Alice and Edward Vezey John Brooke Flashman January 2022
This photo of the Box War Memorial Fete in 1920 shows the Box Postmistress, Esther Fudge, with friends including Alice Vezey and the Misses Goulstone and Shewring, together with Richard Browning and Frank Sawyer, all dressed up as Romany gypsies (courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
If you haven’t suffered trauma, you may not realise the benefit of counselling to acquire the skills needed for coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. Counselling in Britain didn’t start in a professional way until after the Second World War and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy wasn’t founded until 1977. It certainly wasn’t available to Alice Vezey in Box in 1930.
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The Vezey family were an affluent family who lived at Vale View, Bulls Lane, Box. The head of the family, John Cook Vezey, was a soap and candle manufacturer who died on 15 February 1910, leaving an estate worth £3,088.19s.2d (today worth £160,000). The business had been very successful in the past during the building of the Box Tunnel and as the village developed but, by the 1900s, candle-manufacturing was being replaced by electricity and natural gas lighting and the Box soap-manufacturing process as a by-product of the candles was antiquated.[1] The business was taken over by John’s third son, Benjamin Vezey (born 1873). By the time I was old enough to appreciate life in Box, it was Ben’s two younger siblings who were the occupiers of 1 Mead Villas, Mr Edward Vezey (born 1877) and his sister Miss Alice Mary Vezey (born 1879) because they lived next door to my grandfather John Brooke who was in number 2. John Cook Vezey, father of Ben, Edward and Alice, in a linotype dating about 1855 formerly in the possession of Ted before Olive Vezey acquired it on his death (courtesy Clive Banks) |
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Edward (known as Ted) Vezey
I remember Mr Edward Vezey very well. He was a very refined gentleman, who had a real presence about him. My mother always had great respect for him and she told me that he was a solicitor by profession and secretary of Somerset County Cricket Club. Neither statement was absolutely correct and he actually was a railway goods agent arranging the contracts for railway transport and a vice-president of Somerset CCC.[2] It was because of him that I went to see Somerset play the touring Australian cricketers at Taunton just after England had regained The Ashes in 1953. It was a glorious day's play and I saw some really great players including Lindsay Hassett, Alan Davidson, Richie Benaud and Ray Lindwall. The Australians scored over 400 runs on the day, and still had time to take two Somerset wickets before close of play. Mr Edward Vezey gave me a bound book published around 1900 featuring famous cricketers of the day. He was great cricket enthusiast: player of Box Cricket Club, member of Wiltshire CCC and Bath Cricket Club.[3]
One thing has come to mind regarding Mr Vezey. It's of no real account but is perhaps of interest in its own right. One evening whilst staying in Box in the summer of 1952 I accompanied my Aunt Gertie into 1 Mead Villas where Mr Vezey was awaited. I think my aunt must have prepared an evening meal for him. Anyway, before he arrived, she said to me: "Be sure to say good evening to him. He don't like hello". So, when Mr Vezey arrived, I stood up and said "Good evening, Mr Vezey", to which he responded "Oh, hello John", putting me at ease immediately. I've never forgotten that. As I said before, I always had a great regard for him and he always showed me the utmost kindness.
I remember Mr Edward Vezey very well. He was a very refined gentleman, who had a real presence about him. My mother always had great respect for him and she told me that he was a solicitor by profession and secretary of Somerset County Cricket Club. Neither statement was absolutely correct and he actually was a railway goods agent arranging the contracts for railway transport and a vice-president of Somerset CCC.[2] It was because of him that I went to see Somerset play the touring Australian cricketers at Taunton just after England had regained The Ashes in 1953. It was a glorious day's play and I saw some really great players including Lindsay Hassett, Alan Davidson, Richie Benaud and Ray Lindwall. The Australians scored over 400 runs on the day, and still had time to take two Somerset wickets before close of play. Mr Edward Vezey gave me a bound book published around 1900 featuring famous cricketers of the day. He was great cricket enthusiast: player of Box Cricket Club, member of Wiltshire CCC and Bath Cricket Club.[3]
One thing has come to mind regarding Mr Vezey. It's of no real account but is perhaps of interest in its own right. One evening whilst staying in Box in the summer of 1952 I accompanied my Aunt Gertie into 1 Mead Villas where Mr Vezey was awaited. I think my aunt must have prepared an evening meal for him. Anyway, before he arrived, she said to me: "Be sure to say good evening to him. He don't like hello". So, when Mr Vezey arrived, I stood up and said "Good evening, Mr Vezey", to which he responded "Oh, hello John", putting me at ease immediately. I've never forgotten that. As I said before, I always had a great regard for him and he always showed me the utmost kindness.
