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Famous People of Cookley

Page incomplete

It is very difficult to include all of the people that might be considered 'the famous people' of Cookley and I am still working on this area of the site - My criteria for including people is that something in Cookley is 'named' after them. If you feel I have missed someone then please email me!

Sebright family crest 

 

 William Sebright - A native of Wolverley with a family history stretching back 400 years in the area. In his will of 1618, he bequeathed lands in Bethnal Green in London for the setting up of 'The Sebright Trust'. This money has done much for the education of local children over the years. The Cookley Sebright Endowed School was also built on land purchased from Sir Thomas Sebright.

Realmedia Video of Sebright Place (111.5KB)

Elizabeth Bache -  Mrs Bache kept the now demolished corner shop for 70 years until 1982. She died at the age of 98. (The shop was  next to the Eagle & Spur public house and now is the front car parking area) Her husband William was a Fore man at Steel Stampings and they were married for over 50 years. Mrs Bache was famous for delivering Lyons cakes around the Cookley area by using a hand truck. When 'Decimalisation' came in 1972, she found the conversion process difficult and relied on her customers to tell her what the price of her goods were in the 'new money'.

 Tom Beeston - Church warden and parish councillor for many years and was a conservationist in the early part of the century. He had a wide knowledge of the wild life of the Stour Valley that stretched between Caunsall and the Cookley tunnel. He raised public concern about the collection of wild birds eggs some of them rare even at this time.

Eleanor Harrison - was the eldest daughter of Alfred and Jane Harrison of Austcliffe Farm. (Alfred was the eldest son of Joseph and Mary Harrison who lived Blue Ball Caunsal). Eleanor trained as a missionary and went to China in 1896 at the age of 25. She was sadly murdered in 1930.

  • Born Austcliffe, Cookley 3rd July 1871

  • Baptised in Cookley church 30th July1871

  • Confirmed 22nd May 1887

  • First Communion 5th June 1887

  • Went to China as Missionary 1896

  • Recalled for home duties 1926 

  • Returned to China 1929

  • Murdered by Chinese brigands 1930

Bill Kimberlee M.B.E.  J.P. (1904-1974) The only son of Harry and Lottie Kimberlee. His father was a dyehouse labourer and his mother was in service until she married.Bill joined the church choir at a young age and because of his excellent 'Alto' voice was still singing after 60 years! He gained a scholarship to Sebright school but his parents could not afford this so he left school at 14. He worked for Tomkinsons carpets and rose to foreman then works manager before he retired. He was a first class football referee and was on the International Football Commitee, joining the English team abroad on several occasions.  Apart from his church and sporting achievements he was on the 'main' bench of magistrates for over 25 years and Chairman of the Magistrates' Juvenile Bench. During this time he served on as many as 46 committees at one time and was never late for one of them!!!

Dr. David Bareford - World Champion hot air balloonist (although nothing is yet named after him in Cookley) donates baloon rides to the community and his wife Karen is the accomplished photographer who is responsible for the photograghs that I have kindly been able to use on the photos page.