Person:William Thornber (2)

Watchers
m. 11 Jul 1883
  1. Thomas Thornber1884 - 1964
  2. Edward Sharp Thornber1886 - 1968
  3. Benjamin Thornber1887 - 1975
  4. William Thornber1889 - 1968
  5. Florence Nightingale Thornber1892 - 1983
m. 6 Feb 1915
  1. Florence Thornber1916 - 1991
Facts and Events
Name William Thornber
Gender Male
Birth[1] 31 Aug 1889 Burnley, Lancashire, England
Marriage 6 Feb 1915 Burnley, Lancashire, Englandto Agnes Murtagh
Death[2][3] 9 Aug 1968 Chorley Registration District, Lancashire, England
Burial? Aug 1968 Burnley, Lancashire, England Grave L.P. C7 at Burnley Cemetery/Memorial Park

William was named after his grandfather William Nightingale (S1 again). He was the youngest of four brothers, and had a younger sister. He was tall and handsome.

William (Willie or Billie) was known for his easy-going manner and cheerfulness.

His life's work was with the family cotton mill, where "he would mix among the workers and talk to them on easy terms" -- as a retired weaver's letter to a local newspaper put it, years later. He was very well regarded at the mill.

He was a director of Burnley Football Club for 13 years between 1937 and 1950. He took a deep interest in the club's management, and was particularly interested in the junior teams. (Quoted from his obituary in the Burnley Express (joint obituary with his brother Edward Sharp because they died within 24 hours of each other)).

He was athletic and keen on sport generally. Regarding tennis, he preferred the women's game because of the longer volleys -- I don't think he would enjoy today's tennis with its aces! He played billiards into his last years, driving back to Burnley to join old friends.

'Grandpa' was in WW1 with the Accrington Pals regiment, (regiment from an Internet source), becoming a Sargent. He was wounded in the Somme, between the 1st and 5th of July 1916, and was left lying outdoors for up to 48 hours before being rescued. Someone had given him a water bottle to help him. (This information was from his younger son).

Favourite Memories

In his garden, on summer days, 'Grandpa' would take me by both hands and spin me round and round!

After he was widowed, and came to live with us, he would sing cheerfully around the house "Lie - di die, di die, di die" ! He carved joints and chopped firewood - and as he became a little frail my mother worried about him chopping away with his little axe, out in the cold.

His Sayings

  • "little nippers" - meaning tiny children
  • "dry bread and pull it" - un-buttered bread with dripping on it: an old Lancashire favourite
  • "needs a lick of paint"
Image Gallery
References
  1. Frank Thistlethwaite. 'A Lancashire Family Inheritance' ISBN: 0 9528286 0 X. (Cambridge, UK: Frank Thistlethwaite, 1996)
    page 65.

    ......... and William (born 31 August 1889 and named after his mother's father, William Nightingale) .....

  2. Original monument, A&W Thornber, Burnley Memorial Park, Lancashire, England.
  3. England. FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1983. (Free UK Genealogy).