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The rank of properties at Mead Villas was built after 1906 when the Northey family sold some of the agricultural land which had been part of Mead Farm. The land went originally to William Bird, landlord of The Bear pub, who then sold individual plots for residential development. Numbers 1 and 2 may have been built by John Tiley, a mason contractor from Colerne, who lived in number 1 with his family in 1911, and probably he rented the house.[4] Next door was occupied by William Henry Pepler, coal merchant.
In March 1914, Jane Browning was recorded as the owner of number 1, probably an investment property because she lived at Box Mill. She was the widow of Walter Browning, owner of the mill who had died in 1908. In 1914 the house was tenanted by Oliver William Drew, headmaster of Box School from 1912 until he volunteered for war in 1914. Jane Browning sold the house for £320 to Peter Vezey, son of John Cook Vezey and brother of Ted and Alice. He had moved to London some time earlier and was a successful director of Vyse, Sons & Co, milliners and fur dealers.[5] The purchase appears to be an altruistic gesture by Peter because he allowed Edward and Alice to live there. |
Peter Vezey (courtesy Penny Cook and Jessica Black)
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On 10 April 1916, Peter sold a quarter share to Ted and the same to Alice for £82.10s. Peter and other family trustees retained a legal interest in the rest of the property until 21 April 1965 when the freehold was sold to Cyril Kiff of 4 Mill Lane for £2,300.
Alice Mary Vezey
Alice led a sheltered life in Box village. She grew up at Vale View and never married, nor have I found any employment for her. But this may have been because of the circumstances of her life rather than any disability. In 1916 she was a member of the British Army and she served as a Red Cross Volunteer doing needlework from 1916 to 1919. As can be seen from the headline photograph, she had a sense of fun and frivolity at this time.
When I knew her, Miss Alice Vezey was an invalid who was cared for by my aunt-by-marriage Gertie Butt. Gertie lived in with Miss Vezey in number 1 Mead Villas, although Gertie’s home was next door at number 2. I never met Miss Vezey myself although my sister did once. I have asked her about this and she said that it wasn't an introductory visit or anything like that; she just happened to be with Gertie in 1 Mead Villas and followed her into Miss Vezey's bedroom. Miss Vezey was in bed and as far as my sister can recall did not say anything. Miss Vezey was a chronic invalid who seems to have been permanently confined to her bed. I once asked my uncle Arthur what was wrong with her and he told me a fanciful story of a family tragedy. When I recounted this to my mother, she said that, had Miss Vezey been given a good talking to at the time when it happened, she would have been able to resume a normal life.
Alice led a sheltered life in Box village. She grew up at Vale View and never married, nor have I found any employment for her. But this may have been because of the circumstances of her life rather than any disability. In 1916 she was a member of the British Army and she served as a Red Cross Volunteer doing needlework from 1916 to 1919. As can be seen from the headline photograph, she had a sense of fun and frivolity at this time.
