The Devonshire Hotel and Brewery, Hindpool Road. The sign is on the left of the renamed Devonshire Brewery Offices, later the Devonshire pub, Fatties, and in 2018, Traditions.

THRICE MAYOR OF BARROW

PASSING OF MR. G. S. HEATH

LONG AND NOTABLE CAREER ENDED

We deeply regret to record the death of Mr. George S. Heath, which occurred at his residence, Rock Lea, Abbey-road, Barrow, on Saturday, at the age of 95 years.

                Born in London on 29 June, 1845, Mr. Heath became a chorister as a boy at Christ Church, and on the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1859 he became a drummer in the 42nd Middlesex Regiment.

                After leaving London he served for a time as a clerk, and afterwards became a commercial traveller at Wakefield. He married in October 1868, and celebrated his golden wedding in 1918. Mrs. Heath died in January 1924. They had a family of eight, of whom five are living, three sons and two daughters.

69 YEARS IN BARROW

Mr. Heath purchased the Devonshire Hotel, and came to reside in Barrow in 1871. In 1913 the business was formed into a private limited company under the style of “G. S. Heath, Ltd.”, and is now carried on by his sons.

                As churchwarden at St. James’s Church, Barrow, Mr. Heath took a deep interest in the Hindpool district, and during various periods of distress devoted himself wholeheartedly to alleviating the hardships of those affected. He was churchwarden at St. James’s for nearly 30 years.

                He entered the Town Council as the representative for Hindpool Ward on 1 November 1898, was a member of the Education, Health, and Gas and Water Committees, and Chairman of the Public Parks and Smallholdings Committee. He was elected Mayor in 1903, and held the position for three consecutive and memorable years in the history of this borough. He was appointed alderman on 5 May 1913.

                As chairman of the Hospital Saturday Fund Demonstration Committee he rendered invaluable assistance to a most deserving cause, and was formerly a vice-president and trustee of the North Lonsdale Hospital.

A GENEROUS MAYOR

During his Mayoralty Mr. Heath entertained very liberally, and amongst his guests on different occasions were Capt. Sakamoto, officers and men of H.I.M.J. battleship Katori, which was built in Barrow.

                He also entertained the Lancashire Fire Brigade Friendly Society in July, 1905; the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, in 1906; Lord Derby when he came to open St. Luke’s new schools during the vicariate of Rev. E. F. Crosse, the Bishop of Carlisle, and numerous clergy during the visit of the Church Congress to Barrow, etc.

                Mr. Heath was also president for many years of the Iron and Steelworks Band, and hon. treasurer of the Barrow Amateur Operatic Society when formed. He was also a vice-president of the society. He was one of the founders of the Newbarns Lawn Tennis and Bowling Club formed in 1888, and had been president since 1892. For many years he was a director of the Furness Brick and Tile Co. Ltd. About 30 years ago he organised a performance of “living whist” in Barrow, and thereby raised considerable sums for local charities.

                The late Mr. Heath was president of the Royal Society of St. George, Barrow branch, when he was Mayor, from 1904 to 1908 inclusive. The branch ceased to exist in 1909, and was resuscitated in 1919, he being one of the men who helped to keep the branch together. He was also a trustee of the Barrow Working Men’s Club and Institute.

MASONIC CAREER

Mr. Heath was a prominent Freemason. He was W.M. in 1882 of the Hartington Lodge, 1021; P.P.I.G. Warden of West Lancashire, P.Z. Abbey Chapter, 1225, and a member of Henry Cook Chapter, 1021, of which he was one of the founders, and of the Furness Mark Lodge and Rose Croix.

                The late Mr. Heath was an extensive traveller, visiting many parts of the world.  He was a man who lived a strenuous life and made many friends, by his genial and kindly disposition. He has taken no part in public affairs for many years, but will be held in affectionate remembrance by all who were brought into contact with him during his long and active career.

ARCHDEACON’S TRIBUTE AT FUNERAL

There was a large and representative gathering of mourners, including the Mayor and Mayoress and members of the Corporation, at the funeral service at St. James’s Church on Tuesday afternoon.

                In the absence of the vicar, the service in church was conducted by the Rural Dean, the Rev. A. S. Picton, M.A., vicar of St. Luke’s, Barrow, assisted by the Ven. Archdeacon of Furness, while the Rev. J. McClintock, curate of St. James’s, was also present.

                The choir attended, with Mr. H.H. Thomas at the organ. Two hymns were sung, “Through all the changing scenes of life” and “Abide with Me”.

                The Archdeacon of Furness, the Rev. G.S. Smith, M.A., vicar of Haverthwaite, read the lesson, and paid a fitting tribute to the work of the late Mr. Heath in the ecclesiastical and civic life of Barrow.  He had known him, he said, since he (the Archdeacon) came to St. George’s in 1902, and during his three years of Mayoralty, from 1903-1906. Mr. Heath was churchwarden of St. James’s from 1895 to 1920. He loved the church, and in the fullness of his strength rendered great service to it with devotion and dignity. In church ad civic affairs he devoted himself to the service of his fellow men. In this modern town he held offices, that of Mayor and Churchwarden, that went back to the time of Magna Charter. (sic) He nursed Barrow through her times of peace to the great things and doings in England to-day.

                The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. J. McClintock, and Mr. J. H. J. Hubbold gave the Masonic burial service.

                The principal mourners were: G. A. Heath, A. H. Heath, and J. S. Heath, sons; Mrs. W. Sharples, and Miss E. Heath, daughters; G. R. H. Heath, grandson, and Mrs. G. R. H. Heath; Mrs. A. Osborne, grand-daughter; T. Pitt-Pladdy, nephew; Mrs. Brewer, niece; and Mr. and Mrs. L. Whiteley, also the staff at Rock Lea, and Nurse Hodgson.

CIVIC REPRESENTATIVES

Amongst those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Ald. R. A. Brunskill and Mrs. Brunskill), wearing their chains of office, who were accompanied by the Town Clerk (Mr. W. Lawrence Allen), Aldermen Longstaffe and Brazinton, Couns. Paxton, Jones, Parnham, Jackson, Mrs. E. A. Ward, and Mrs. E. Smyth. Corporation officials present were Mr. F. L. Wooldridge (Borough Engineer and Surveyor), Dr. A. R. Forrest (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. J. Cook (Deputy Town Clerk).

                The general mourners included Col. R. Thompson, J.P., D.L., V.D., Lt.-Col. W.F.A. Wadham, J.P., D.L., and Messrs. R. Crossfield, J.P., J. Jamieson, J.P., R.T. Dockeray, J.P., J.W. Brocklehurst, J.P., Major H. Mossop, J.P., Mr. J. Whitehouse, J.P., M.B.E., Mr. H.C. Diss, J.P., Mr. H. Heaton, J.P., and a further half-column of attendees.