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Rowland Tench

Inside St. Edwards Church there is a plaque dedicated to Rowland Tench, it was dedicated by his wife and children.

 

 

The gates leading to the church are dedicated to Rowland and his wife Helen.

 

On either side of the gate is a dedication plaque.

helen_edited.jpg

 

                              Rowland                                                                    Helen

 

 

Rowland Tench was actually born Rowland Morris, the illegitimate son of  Sarah Morris. He was born in Stanton Lacy on 15th October 1868.

 

In all, Sarah had five children before she married in 1879. Rowland's other four siblings were Arthur 1860, Frederick 1864, Emily 1871 and Isabel 1873

 

Arthur and Frederick were both born in Richards Castle with the next three children being born in Stanton Lacy.

 

On 13th March 1879 Sarah married John Tench in the church of St. Peter, Stanton Lacy .

 

Groom: John Tench, of full age, Batchelor of Ludlow

Bride: Sarah Morris, of full age, Spinster of Gravel Hill

Marriage date: 13 Mar 1879, Stanton Lacy

Grooms father: Robert Tench

Brides father: William Morris

Denomination: Anglican

Marriage after Banns

 

John's parents were Robert and Lydia Tench of Bromfield, Ludlow. Robert Tench married Lydia Wingrave on 8th July 1799 in Saint Mary, St. Marylebone Road, London

They had 10 children including John:

Frances 1800
Mary 1802
Walter 1803
Lydia 1804
Roberta 1806
Robert 1807
Louisa 1809
Caroline 1810
John 1812
Richard 1813

 

John and his older brother Richard joined their fathers land agents business, known as Messrs. Robert, John, and Richard Tench of  Ludlow.

 

Both Arthur and Frederick followed their step-father, John Tench, in the Estate Agent business.

 

In 1891 Rowland was a Highway Surveyors Assistant. He is still living at home with his parents in 10 Corve Street, Ludlow.

 

John Tench died on 29th December 1896, aged 84. He was buried on 1st of January 1897.

 

Administration

John TENCH of Ludlow, Shropshire, estate-agent died 29th December 1896 Administration (with Will) Shrewsbury 5th March 1897 to Sarah Tench, widow. Effects £1340 15 5d

 

Sometime before 1900 Rowland Tench had gone into busines with William J Davies, Edward Roberts and William Eleen, trading as the Celtic Acetylene Illuminating Company in Bowling Green Lane, Knighton. Their services were described as acetylene gas and fittings manufacturers. The Company was dissolved in February 1900.

 

Rowland Morris Tench married Helen Amy Bursell on 18th April 1900 in St. Andrew's Church, Nottingham . Rowland was 32 and Helen was 24. Helen was the daughter of George Arkesden and Kitty Dewes Bursell (nee Manton) Helen was born on 7th June 1876.

 

1901 sees Rowland, his Wife Helen and their first child, 1 month old Helen Mary, living in Temeside House, Knighton. Rowland is a Land Agent.

 

Helen Mary baptised 1st April 1901

 

Over the next few years Rowland and Helen added to their brood with a further four children

 

John Arkesden, born 7th September 1902

 

Rowland Wingrave, born 27th February 1904

 

In September of 1904, Rowland Morris Tench, visited Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, sailing on the Pretorian

 

Eleanora Bevan, baptised 18th October 1905

 

Sheila Elizabeth, born 30th November 1910, baptised 19th January 1911

 

In 1911 Rowland and his family are living at Burford House, Wylcwm Street. At some point between 1901 and 1911 Rowland became Manager of the Radnorshire Coal, Lime and General Supply Company Ltd of Station Road, Knighton. Rowland held the post of Manager until at least 1933.

 

Sarah Tench, Rowland's mother, died in Ludlow in 1914, aged 74.

 

In 1915 Rowland and Helen had their last child, George Roger.

 

Later Rowland and his family moved into Shirley, Ludlow Road, where they could be contacted by telephone by dialling 19.

 

Rowland was quite the traveller;

On 4th November 1924 Rowland (a company director) and Helen returned from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

17th June 1928 he returned from New Zealand.

6th November 1930 he visited Algeria travelling 1st class as a company director.

He also visited Batavia, Indonesia and Calcutta, India.

 

In 1930 the Radnorshire Society was established, Rowland and Helen were members from its outset.

 

In 1941 Rowland Tench of Shirley, Knighton became High Sheriff of Radnorshire.
 

Rowland died on 1st September 1945, aged 76 years

 

Radnorshire Society transactions - Vol. 15 1945

Mr. Rowland Tench of Knighton had been, with Mrs. Tench, a member since the Society was formed fifteen years ago. For part of that period, Mr. Tench served on our Executive Committee. His assistance in helping to arrange our excursions will not be forgotten. His knowledge of Radnorshire and Radnorshire people was wide and deep. It was always a pleasure and an instruction to discuss our problems with Mr. Rowland Tench. The Radnorshire Society

 

Probate

Rowland Morris TENCH of Shirley, Knighton, Radnorshire. Died 1st September 1945. Probate Llandudno 23rd March 1946 to Helen Amy Tench, widow. Effects £7185 8s 6d

 

From 1950 Helen can be found living at 117 Manor Street, Chelsea.

