Edwin Henry West

Edwin was born on March 22 nd 1886 to Henry Millard West and Sarah Ann.
He was baptised in St Alkmunds, Derby on 13 th June 1886, the place of birth given as Mosborough, Eckington. Siblings– Annie West b 1889 Sydney M West b 1894 Dorothy Evelyn West b 1899 Henry Millard West d 26 Feb 1928 in Will, Edwin is named as a theatre proprietor.

Henry Millard West was born in Titley, Herts abt 1862.
The Census of 1891 consisted of the following family group: Henry Millard West – 28y – Draper. Sarah Ann West – 29y. Edwin Henry West – 5y. Annie West – 12y. The family were living on Castle Street, Bolsover. Derbyshire. The Census of 1901 consisted of the following family group: Henry Millard West – 38y – Draper (Dealer) Self Employed. Sarah AnWest – 39y. Edwin Henry West – 15y – Colliery Clerk. Annie West –

The Census of 1911 consisted of the following family group:
Henry Millard West – 48y – Draper (Dealer) Self Employed. Sarah Ann
West – 49y. Edwin Henry West – 25y – Colliery Clerk. Annie West –
22y. Dorothy Evelyn West – 2y - Scholar. The family are now living at 62
Welbeck Rd, Bolsover. Derbyshire.

Edwin married Edith Beatrix White b 07 Nov 1884 m April 1913 at St
Michaels Church Sutton-in-Ashfield. Edith was from Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The Derbyshire Times had this to say about the wedding which seemed to
have been a high society event:
“ The church of St Michael & All Angels, Sutton-in-Ashfield was on Thursday
the scene of a marriage of exceptional interest to the people of Bolsover.
The bridegroom was Mr Edwin Henry West, the eldest son of Mr & Mrs
H.M.West of “Rosedene”, Bolsover, and the bride, Miss Edith Beatrice
White, the second daughter of Mr & Mrs J.G. White of “Red House”,
Sutton-in-Ashfield.
A member of the Bolsover Colliery Office staff, the bridegroom has for a number of years shown the liveliest interest in the religious, social & political life of Bolsover, and it is worthy of note that he has taken a leading part in the promotion of functions designed to benefit charitable objects & institutions. He is a keen politician, and for some years has filled
the post of hon. Secretary of the Bolsover & District Unionist Association, and it is largely due to his organisational ability and enthusiasm that the Association is in such a prosperous position. He has long done all in his power to foster the work of the C.L.B. (Church Lads Brigade). He joined the Bolsover Company on it’s formation holding the rank of lieutenant,
was given a captaincy and succeeded the Rev S.M. Wheeler in the command of company, when the latter left Bolsover for New Tupton. He is popular among all ranks and has the honour of commanding the largest company in the district of Chesterfield. As a humourist, Mr West is in constant demand, and he has earned a reputation for himself as an
amateur actor. He brought into existence and has helped to keep alive the Bolsover Amateur Dramatic Society. He has filled a leading roll in every play the society has produce, besides undertaking the training of those with whom he has been associated with on the boards. He is a member of the Parish Church choir and among the many positions he holds is that of
clerk to the managers of the Palterton Council School. The bride & her family are well known and highly esteemed in Sutton- in-Ashfield, and the ceremony attracted a large congregation. The officiating clergy were the Vicar (the Rev W.C Stainer M.A) and the Rev
S.M Wheeler M.A, late of Bolsover who had come over from New Tupton to assist in the service. As the congregation assembled, Mr J Revill, organist at Bolsover Parish Church, played appropriate music. The bride who was given away by her father, looked charming in a gown of ivory satin charmeuse. The corsage was trimmed with ninon, and fine​
lace and the draped skirt was caught up in the front with a buckle and opened to show an underskirt of lace to match the bodice. The long train was made of satin lined with ninon and was fastened to the shoulders with pearl and silver ornaments, while the veil was composed of tulle embroidered in silk and was caught up with sprays of orange blossom. Instead of a bouquet, the bride carried an ivory-backed prayer-book. Three bridesmaids were in attendance, Miss Cecil White, Miss Margory White, sisters of the bride and Miss Dorothy West, sister of the groom. The frock worn by Miss Cecil White was composed of shell-pink crepe de chine with a tunic of silver net finished off with bead tassels. Her white hat was
veiled with pink and trimmed with roses. The 2 younger bridesmaids were dressed alike in forget-me-not blue satin with short tunics of shadow lave and sashes of pale pink ninon. They wore mob hats of floral silk with pale pink bows at the back. The bridesmaids carried posies of pink carnations and wore gold signet rings, the gifts of the bridegroom.
The brides mother wore a handsome toilette of wine-shot satin duchesse, trimmed with Bulgarian embroidery and gold lace, and a Tegal hat with a wine-coloured Ostrich feather. The bridegrooms’ mother was attired in Black Moire. The best man was Mr Haddon White (the bride’sbrother) and Mr Charles Beecroft and Mr John Aked officiated as groomsmen. At the close of the service the organist played “The Wedding March”.

