Newspapers__1950s_articles

Believed to be the town’s oldest tradesman, Mr. Frank Augustine Clatworthy, Senior partner in the firm
of Messrs. Clatworthy & Sons. ironmongers, of 2, Hungate. Beccles, died suddenly at his home there on

assistance in the office. On Sunday he had intended going to Holy Trinity Church, Barsham, but had to
stay in bed with a chill and a temperature. On Monday morning as he felt better, he went for his usual

short walk to the churchyard to admire the view over the marshes. His brother, Mr. H. W Clatworthy later
found him dead at home
Mr. Clatworthy was held in the highest regard by all who knew him. Eldest son of the late Mr. A. R.
Clatworthy, churchwarden for many years, he was educated at the Fauconberge School. He went into
partnership with his father and had continued in business for more than half a century. When the first

Chamber of Trade was started in the borough about 25 years ago, Mr. Clatworth played a leading part in
getting it working successfully and was the first president. It was a matter of regret to him that his health
prevented him from assisting with the revival after the war.

For many years Mr. Clatworthy was a director at the Beccles Waterworks Co. until the undertaking was
taken over by the Town Council. and also of the Beccles Water and Gas Co. until the gas company was
nationallised.
Fifty years ago Mr. Clatworthy was a sergeant in the Norfolk Volunteers. During the 1914-18 war he
served overseas wth the Royal Artillery and in the 1939-45 war was a head warden, one of the posts being

at his home.
Mr. Clatworthy had belonged to the Beccles and District branch of the British Legion ever since its

formation. He served on the committee from 1922 to 1937, being chairman from 1930 to 1932 and vice-
chairman from 1933 to 1937. During the years of unemployment of returned ex-Service men, following

the First World War he was chairman of the Benevolent Committee.
For many years Mr. Clatworthy had been a Feoffee. Another appointment of long standing was as a

general commissioner for Income tax for the division of Wangford.
Mr Clatworthy was, perhaps, best known for his fine record of service in connection with Beccles Town

Regatta. an event held at intervals long before 1818 and staged annually ever since with the exception of
the two world wars. He was first elected to the committee in May, 1898. and became joint secretary with
the late Mr. D. C. Smith in February. 1913. They worked together until 1927. when Mr. Smith retired
and was succeeded by Mr W.E. B. Bateman. who was followed in 1946 by Mr. H. Hadingham, the

present secretary. At the annual meeting in 1950 a letter was read fram Mr Clatworthy resigning through
ill ‘health, and in appreciation of his long and faithful services he was made a life vice-president.
For a great many yeais Mr. Clatworthy had served on the committee of Beccles Amateur Sailing Club, of

which his brother, the late Mr. H T. Clatworthy was a former secretray. When health allowed, he
regularly helped with its regattas and last August was well enough to get to the

A large and representative congregation gathered at Beccles Parish Church on Tuesday for the funeral
service for Mr. Frederick John Meen, of Lyngate, Grange Road, who died on Friday aged 66.

Officers and members of the Parish Church of which he was the people’s warden, fellow members of the
architectural profession, Freemasons, in whose order he had held high office, members of the building

trade from a wide area, representatives of local authorities, several business firms in Beccles and various
organizations with which he had been connected, gathered to pay tribute to one who was regarded - said

the Rev W.R.F. Hares (Rector) - “with respect and affection by many”.
Mr Hare, who conducted the service, said Mr Meen had led a very full life and his interests had ranged

over a wide and varied field. But he had realised too that life consisted not in the abundance of things that
a man possessed but in the spiritual realm.
He came from St Olaves. He was educated at Lowestoft and spent most of his life at Beccles where he
became a pupil of the late Arhur Pells. At the time of his death he was senior partner in the firm of Messrs

Meen & Collis, of Station Road. He was responsible for the William Clowes Housing Society’s estate
including Merrylees and for housing estates for Wainford and Loddon Rural District Councils.
A member of Beccles Parish Church, he had been a church councillor for many years, and for the last 18

months he had been people’s warden. For nearly 20 years he had been secretary of the Apollo Lodge (No
305) of Freemasons, and he was vice-president of Beccles British Legion. Commissioned in the first
world war, he served in France and Gallipoli and was discharged after being wounded. Throughout the
last war he was chief air raid warden for the district. He was a member of Beccles Sailing Club and was
sailing secretary for Beccles Regatta. He was also a member of Beccles Rotary Club. A Beccles Feoffee,