The Bedfordshire Times and Independent, Friday 19 July 1929
THE LATE MR. WILLIAM NICHOLLS
A life of lasting service to the town
Large attendance at funeral
As announced in The Bedfordshire Times of the 12th July, Mr William Nicholls, JP, Alderman and ex-Mayor of Bedford, died on the evening of Thursday 11th July at his residence, Hill Farm, Great Barford. He was 62 years of age.
The late Mr William Nicholls was born in St Mary's parish and was Christened and confirmed at St Mary's church where the funeral service was held on Monday. He was the son of Mr William Henry Nicholls, who came from Liverpool to Bedford and worked for twenty years with Deane and Son, carriage builders, St Mary's Square, little thinking that his son and grandsons were destined to become the proprietors and to develop the business in conditions of traffic and means of propulsion undreamt of in Victorian times. Ultimately Mr W H Nicholls had a carriage building and wheelwrighting business at the back of the "Wheatsheaf", Cauldwell Street, and when he retired was succeeded by his sons William and Harry, who removed the business into Melbourne Street. Another brother is Mr Samuel Nicholls, the well known builder of Cople. There are two sisters: Miss Nicholls of Hull, and Mrs F Jones, wife of the Postmaster at Margate.
Educated at the Modern School, where he was occasionally top of the form, William Nicholls was compelled by a prolonged strike in the coach building trade in 1878-9 to leave at twelve years of age to earn his living and he went into the railway service. Afterwards he joined his father in the coach-building and wheelwrighting business in Cauldwell Street. Mr Nicholls, feeling a great inclination for farming, while he was still a young man took some land along Kimbolton Road and afterwards a small farm at Clapham. At a later period he took two small farms in the neighbourhood of Wootton Hardwicke. At one time he had a large pig dealing business and was regarded as a good judge of pigs. His taste for trading led him into the markets where he probably developed the shrewdness of judgement which was his leading characteristic in later life; but he had other opportunities in a wide and varied field of gaining a knowledge of industry and commerce. Mr Nicholls formed a lifelong interest in agricultural pursuits; he was always open to learn and he acquired knowledge of the scientific as well as the practical side of farming, which stood him in good stead as a member of the Town Council, especially in connection with the Corporation Farm. For many years he was a member of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Agriculture, occasionally speaking at the meetings and attending the excursions to scientific and experimental stations. It will be remembered that as Mayor Mr Ald. Nicholls was Vice-President of the Bedfordshire Agricultural Society when the show was held at Bedford. Two years ago, after living for some years in Bushmead Avenue, he went to Hill Farm, Great Barford, partly, no doubt, that he might keep in touch with agricultural life.
In 1911 the Carriage Works in St Mary's Square were acquired by Mr Nicholls and his eldest son, William Ernest. This old established business was founded by a Mr Last, and was carried on by him until 1949 when Deane and Son (Charles and William) succeeded. Since 1911 the business has been carried on as the Bedford Carriage Works under the style of Nicholls and Son, but in March of this year it was formed into a limited liability company, Needless to say, since 1911 there have been extensive developments of the motor-car and engineering side of the business.
Mr William Nicholls married Miss A Dracup, daughter of the late Mr E Dracup. there are five sons and three daughters.
A notice of Mr Nicholls's mayoraltie and public work has appeared in our recent issues. The full memoir was in The Bedford Record of Tuesday.
The late Mr Nicholls was almost as well known in the county as in the town and seems to have been popular with all classes. He was always good-tempered, always an optimist, looking on the bright side, and inspiring confidence among his associates in public or private business. He was an interesting companion and well informed in the practical affairs of life. Associated with him in much of his public work, especially during the mayoralties, was that amiable lady, Mrs Nicholls, who, is spite of family and domestic cares, was, like her husband, always cheerful, and able to bring a rare charm of manner to the functions that she graced with her presence. Mr Nicholls was essentially a peace-maker: he often spoke the word in season that produced a good understanding, ever ready to pour oil on troubled waters and to restore friendship where there had been variance. If the proceedings of the Town Council have not always pleased the critics outside, it is certainly true that under the benign influence of Mr Ald Nicholls and his friend Mr Ald Barford, there has been peace within its borders. Mr Nicholls had a faculty for clearly perceiving the points at issue and for proposing a solution that usually met with acceptance. The Chamber of Trade, the Rotary Club, almost every society that concerns the business and social welfare of the town are indebted to Mr Nicholls for his sympathetic interest and he endeavoured to meet the claims upon his time of many organisations until his health broke down.
Ald Nicholls was an hon. member of the Great Barford branch of the British Legion and the following members met the funeral cortege at Great Barford Church to pay the last respects of the Branch: Messrs A Norman, F Surkitt, A V Draper, J French, E Coleman, A Pitts.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place at Bedford on Monday afternoon, the body having been brought from Great Barford during the day. A large congregation assembled at St Mary's church and the service was attended by the Mayor and Corporation in state Mr W Quarry, Major H J Randall and Mrs Randall, Miss Tonkin, Mrs S B. While the Civil procession was proceeding from St Mary's Schoolroom and while the cortege was arriving the automatic signal lamps were switched off and all traffic was stopped.
Mr A F Beagle at the organ played "Lacrymosa" from Mozart's Requiem Mass, "But the Lord is mindful of His own" (from Mendelssohn's "St Paul") and Beazley's Funeral March before the service.
The simple service was conducted by the Rev G g Brown (rector) and included the hymns "On the resurrection morning" and "Abide with me". The lesson was read by the rector.
At the conclusion of the service Mr Beagle played "O Rest in the Lord" (from "Elijah") and "How lovely are the messengers" (from "St Paul").
The family mourners were Messers W E, A L, L H, C E and E V Nicholls (sons), Mrs H G Budd, Mrs R Bates and Miss Olive Nicholls (daughters), Mr F Boddington, Messrs Harry and Samuel Nicholls (brothers), Mr & Mrs F Jones, Margate (Brother-in-law and sister), Mrs W E Nicholls, Mrs L H Nicholls, Mr Ray Bates and other relatives.
(There follows an account of all other attendees, wreaths etc.)