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Vere Awdry was the father of both Wilbert and George Awdry. He was the husband of Lucy Awdry.

Biography[]

Vere Awdry was born in 1854 as the thirteenth child of John Wither Awdry and his second wife Frances Ellen Carr, He had a strong affection for two of his older brothers, William (twelve years older) and Herbert "Bert" (three years older), as they were the kindest to him, who, as the youngest boy in a large family, was of not much account. This is the reason for which years later he named his son Wilbert, by combining the names of William and Herbert. His favorite sister was Polly. As a young man, Vere had the ambition to go into the army, but commissions had to be bought by his father, who already having lost two sons in combat, refused, insisting that his son instead become a solicitor. Vere was admitted to the profession, despite the fact that he was not actually interested in the job, with his father buying him a partnership in a firm of solicitors in Marlow, Buckingham shire. Vere's actual interests at this time were comprised of rowing, bell-ringing and the local Corps of volunteers. Several years later the senior partner of the firm decamped, and as a result the firm ended, with a number of creditors being paid off. John Wither helped Vere to clear the company debts, which was a considerable expense, ironically much more expensive than the army commission. Soon after in 1878, Sir John Awdry passed away at the age of 73. Vere, 24 at the time was determined to quit the legal profession, but was unsure what career to follow. His brother William, became Principal of the Chichester Theological College in 1879 and suggested that he join him there for a few months in order to think over his future. Deciding to stay there, Vere became an ordained Deacon in 1887 and was appointed to the curacy of the parish of North Bradley, near Trowbridge in Wiltshire. In August that year, he married Margaret Emily Mann, a young woman he had fallen in love with whilst working at the firm. Sadly, she passed away a year later during childbirth, their daughter, Hildred Margaret Vere survived however, until her own death from convulsions in June 1891. Four months later Vere got remarried to his second wife, Mary Louisa Mann, a cousin of his first wife. In November 1892 they had a child, Bridget Hildred Vere, and two years after that, a son named Carol Edward Vere. In 1895 the family moved to Hampshire, after Vere had been offered the parish of Ampfield, near Romsey. Shortly before his arrival, the old village school was considered unfit, thus Vere embarked to have a new one built. He also introduced a twice-monthly children's service in church. Vere had to walk past the chapel each day on his way to St. Mark's, and didn't welcome nonconformists in the village and during his speakings from the pulpit, in a letter addressed to the local paper, he even accused the chapel's minister of bringing schism into a previously united parish. The minister responded stating that he was only trying to provide a place of worship for everyone. In 1899, when the Bishop of Winchester visited the parish of Ampfield, Vere Awdry filled out a confidential questionnaire in which he was asked "What places of worship are there in your parish not in connection with the Church of England?" and "What information can you give as to the numbers attention?" Vere wrote the following: "I cannot give accurate information as people are shy of acknowledging their defection, and can name only six or seven families who make a practice of regular attendance there, having entirely ceased to attend church". He finished the questionnaire by writing "I have fancied a greater amount of indifference since the opening of the chapel owing no doubt partly to the influence of free teas and the other usual means employed to attract". Around this time, Vere gave numbers of church attendance which averaged around 50-60 people on Sunday morning and around 70-80 in the evening, with an additional 40 or so children. Reporting on the 'moral condition' of the district, Vere stated "It is I think on the whole good, there being an almost entire absence of illegitimacy. Drinking is small and notably less since the change of Landlord (about two years ago) of our Village Inn". He organized concert-parties and entertainments and participated in a pageant in Romsey in which he played the part of William of Wykeham. A photo of him dressed in bishop's cope and mitre was owned by his son Wilbert, and is presumably still in the family today. In April 1900 another sadness befell the Awdry household when eight year-old Bridget died of appendicitis. The parishioners raised £3.18 1 ½ in memoriam, whilst in the vicarage drawing room, photographs and mementos of the child resided on what became called the 'Bridget table'. For a time following her death, Vere ceased in making his regular visits to the local school, likely finding the presence of children too painful. That same year, the parish fountain, standing below the Vicarage, was rebuilt with the assistance of Carol, who helped his father by placing the keystone in the new arch.

Trivia[]

  • Shortly after his son Wilbert's birth in 1911, Vere, inspired by his new son's 'loud and persistent voice' wrote a short rhyming verse in his Record Book (maintained by Lucy), which read as follows: "Who's dat squalling on Daddy's bed? Little fat baby with face very red. Fill his little mouth with a little boiled water, Dat's de bes' cure for a little cross snorter".
    • He also made a list of 'Sounds which at sundry times have led Wilbert's deluded relations to rush to his assistance', which included: Cockerel A-C, a traction engine, a concertina, Mary the Ass, Sundry Motor Cars, the Romsey Town Brass Band, Cows in the Field Opposite, the Scullery Pump, and finally an Owl and the Saw-Mill.
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