When I knew her, Miss Alice Vezey was an invalid who was cared for by my aunt-by-marriage Gertie Butt. Gertie lived in with Miss Vezey in number 1 Mead Villas, although Gertie’s home was next door at number 2. I never met Miss Vezey myself although my sister did once. I have asked her about this and she said that it wasn't an introductory visit or anything like that; she just happened to be with Gertie in 1 Mead Villas and followed her into Miss Vezey's bedroom. Miss Vezey was in bed and as far as my sister can recall did not say anything. Miss Vezey was a chronic invalid who seems to have been permanently confined to her bed. I once asked my uncle Arthur what was wrong with her and he told me a fanciful story of a family tragedy. When I recounted this to my mother, she said that, had Miss Vezey been given a good talking to at the time when it happened, she would have been able to resume a normal life.
The Vezey family at Vale View. L to R: Back row: Peter, Ben, John; Front row: Edward (Ted), John Cook, Sarah Jane (Ginny), Alice, Jane (courtesy Clive Banks)
Tragedy in 1930
Edward and Alice were close to their brother Ben and all three had lived together in the family home at Vale View in 1911 after other family members had moved out. The sudden death of Ben in 1930 in a railway tragedy shocked the village and brought untold grief to the family. Most people believed that it was suicide but the family clung to the hope that it was an accident. Either way, the harrowing details of the story caused personal recrimination and emotional lack of self-confidence. In some ways Edward and Alice bore a terrible burden.
It fell to Edward to identify Ben’s remains. Apparently, he was identified by the fixture list of Box Cricket Club matches in his pocket. The tragedy threw the siblings closer together and they became somewhat mutually dependent. They were frequently identified in gifts at weddings and funerals as Ted and Alice Vezey. Of course, there were times of separation, such as in 1939 when Ted was at the Forbes Fraser Hospital, Bath and Alice had to stay with relatives in Axbridge.
Edward died on 16 November 1963, leaving an estate valued at £17,279 (today £370,000). Alice was quick to make a will four days later: possibly on solicitors’ advice. Both wills were administered by Thomas Vezey, solicitors of Bath, so keeping things in the family. Alice died on 29 August 1964 and her estate was valued at £3,354 (today £70,000) leaving small legacies to family members and friends. After her death, the family called Gertie in and directed her to an opened drawer containing lots of different items. One was a box of gold sovereigns. Gertie was told she could have anything she wanted from the assorted items but she chose something very mundane and of no value. When years later she told me about this, I asked her why she didn't choose the sovereigns. Oh, she said, I didn't like to. That tells you quite a lot about the person Gertie was.
Gertie continued to live in at 1 Mead Villas, only sleeping in her own home at 2 Mead Villas when her husband Arthur Brooke came home on leave. The reason was my grandfather John Brooke and when, years later, I asked her about this, she said Your grandfather wouldn't have any woman in the house other than his precious wife. Gertie may have had a limited education and a secluded life, but she was shrewd and no fool and she was totally loyal to her personal beliefs.
Edward and Alice were close to their brother Ben and all three had lived together in the family home at Vale View in 1911 after other family members had moved out. The sudden death of Ben in 1930 in a railway tragedy shocked the village and brought untold grief to the family. Most people believed that it was suicide but the family clung to the hope that it was an accident. Either way, the harrowing details of the story caused personal recrimination and emotional lack of self-confidence. In some ways Edward and Alice bore a terrible burden.
It fell to Edward to identify Ben’s remains. Apparently, he was identified by the fixture list of Box Cricket Club matches in his pocket. The tragedy threw the siblings closer together and they became somewhat mutually dependent. They were frequently identified in gifts at weddings and funerals as Ted and Alice Vezey. Of course, there were times of separation, such as in 1939 when Ted was at the Forbes Fraser Hospital, Bath and Alice had to stay with relatives in Axbridge.
Edward died on 16 November 1963, leaving an estate valued at £17,279 (today £370,000). Alice was quick to make a will four days later: possibly on solicitors’ advice. Both wills were administered by Thomas Vezey, solicitors of Bath, so keeping things in the family. Alice died on 29 August 1964 and her estate was valued at £3,354 (today £70,000) leaving small legacies to family members and friends. After her death, the family called Gertie in and directed her to an opened drawer containing lots of different items. One was a box of gold sovereigns. Gertie was told she could have anything she wanted from the assorted items but she chose something very mundane and of no value. When years later she told me about this, I asked her why she didn't choose the sovereigns. Oh, she said, I didn't like to. That tells you quite a lot about the person Gertie was.
