Rooke Garbutt

DEATH OF MR ROOKE GARBUTT

A Founder of the Batley Agricultural Society

Batley has lost another of its esteemed personalities by death on Saturday, a few weeks short of his 75^th birthday, of Mr Rooke Garbutt of Grosvenor Terrace, Batley. Well known in many spheres and highly respected by all who knew him, Mr Garbutt’s death is deeply regretted by the people of the town in which he had led an active life, and in many of whose affairs he had taken a prominent part. His fatal illness extended over four months and prior to that he had scarcely ever known a day’s illness.

A native of Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, Mr Rooke Garbutt was son of the late Mr James Garbutt, for many years in business in Heckmondwike as a chemist and grocer. . Mr Rooke Garbutt was  educated at Harrogate and then apprenticed with the late Mr John Blackburn, shoddy manufacturer of Old Mill, and father of ex-Alderman John Wm Blackburn. Subsequently Mr Garbutt was with Messrs John Whittaker and Sons, Talbot Street, Batley but much of his business was spent with Messrs John Jubb and Sons of Phoenix Mills, Batley, with whom he had served  14  years, firstly for  a short time as a traveller, and later as a manager. He was a well-known and popular figure in local business circles and spent a good deal of time at the Dewsbury rag sales and at Huddersfield Exchange. He retired from business at the age of 70 and one of his most treasured possessions was a gold watch presented to him in 1895? by the firm and work people of Messrs John Jubb and Sons “as a mark of  respect  after 21 years service”

Outside business and family affairs Mr Garbutt’s great interest in life was the Batley Agricultural Society, of which he was one of the founders. Energy, enthusiasm and great capacity for organisation were amongst his outstanding characteristics, and the          success of the Society’s annual shows was in no small measure due to his personal efforts. He had a deep-rooted interest  in the Society  as    , and a great affection for the Hospital, for which it raised valuable funds. From 1903 to 1912 he  continuously occupied the presidency of the Society, and made an admirable leader, inspiring others by his very enthusiastic example. In 1905 he was presented with a gold albert and  mounted £2 piece inscribed “Presented to Mr Rooke Garbutt, Esq., by the Committee of Batley and District Agricultural Society in recognition of his services to the Society during the past ten years, and as president for three years – 1903-4-5”

The full extent of Mr Garbutt’s  work for the Agricultural Society may nrver be known to the public but it is known and appreciated by those who were privileged to work with him in that organisation. A few weeks ago the Society – which has recently been revived after a war-time lapse of activity -  decided on of the funds to endow a cot at Batley Hospital and associate with it the names of the Society and Mr Rooke Garbutt. It is a melancholy reflection that this public recognition of Mr Garbutt’s valuable work was a posthumous one.

Mr Garbutt did not, however, confine his public work to one direction alone. He was at one period for a number years a  North Ward representative on Batley Town Council, and gave much valuable assistance in the administration of the town’s affairs, but was ultimately compelled to resign owing to the calls of business. Always in his element at arranging public demonstrations, he provided and superintended the erection and lighting of the two huge bonfires lit, one in 1911 to mark the Coronation of King Edward and the other to mark Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897.

In his younger days he was a local cricketer of more than average ability and assisted Heckmondwike several seasons For a short time he also assisted the old Batley Club, at the period when the team included such well-known stalwarts as the late Mr Joseph Auty, Mr John Wm. Blackburn and Mr John Taylor. Many years ago Mr Garbutt was also  keenly Interested in the old Volunteer movement. He was an excellent shot and won many prizes as one of the Honorary Members shooting Club. He was associated with Hick Lane Wesleyan Chapel, and in politics was a Conservastive, being a former member of Batley Conservative Club.

He leaves a widow, one son Mr James Rooke Garbutt, and two daughters Mrs John Arthur Lodge of Batley and Mrs P B Coates of Taunton Somerset.

The Funeral

The internment at Batley Cemetery on Wednesday was preceded by a service in Hick Lane Wesleyan Chapel, which with the graveside rites was conducted by Rev J W Hardcastle. There was a large attendance of local gentlemen who had been associated with Mr garbutt in various walks of business and public life. The service opened with the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”, which was followed by the reading of the Psalm “Lord, Thou has been our refuge” and the lesson commencing “Now hath Christ been raised from the dead”.  At the introduction of the service Mr H Holroyd played “O Rest in the Lord” (Mendelssohn)

Batley News, May 25, 1923