Francis and Helen Grace

of West Shen, Thornbury

Francis Henry Grace was born on 30th December 1878 at Park House in Thornbury.  He was the second son, and ninth child of Dr Edward Mills Grace, physician and surgeon, and his wife, Annie.

Having been born into the Grace family, he took up cricket like his father and his well-known uncles who included W. G.  Francis started playing at the age of 12 years and a year later made his first appearance for Thornbury.  He played his last game for the club at Stroud on 31st July 1948 when he had the misfortune to pull a thigh muscle.  He had a playing record of over 56 years for Thornbury.  At school in Long Ashton and later at Wellington College, Shropshire he was a good opening batsman and a clever bowler.  As a fielder he was keen and extremely quick off the mark.  He was joint secretary with Edgar Grace of the Thornbury club in 1910 and in 1911 was elected vice-captain.  Since 1919 had been an active member of the Committee becoming vice-president in 1948.

Francis was also good at other sports.  He was a good long distance runner and broke a record for the mile.  He was a powerful swimmer, good tennis player and he played as centre forward for Thornbury Football Club for many years.

In the September quarter 1907 Francis married Helen Garfield Cullimore, the daughter of Edmund Cullimore, the owner of the Saw Mill and Brickworks, and his wife, Sarah.

Francis's main interest was electricity and we understand he had trained as an electrical engineer at Bristol Technical College and had worked for R A Lister Company at Dursley.  In spite of his father warning Francis not to get involved in the business of electricity, he is credited with the introduction of the new form of power to Thornbury in 1906.  We suspect that Francis was encouraged and financially supported by his father-in-law, Edmund Cullimore.  It was Edmund's saw mill which was the initial source of electricity and its main customer.  The earliest electricity in Thornbury was produced by burning the waste from the Saw Mill and this initially powered the saws directly.  Later a bank of electrical accumulators had been installed nearby and a few houses in Thornbury received DC electricity.  The electrical power supply was used by Francis Grace to introduce the cinema to Thornbury when the Thornbury Picture House was opened in 1919. The situation was formalised on 9th June 1927 when Francis Henry Grace applied to the Electricity Supply Commissioners for authorisation "to supply and distribute electrical energy for all public and private purposes" within " the circumference of a circle having a radius of one and one-third miles and having its centre at the Saw Mills Thornbury.

When there was a danger of Francis and Helen moving to Canada, Edmund used his influence with the Thornbury Gas Company (in which he had already acquired an interest) to ensure that Francis became Secretary for the Thornbury Gas Light and Coke Company.  When the demand for gas expanded and a new showroom was required, Edmund provided a suitable site in St John's Street and a new buildings with showroom was provided in 1932. 

Francis was also credited with the idea of building a cinema in Thornbury.  He had apparently been organising a travelling cinema which toured the district in an old Ford car driven by Albert Pridham and Ron Dent.  After the War Francis's father-in-law wanted to do something for the Town and asked his daughter what she would like to see here.  She told him him she would like a cinema and he gave her (and the Town) one.  Edmund acquired the land and had the cinema built and it was opened in 1920.  He appears to have given it to his daughter and set up Francis as the Manager.

Francis and Helen lived in West Shen from the time of their marriage in 1907 up to Francis death.  He died on 29th May 1949 aged 70 and was cremated at Arnos Vale.  Helen carried on living there, but following Francis's death, she shared the big house with others. The 1970 electoral register shows that her daughter, Sally Gordon was living her.   Helen died aged 90 on 6th May 1972.

Francis and Helen had several children:

Sally - born in September quarter 1911.  It is fortunate that Sally was interviewed in 1994 by the Thornbury and District Oral History Society and the resulting tape of her memories is available in Thornbury Library.  Sally first attended Miss Ann's Dame School in the High Street and was then educated at home with her sisters and brother by Mabel Trayhurn before being sent to boarding school at Northumberland House, Henleaze in Bristol.  Eventually she left there for Thornbury Grammar School and then went on to Art School in Bristol.  Sally married William Gordon in June quarter 1937.  They settled in Downend in Bristol area where they had Alistair in March quarter 1941, Robert F born in December quarter 1943, Felicity in September quarter 1945 and Elspeth in March quarter 1947. The Gordons moved on up to Gloucester.  In 1969 Sally returned to Thornbury to look after her mother after William Gordon, her husband, died.  The 1970 electoral register for Thornbury shows Sally and her son, Robert, were then living with her mother at West Shen and they were still living there in 1975 and 1980 after Helen had died.  Sally died on 24th April 2003 aged 91 and she was buried in the same grave as her grandparent in Thornbury Cemetery. 

Elizabeth born in June quarter 1913.  Elizabeth married Dennis Haley in September quarter 1938.  They seemed to settle to live in Shen with Elizabeth's grandparents, Edmund and Amy Cullimore.  During the War Dennis was a pilot officer in the RAF Voluntary Reserve.  They had Penelope born 5th June 1942, Jonathan born on 5th November 1944, Francis born 18th November 1947 and Angela born 7th June 1949.  After the War the baptism records show Dennis was working as a timber merchant so it seems likely he was involved in the management of Edmund Cullimore's Saw Mill.  They continued living at Shen until at least 1954, but there is no sign of any Haleys in Thornbury after that date.  We understand from Sally Gordon's interview that the family moved to Kidderminster.

Edmund Cullimore Grace - born in March quarter 1916.  Edmund married Joan F Hamilton in Uxbridge area of Middlesex in December quarter 1939.  In 1946 electoral register they were living in Resthaven on Pullins Green. This marriage ended in divorce and he married again.  Click here to read more

Marguerite Elsa- born in March quarter 1921.  Marguerite married Dennis W Wood in December quarter 1945.  We understand from Sally Gordon's interview that Dennis was a vet and the family settled in Gloucester.

Ruth Ellen - born in December quarter 1923.  Ruth married John Fred Wallace Rowe, a veterinary surgeon on 15th December 1947.  Click here to read more

This page was last updated: 03/02/2010