Gertie continued to live in at 1 Mead Villas, only sleeping in her own home at 2 Mead Villas when her husband Arthur Brooke came home on leave. The reason was my grandfather John Brooke and when, years later, I asked her about this, she said Your grandfather wouldn't have any woman in the house other than his precious wife. Gertie may have had a limited education and a secluded life, but she was shrewd and no fool and she was totally loyal to her personal beliefs.
Penny Cook, great niece of Edward and Alice, Wrote:
Edward and Alice Vezey were the unmarried younger brother and sister of my grandfather Peter Vezey. I remember visiting them at 1 Mead Villas when Uncle Ted took us to watch the cricket behind his house. He was a great cricket fan and supporter of Box Cricket Club. He was employed as a clerk for the railway. Aunt Alice was always in bed when we went to see her, a bit frightening for us as children. We never knew what her problem was, but she was always pleased to see us and sent Christmas cards.
The Electoral Register of 1914 states that Edward was living at Vale View House and in 1915 at 1 Mead Villas. I would guess that he and Alice had moved out of the large family home after their parents had died, and their other brothers no longer needed it - Benjamin and Sarah had married, Jack had died and Peter had moved to London and married. I have looked for them in the 1921 census, not found Edward and Alice was visiting her sister and family at the time.
The shock of Ben’s sudden and tragic death, especially as Ted identified the gruesome remains, could have affected Ted and Alice badly. Their first brother and sister both died young: John in 1911 aged 43 and Elizabeth (Bessie) in 1887 aged 18 when her death certificate says she died of general paralysis (poliomyelitis could be a possibility). Ben was their third sibling to die and they were somewhat isolated as their sister Sarah had married and moved to Axbridge and brother Peter was married and living in London.
Edward and Alice Vezey were the unmarried younger brother and sister of my grandfather Peter Vezey. I remember visiting them at 1 Mead Villas when Uncle Ted took us to watch the cricket behind his house. He was a great cricket fan and supporter of Box Cricket Club. He was employed as a clerk for the railway. Aunt Alice was always in bed when we went to see her, a bit frightening for us as children. We never knew what her problem was, but she was always pleased to see us and sent Christmas cards.
The Electoral Register of 1914 states that Edward was living at Vale View House and in 1915 at 1 Mead Villas. I would guess that he and Alice had moved out of the large family home after their parents had died, and their other brothers no longer needed it - Benjamin and Sarah had married, Jack had died and Peter had moved to London and married. I have looked for them in the 1921 census, not found Edward and Alice was visiting her sister and family at the time.
The shock of Ben’s sudden and tragic death, especially as Ted identified the gruesome remains, could have affected Ted and Alice badly. Their first brother and sister both died young: John in 1911 aged 43 and Elizabeth (Bessie) in 1887 aged 18 when her death certificate says she died of general paralysis (poliomyelitis could be a possibility). Ben was their third sibling to die and they were somewhat isolated as their sister Sarah had married and moved to Axbridge and brother Peter was married and living in London.
Clive Banks, great nephew of Edward and Alice Wrote:
Ted was very austere in his habits and it was said that he took a cold bath every day. He lived for his cricket but he used to be teased by fellow team members about his job on the railway. There would be banter as a train went by saying such things as Train’s late again. Ted was not at all amused by this apparently. He was a very good medium pace seam bowler. My dad, who was the Box wicket keeper, told me that towards the end of Ted's career he would ask dad to stand up to the wicket to his bowling to which dad was glad to oblige.
