|
First across!
The Kettering Evening Telegraph carried this picture on 15 June 1983. It shows engine 3262, the first loco to cross the rebuilt Midland Railway's Thrapston viaduct around 1930. The driver was Charles Hamson and the fireman was Arthur Bellamy of Rothwell.
[Thanks to Charles' grand-daughter Marie White and great grandson Philip White for finding this cutting..... no,it's a viaduct.]
Born at Thrussington, Leicestershire
Charles was one of seven children born to Edward Hamson and Jane nee Hardstaff at Thrussington. His father was a General Labourer and his mother had been a Servant at the time of their marriage in the Parish Church at Thrussington in 1856. By 1881 Edward was a widower living at The Hollow Thrussington with sons Amos, Charles and Tom.
Thrussington is a picturesque village in beautiful surroundings, in many ways unchanged from the description by Samuel Lewis in A Topographical Dictionary of England published by S. Lewis and Company in 1831:
"The ancient Watling-street first touches Leicestershire at Dove bridge, on the Avon, whence it proceeds in a north-easterly direction to the Anker, near Mancetter, not far from Atherstone, where it wholly quits the county for Warwickshire, after having formed the south-western boundary of Leicestershire for a distance of upwards of twenty miles. The Fosse-road, from Lincolnshire, enters this county near the Roman station Vernometum, whence it proceeds by Segg's hill, over Thrussington Wolds, across the Wreke near Syston, and through Thurmaston to Leicester, whence it is continued over King Richard's bridge, having passed which, it turns to the left, over the second branch of the Soar, to the Narborough turnpike-road, along which it continues to the fourth milestone; then leaving it and the town and church of Narborough on the left, it continues to High Cross on the Watling-street. The Via Devana, from Colchester to Chester, enters this county near Cottingham, and, crossing the Welland, passes Medbourne, near Slanston Mill, whence it is continued between the two Strettons to Leicester, where it joins the Fosse, which, however, it soon leaves to proceed to Grooby, whence it is carried by Ashby to Burton upon Trent. ..."
" Thrussington , a parish in the eastern division of the hundred of Goscote, county of Leicester, 8¼ miles (N.N.E.) from Leicester, containing 466 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Leicester, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £6, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty ,and in the patronage of — Heycock, Esq. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Thomas Hayne, in 1640, bequeathed an annuity of about £7 for teaching poor children."
Working on the railway at Kettering
 Amos, Charles and Tom all worked on the railway: Amos and Charles at Kettering. "Tom worked as a Locomotive Driver for LMS at Nottingham." [HDR]
In 1891, Amos Hamson was aged 27, single, working as a Railway Engine Fireman, and lodging at 11 Bowling Green Road Kettering with Joseph Bell, 33, Railway Engine Driver, his wife Eliza (32) and children George (11), Anne (8), Florence (5), Nellie (2) & Frank (3 months).
"He worked for the LMS Railway in the office at Kettering Railway Station preparing timetables. He married Agnes and had two children: a son Reginald, who was a lovely pianist, self-taught, played by ear; and daughter Lily." [HDR]
Charles was aged 20 in 1891 and working as an Engine Cleaner. He was boarding with William Firestone, a Railway Fireman, and his wife Rose at 35 Bayes Street Kettering. By the time of his marriage to Alice in 1897 he was a Railway Fireman, living at 37 Hawthorn Road Kettering (probably with his brother Amos).
"At retirement my father was the senior locomotive driver for LMS in Kettering. Several times on the northern route going through Leicester father drove the Prince of Wales (the one who abdicated - Edward) who would have been on his way to the Quorn Hunt. Father used to work shifts. As a man my Father was wonderful. He was loving caring and just a good father." [HDR] |
|