Subsequently, a reception was held at the bride’s home and during the day, Mr & Mrs Wells left for Hastings & St Leonards for the honeymoon. The bride’s travelling costume was of corded silk, and her hat was of soft straw trimmed with a wreath of flowers and upstanding bows of old-rosvelvet.”

The newspaper article continues with gushing tributes to the bridegroom and a list of very expensive gifts from admirers.

Edwin and Edith went on to have a daughter, Pamela Nora West b 1915.

No archival evidence has been found of any wartime service in WW1. This could be due to 60% of WW1 records being destroyed in the WW2 Blitz. It would be unusual for a person to eventually command a Home Guard Unit without prior military experience, however, Edwin was very well connected.
The 1921 Census has the family staying at the Britannia Hotel, in Bridlington. Edwin’s profession is given as Cinema Proprietor at Goldthorpe.

On June 6 th 1936, his daughter, Nora, married William Leslie Roe of Derby at St Mary’s church, Sutton-in-Ashfield. On the wedding certificate, the occupation of Edwin is given aTheatre Proprietor and the family address is given as “Stoneygate”, Alfreton Road.​
However, in 1937, both the Heanor Observer and the Derbyshire Times both run a story about Edwin. His address was given as 23 Beech Avenue, Pinxton, and was appearing before Derbyshire Bankruptcy Court over a liability of 2,605,5s,5d with assets of 25 in the form of a motor car. He stated that his problems were caused by depression in trade,competition, an unusually hot summer, and the high costs of running acinema. He explained that up to 1919 he was employed as a colliery clerk earning 5 pounds per week, from 1913 he was earning 3 pounds per week as acinema manager in the evening.He obtained the lease of a theatre near Rotherham which he successfully ran as a cinema / vaudeville theatre until 1929. Due to competition, he bought out a neighbouring theatre. The cost of installing equipment for
“talkies” had also proved to be astronomical. Trade deteriorated to the point where every year he was operating at a loss. This came to a head where he was declared bankrupt in Nottingham Receivers Court. In the 1939 Register, Edwin had moved back to Sutton-in-Ashfield. The family group looked like this:
Edwin Henry West – 53y – Colliery Sales Clerk. Edith B West – 55y –Unpaid Domestic Duties. William A Barnes – 28y – Auctioneer & Valuer & Special Constable. The family were living at “Lynton”, Kirkby Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. It’s not clear what the relationship was with William Barnes. The last entry regarding Edwin is the following obituary from the South Yourkshire Times & Express dated May 10 th 1941.

“PERSONAL – Friends in Goldthorpe will regret to learn of the death of Mr
Edwin Henry West in Nottingham General Hospital at the age of 55. A
native of Bolsover, Mr West had resided in Sutton for the last 4 years
during which time he was salesman for Pinxton Collieries. Mr West was a
Company Commander in the local Home Guard.
At the funeral last week, the coffin was draped with the Union Jack & semi
military honours were accorded. The widow & daughter Mrs Leslie Roe
(Derby) were unable to be present owing to indisposition. Among the floral
tributes were flowers from the directors of Pinxton Collieries and men of
the Home Guard."

Edith died in January 1976 in Derby.

This record has been researched and written by Jon Pollard.