John Henry Thurlwell and the Brunner Family

Dan Parker of Comberbach has reminded me ( from New York! ) that John Henry Thurlwell from Comberbach worked for the Brunner Family. Roscoe Brunner was dead by then ( He killed himself in 1926.) and so was his brother Sir John Brunner (died 1929).
Thanks to Dan's Mum, June Parker, nee Thurlwell, I have a copy of the newspaper article from The Guardian of 30th May 1930. It is a strange story, following so closely the Roscoe Brunner Tragedy.

Comberbach Groom Drowned While Exercising Horses - An Old Servant of The Brunner Family

Harry Swires, age 40, Groom, a native of Comberbach, Cheshire , and an old servant of the Brunner family, was drowned in Penn Pond, Richmond Park, Surrey on Friday of last week, in singular circumstances.

Swires, whose real name was Thurlwell - his Mother changed her name by remarriage and he, having adopted a new name, was exercising a young horse in Richmond Park. Another groom, Charles Nash, was the only witness and the story of the accident as it was told to Mr Anthony Brunner, a nephew of the Late Sir John Brunner, was repeated to a Press representative by Mr Brunner.

Shied at tree Stump
He said, " Swires, as we knew him, had taken a pony into the park for exercise. This pony, one of my stud of polo ponies, was a quiet animal- he was riding another pony."

" At Penn Pond there is a narrow path running between two ponds. In negociating this , Swires' mount shied at a fallen treestump and came down with his feet in the right hand pond. The other pond is deep but this one is shallow. The animal walked some distance into the water before it could be turned. Swires dismounted to lead the pony back to the path. Nash, meanwhile, started to wade into the pond to help Swires out.

As he approached Swires, who was within his depth, suddenly disappeared under the water. Nash made an attempt to get to him but could not find him, so he sent a message to the park-keepers, who rowed to the spot in a boat. It was not until three quarters of an hour later that they recovered Swires' body."

20 Years Service
Swires had been a servant of the Brunner Family for twenty years. He was a groom with Mr Brunner's father when the family home was at Belmont Hall, Northwich. His wife and seven children live at Comberbach.

Mr D. Ash, the head groom of the stables, in a talk with a Press Representative, said ," I had just left Mr Swires and Mr Nash. We had been out in the Park exercising horses with a lady. I got back at 12 o'clock, but the other two should have been back before me and when lunch time came and they didn't return I became alarmed.

The horse from which Mr Swires was thrown was brought in by another groom just before one o'clock. He told me what had happened but when I got there the body had been recovered and taken to Kingston Mortuary."

More Chat with Mrs Ethel Foster nee Hayes 1992

3rd March 1992

Me: Can you tell me any more about the families that lived in Comberbach?

Ethel: I remember Elsie Whitby from Uplands, Anderton. She was George Robinson’s Mother. She married a Joseph Radcliffe from Great Budworth in 1914. He was a friend of my father’s and had the Smithy on the Moss. They had two girls – Gladys and Margaret. Later on, in 1919 Elsie married John Robinson.

Me: Does your brother Charles live in Comberbach?

Ethel: Yes, he lives in the last house on the right going up Senna Lane. It used to be called Providence House but now it’s called Brookside.

Me: Did you know Hilda Evans’ father?

Ethel: John Henry Thurlwell was Batman to Roscoe Brunner and was killed in Richmond Park, London, while he was exercising a horse. Hilda’s Mother was left with seven children. I used to help her look after them although I was only a child myself. I took two of them to have their tonsils removed!

Me: Did you know Philip Rayner?

Ethel: Oh, yes! I remember Phil coming to live in the village. The Rayners built the house on the corner of Meadow Lane and Senna Lane. His father was married twice – to two sisters! (Note : Harry Rayner married Fanny Dibben in 1900 and Ellen V. Dibben in 1911)

Me: Did any of the Hayes family work at Marbury Hall?

Ethel: My Aunt Lizzie was the Housekeeper at Marbury Hall. An Irish Family had it and they had a house in Ireland and a house in Grosvenor Square, London. They only came here for ‘cub hunting’, in the winter. The staff were paid for the whole year, though.

Me: Did your Aunt Lizzie live at Marbury Hall, then?

Ethel: No. She rented what is now called ‘Gamekeeper’s Cottage’ on Marbury Road. It should really be called ‘Housekeeper’s Cottage’, you know!

Me: Any other village characters that you remember?

Ethel: There was old Mrs Platt who lived in one of the cottages on Senna Lane, where Barrons live now. The door was always open. She was bedridden and everyone would pop in and see if she needed anything.

Me: What about the rest of your family/

Ethel: My Uncle Tom Hayes settled at Wincham. He had nine children.

Me: Mrs Foster, thank you for sharing all your memories of Comberbach. I have really enjoyed our chat.