Ted was also teetotal, apparently because an older sibling had died young due to the effects of alcohol. As 1 Mead Villas was next to the Queens Head pub, he could see all the comings and goings there. He noticed that I went there regularly after home cricket matches. One day our umpire, Alec Smith confided in me that he had been approached by Mr Vezey inquiring whether
I was a heavy drinker. Poor Alec was rather embarrassed about this but told me that he had informed him, correctly, that I was just a social drinker like the rest of the team. So, you see that Uncle Ted was a bit of a stranger to me and I felt rather awkward with him. I remember him being rather strange with me. He was a constant walker about the village and as a small boy I believe he used to cross the road to avoid me. I would then cross and confront him with a Hallo Uncle Ted, which must have irritated him somewhat. We never had any personal conversations.
Ted was apparently a tower of strength following Ben's death, dealing with affairs quickly and efficiently. It was suggested that he may have destroyed any evidence which may have pointed to Ben having committed suicide and helped with arranging employment for my mother to help with finances.[6] Sadly somewhere along the line after this there seems to be something of a breakdown in his relationships. He became alienated from some members of the family and never attended family events such as the annual Christmas gathering. How this arose I am not absolutely sure but it seems to have been his choice. The possibility that their brother Ben's tragic death may have seriously affected the mental health of Alice and Ted had not occurred to me. My gran and her son and daughters never alluded to this possibility to me. They were even more affected as their lives were thrown into turmoil but they rode the difficulties and got on with as normal and fulfilling lives as they could.
I also remember as a young child being taken to visit Aunt Alice with my mother. Alice cut rather a sad figure, being very thin and pale and I never saw her out of bed. It was not a very exciting experience for a young boy; it was seen as rather a duty. I never really did discover why she took to her bed and nobody else seemed to know either but her brain was sharp enough, although her life style meant that she had little interesting conversation. Looking back the trauma theory may have some weight. I also recall the housekeeper, Mrs Gertie Brooke being a very nice friendly lady who my mother liked very much.
I remember somebody in the family saying that a day or two before his death Uncle Ted paid a visit to the cemetery to see whereabouts he would be buried! He left the income from his various investments to Alice for her lifetime and modest legacies to various family members and friends including Gertie Brooke.[7] The bulk of the investments went to cricket clubs including Somerset, Wiltshire, Lansdown and Box, who all got generous sums. It was rumoured that Somerset used theirs to improve the toilet facilities at Taunton! Various churches and charities received substantial amounts including Box and Ditteridge churches and the Chippenham Liberal Association was not forgotten.
Ted was very austere in his habits and it was said that he took a cold bath every day. He lived for his cricket but he used to be teased by fellow team members about his job on the railway. There would be banter as a train went by saying such things as Train’s late again. Ted was not at all amused by this apparently. He was a very good medium pace seam bowler. My dad, who was the Box wicket keeper, told me that towards the end of Ted's career he would ask dad to stand up to the wicket to his bowling to which dad was glad to oblige.
Ted was also teetotal, apparently because an older sibling had died young due to the effects of alcohol. As 1 Mead Villas was next to the Queens Head pub, he could see all the comings and goings there. He noticed that I went there regularly after home cricket matches. One day our umpire, Alec Smith confided in me that he had been approached by Mr Vezey inquiring whether
I was a heavy drinker. Poor Alec was rather embarrassed about this but told me that he had informed him, correctly, that I was just a social drinker like the rest of the team. So, you see that Uncle Ted was a bit of a stranger to me and I felt rather awkward with him. I remember him being rather strange with me. He was a constant walker about the village and as a small boy I believe he used to cross the road to avoid me. I would then cross and confront him with a Hallo Uncle Ted, which must have irritated him somewhat. We never had any personal conversations.
