THE PITCHERS

Charles and Annie Pitcher

Arthur Charles Pitcher was the son of Walter William Pitcher and his wife Anna Maria (nee Williams).  He was born on April 2nd 1876.  He seems to have used the name Charles or Charlie in preference to Arthur.  In the 1881 census he was aged 5 living in the family home at 12 Gloucester Road.  By 1901 Charlie was a coachbuilder and carpenter in his father's firm now based at their house at 24 Gloucester Road. 

In 1903, Charles married Annie Symes, the daughter of Charles Symes who ran the seed shop business on The Plain.  (Note: Charles' brother, Augustus Ernest also married an Annie Symes, this one the daughter of Bernard Symes, the tailor in the High Street.  The Annie's were first cousins.  Charles and Annie had three children: Christopher Walter in 1906, Arthur Bernard in 1909 and Gerald Charles in 1917).

The 1905 Rate Book shows Charles was living in the house which he was renting at 7 Pullins Green.  He didn't stay there long, by 1910 Rate Book he had moved to the High Street.

Charlie changed careers after he was taken ill and needed a lighter job.  He applied for, and got,  the position of  sub-postmaster at a salary of £165. The earliest record of him being at the Post Office is the Trade Directory of 1914.  The directories show he supplemented his income running a stationers shop and the 1939 Trade Directory suggest he is also running the Library.  Charlie carried on being sub-postmaster for 47 years!  The Post Office was then located at 28 High Street, in what is known locally as 'Pye Corner'.

Charles had many other activities.  He was interested in music and was a member of the Thornbury Gleemen.  As a town councillor for almost 20 years, he became mayor in 1916/17.  He was deeply involved in the 'Battle of the Pump' where he fought hard for the retention of the Pump in middle of The Plain.  He was a keen bowls players and Secretary of Thornbury & District Men's Club, Thornbury Town Social club and Thornbury Town Football Club.  Apparently it was very dangerous to stand near Arthur when 'the Town' were playing as his legs tended to fly out in all directions.  He was also interested in local history being an active member of The Society of Thornbury Folk  and their chairman for several years.

Annie died in 1943. There was a sad obituary in the Gazette which referred to the "years of suffering" that she endured.  Their three sons were bearers at her funeral.  At that time, Chris Pitcher was a Sub-Lieutenant, Arthur Bernard was in the Royal Naval Reserve and Gerald was a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.

Annie's husband  married again shortly afterwards.  His new wife was Jessie B. Davis, who was a teacher in the Council School and she had been assisting Charles in the Post Office.  John Nicholls who was the son of the headmaster of the Council School recalls Jessie Davis, who taught the reception class.  He said she was "pleasantly plump and almost always smiling"

Charles died in 1960 and is buried with Annie and sons, Christopher and Arthur at Thornbury Cemetery.   Jessie continued living in Pye Corner until at least 1965.

Click here to see more about Walter William Pitcher ands his family at number 24 Gloucester Road

Click here to see details of Walter's children

This page was last updated: 28/10/2008