Sidney Gayner

Draper of Thornbury

We are fortunate to have a copy of a newspaper cutting taken from the Evening Post in 1962.  A whole page is given to the story of Sydney Gayner and his family.  It refers to the fact that his family had been in business in Thornbury since the reign of the first Elizabeth - over 400 years ago.  His forbears were weavers in the Town. Old records show that a tithe was paid to the Lord of the Manor at Thornbury Castle by Mychel Gayner, a weaver in 1523.  The widow of Mychel made several property deals witnessed by the 'Mayre of the Town'.

Without too much effort, we have been able to trace Sidney's ancestors back over 200 years.  Click here to read about Sidney's earlier ancestors

Sidney Harris Gaynor was the son of Francis Gayner, a saddler and linen draper and his second wife, Lucy (nee Harriss).  He was baptised on 27th March 1886.  He was brought up living in the flat above the shop at City House in the High Street. 

Sidney attended Thornbury Grammar School when there were only 16 boys - just enough to raise a cricket team with umpire and scorers.  During the First World War he joined the Royal Flying Corps.  He was serving in Egypt in 1917 when the townsfolk of Thornbury sent him a Christmas parcel, as well as to all the other local boys serving in the Forces.  We understand that throughout his life he suffered from the effects of malaria caught whilst serving with the forces overseas.

Sidney married Dorothy Kathleen Symes in the Christchurch area of Hampshire in December 1915.  Dorothy was born on 1st November 1891, the daughter of Charles Symes and his wife, Jane (nee Maishment).  The photo on the right shows the two of them at the wedding.  They had two daughters, Pamela Mary born in Thornbury in September quarter 1916 and Jean Frances born in June quarter 1924.

Sidney was very successful in business. He carried on the draper's shop at City House in the High Street.  His shop had a reputation for personal service and for providing the ladies of the Town with 'haute couture'.  He knew just what his customers wanted.  He told the Evening Post reporter that 'once a week he went into Bristol to a wholesalers with a book of orders - the requirements of farmer's wives and country folk'.  During the Second World War he was well placed to profit from the heavy demand for blackout material needed by every household in the area.

Sidney was also heavily involved in other aspects of the Town.  As early as the age of 16 he was appointed to the role of ale taster.  He recalled in his Evening Post interview 'I was only a boy of about sixteen at the time' he smiled.  'Which was rather strange as my office gave me the right to enter any Thornbury hotel and demand a pint of beer.  If it was not up to standard I could report them to the proper authorities. I never exercised my rights for by that time the whole affair had become something of a farce'.  The reforms of the nineteenth century took away all authority but the ancient civic offices lingered on in Thornbury for some years.  Now they have vanished for good'.

He became a town councillor and was Chairman of the Parish Council from 1952 to 1955.  He also became Chairman of the Governors of the Thornbury Grammar School and Vice Chairman of the local branch of the British Legion.

He enjoyed cricket, and in his early days played for the Thornbury Castle Team.  When this team was amalgamated with the Thornbury Cricket Club about 1919, Sidney played under the captaincy of Dr E. M Grace.  He later became Vice Chairman of the Cricket Club.

When he came to retire he moved into the family home at 10 The Plain.  He had no son to continue the long line of succession and the business was sold.

Sidney died on 30th July 1965 aged 79 and is buried in Thornbury Cemetery with Dorothy who died on 12th June 1965 aged 73.

Of Sidney's daughters, we understand both of them went to school in Bristol, served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War.  They both married bank managers.  Pamela married Ernest Arthur Davies in Thornbury in 1938.  Jean married Peter Bach in Thornbury in October 1944.   

This page was last updated: 21/03/2012