son of Mr. James Fraser, 43, Ramsden Dock-road, is missing while on active service. He was an engine room artificer serving on the Barrow-built submarine H31, reported missing in January last and now considered lost. The boat was one of the old type and was in service in the last war. (sic)

Allan Fraser was educated at Barrow Island and the Grammar School for Boys, and served his apprenticeship with Vickers-Armstrongs as a coppersmith, in which department his father is head foreman. He completed his apprenticeship in June 1938, and had worked in London since then. He was married shortly before joining up in August 1940. He was in Barrow on three weeks leave in September of last year, when he stayed with his parents, who last heard from him in November 1941.

 1002123 SERGEANT
D. BELL
WIRELESS OPERATOR
ROYAL AIR FORCE
11TH DECEMBER 1942 AGED 22
 
 
ALSO HIS FATHER
JAMES BARTON BELL
5TH JUNE 1944 AGED 58
EVER LOVINGLY REMEMBERED
AND OF HIS MOTHER
MAY FRANCES BELL
23RD OCTOBER 1976 AGED 92

Wellington IC, X9622 of 26 Operational Training Unit. Took off at 18.15 from Little Horwood for a night cross country. At approx. 22.15, the bomber was seen in the circuit but as it turned towards the runway, it stalled and dived into the ground. On impact a column of smoke and flame shot into the night sky. The court of inquiry suggested that a film of rain across the windscreen may have distorted the pilot's vision.

The crew were: Sgt. E C Jones, Sgt. S R Appi, Sgt. W B Barclay, Sgt. Lennox, Sgt. D Bell killed instantly. F/Sgt. D J Clark survived the crash but died from his injuries the following day.

Furness Airman Killed

Numerous people in Ulverston and throughout Furness will hear with regret of the death on active service on 11 December of Sergeant Donald Bell, R.A.F. (V.R.), youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Barton Bell, of Mid Rowe, Pennington, and formerly of West-avenue, Barrow.

Twenty-two years of age, he was a grandson of the late Rev. J. Barton Bell, who, for many years was the esteemed Minister of the Congregational Church in Soutergate, Ulverston.

Educated at Barrow Grammar School, he was keenly interested in sport, and in the school cricket XI. He was on the staff of the Midland Bank at Liverpool until he volunteered for the R.A.F. in the summer of 1940. Sergeant Donald Bell was a wireless operator and gunner. A likeable fellow, his breezy personality won for him a wide circle of friends.