Ted was apparently a tower of strength following Ben's death, dealing with affairs quickly and efficiently. It was suggested that he may have destroyed any evidence which may have pointed to Ben having committed suicide and helped with arranging employment for my mother to help with finances.[6] Sadly somewhere along the line after this there seems to be something of a breakdown in his relationships. He became alienated from some members of the family and never attended family events such as the annual Christmas gathering. How this arose I am not absolutely sure but it seems to have been his choice. The possibility that their brother Ben's tragic death may have seriously affected the mental health of Alice and Ted had not occurred to me. My gran and her son and daughters never alluded to this possibility to me. They were even more affected as their lives were thrown into turmoil but they rode the difficulties and got on with as normal and fulfilling lives as they could.
I also remember as a young child being taken to visit Aunt Alice with my mother. Alice cut rather a sad figure, being very thin and pale and I never saw her out of bed. It was not a very exciting experience for a young boy; it was seen as rather a duty. I never really did discover why she took to her bed and nobody else seemed to know either but her brain was sharp enough, although her life style meant that she had little interesting conversation. Looking back the trauma theory may have some weight. I also recall the housekeeper, Mrs Gertie Brooke being a very nice friendly lady who my mother liked very much.
I remember somebody in the family saying that a day or two before his death Uncle Ted paid a visit to the cemetery to see whereabouts he would be buried! He left the income from his various investments to Alice for her lifetime and modest legacies to various family members and friends including Gertie Brooke.[7] The bulk of the investments went to cricket clubs including Somerset, Wiltshire, Lansdown and Box, who all got generous sums. It was rumoured that Somerset used theirs to improve the toilet facilities at Taunton! Various churches and charities received substantial amounts including Box and Ditteridge churches and the Chippenham Liberal Association was not forgotten.
Conclusion
The subject of post-traumatic stress disorder wasn’t sufficiently recognised and treated in the past. The article deals with a possible local example. The suicide of Ben Vezey shocked some villagers in the same way as the national grief that greeted the death of Princess Diana. Ben’s death was more heartfelt because of his strength of character, including overcoming a deformed hand to become one of Box’s finest cricketers. The whole village assumed a personal responsibility for the tragedy.
The subject of post-traumatic stress disorder wasn’t sufficiently recognised and treated in the past. The article deals with a possible local example. The suicide of Ben Vezey shocked some villagers in the same way as the national grief that greeted the death of Princess Diana. Ben’s death was more heartfelt because of his strength of character, including overcoming a deformed hand to become one of Box’s finest cricketers. The whole village assumed a personal responsibility for the tragedy.
Ben’s death affected the family in different ways. His widow survived him for 50 years, dying just short of 101, apparently a sensible, rather placid lady. Clive Banks recalls that “she and her son and daughters never alluded to the possibility of suffering from trauma to me. They were even more affected as their lives were thrown into turmoil but they rode the difficulties and got on with as normal and fulfilling lives as they could.” On the other hand, Ted became more isolated from some family members and Alice appears to have suffered a substantial lack of confidence, which blighted the rest of her life. The tragedy of a suicide affects survivors, whatever their reaction to the event. It is the same reaction demonstrated by soldiers returning after warfare.
References
[1] Additional research Alan Payne
[2] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 19 January 1929
[3] Somerset County Herald, 23 November 1963
[4] Courtesy Heather Tyler. Penny Cook added: It is interesting that John Tiley, a stone contractor from Colerne, may have built Mead Villas because in 1833 James Vezey of the Chequers Inn married Frances Tiley from Colerne, daughter of a stone mason.
[5] Courtesy Penny Cook, great niece of Edward and Alice
[6] Courtesy Clive Banks, nephew of Edward and Alice
[7] Courtesy Clive Banks
[1] Additional research Alan Payne
[2] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 19 January 1929
[3] Somerset County Herald, 23 November 1963
[4] Courtesy Heather Tyler. Penny Cook added: It is interesting that John Tiley, a stone contractor from Colerne, may have built Mead Villas because in 1833 James Vezey of the Chequers Inn married Frances Tiley from Colerne, daughter of a stone mason.
[5] Courtesy Penny Cook, great niece of Edward and Alice
[6] Courtesy Clive Banks, nephew of Edward and Alice
[7] Courtesy Clive Banks