 

Helen died on 26th February 1968, aged 91. At the time she was living at Flat 117, Swan Court, Chelsea Manor Street, London. Her death was registered in the Westminster registration District.

 

More on the children of Rowland and Helen

 

The Tench girls attended St Mary's School, in Clane, Wiltshire. St. Mary's is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18.

 

Helen Mary,

born 19th February 1901 in Knighton

baptised 1st April 1901 in Knighton

In 1930: Helen was a dance teacher on the staff at Ruby Peeler School in Regent Street.

married Iain MacNab in Chelsea in 1932

became a teacher of dancing.

died on 14th March 1989 at 26, Festing Road, London, aged 88 years.

 

John Arkesden,

born 7th September 1902 in Knighton,

baptised 8th October 1902 in Knighton,

married Lilian Joan Ashford in Birmingham in 1931

 

John and Lilan had two sons, Richard Arkesden John born 1934 and Rowland Brian Wargrave born 13 June 1938 in Oakland, California

 

John Arkesden Tench was a Civil Engineer in the oil and petroleum industry. He was awarded and OBE in Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honours list of 1963

 

The London Gazette, 31st May 1963, Supplement: 43010, Page: 4812

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

St. James's Palace, London S.W.I.

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE):

 

To be Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order

 

John Arkesden TENCH, Esq., British subject resident in .the United States of America.

 

John became the Manager of Shell Oil in the United States.

 

John retired in 1965 and took up winemaking.

 

The winery is located on a hillside at 7631 Silverado Trail south of Oakville Cross Road. John and Joan Tench bought the 61-acre Tench Family Vineyards property in 1965 and grazed cows there. They later planted vines on 42 acres containing of red soils of clay and volcanic rock suitable for cabernet sauvignon and grayish loam clay suitable for merlot and sauvignon blanc.

 

John died on 20th October 1990 Napa County, California and is inurned in Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery, Saint Helena, Napa County, California  USA with his wife L Joan Tench.

 

Californian Newspaper Memorial 2001

Lilian ‘Joan’ Tench - A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at Grace Episcopal Church, 1314 Spring St., St. Helena, for Lilian “Joan” Tench, who died June 9 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Napa. She was 93. Mrs. Tench, a graduate from Birmingham University of England, held a degree in chemistry. She and her husband, John, moved to the Napa Valley over 35 years ago. She was a member of St. Helena’s Grace Episcopal Church and of the Daughters of the British Empire.

 

She is survived by two sons, Brian of San Francisco and Richard A J. of Reno, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband.

 

Following the service inturnment will be in the Rose Garden at the church.

 

 

Rowland Brian Wingrave Tench married Adair Louise Miller on 15th December 1973 in San Francisco. They are the owners of Nickel & Nickel Tench Vineyard, they produce Cabernet Sauvignon, in Oakville in the Napa Valley, California.

 

Entry in St. Edwards Church visitors book dated 14th June 2012 for a Rowland Tench of 7631 Silverado Terrace, Napa, California with a comment of "wonderful visit to our famiy church" (thanks must go to Jim Morris for this information)

 

Rowland Wingrave,

born 27th February 1904 in Knighton,

baptised 30th March 1904 in Knighton,

died May 1998 in South Hams, Devon, aged 94

 

Supplement to the London Gazette -11th  June, 1942

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.

St. James's Palace, S.W.I.

The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's, Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: — To be Additional Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—

 

Rowland Wingrave Tench, Esq. For public services in Malta.

 

Eleanora Bevan,

baptised 18th October 1905 in Knighton.

 

In 1930: Eleanora was a teacher in Edinburgh, By 1933 Eleanora had given up teaching and took a post as a demonstrator with the Gas, Light and Coke Company, Horseferry Road, Westminster.

 

The Scotsman - 8th December 1934

Mr. R. F. B. Prior - Miss E. B. Tench

The engagement is announced between Ronald Felix Booth, third son of Mrs. Prior, Grey Cottage, Gullane, East Lothian, and grandson of Henry Lawrence Prior, Esq., of Netherfield Park, Ware, Herts., and Eleanora Bevan, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Tench, Knighton, Radnorshire.

 

Eleanora married Ronald Felix Booth Prior in Kensington in 1935. Roland was born on 27th August 1910, making him 5 years younger than Eleanora.

 

In 1937 Eleanora and Ronald had a son, he was born on February 20th, 1937, at the time they were living near Basingstoke, Hampshire.

 

Eleanor and Ronald had one further son, Hamish.

 

INFANTRY. 8th Bn. R. Scots.—Ronald Felix Booth PRIOR (late Cadet, Lancing Coll. Contgt., Jun. Div., O.T.C.) to be 2nd Lt. 8th May 1939.

 

Roland was a Major in the 8th Battalion, Royal Scots during WW2.

 

Eleanora died in Hertfordshire on 22nd December 1967, when she was knocked down by a drunk driver. She was cremated there and her ashes were interred at her home in Camserney Cottage, Aberfeldy, Perthshire., she was aged 62.

 

After Eleanora's death Roland remarried. He married Barbara A Jackson in Wandsworth in 1968.

 

Ronald Felix Booth Prior died on 21st January 2001 in Melbourne, Australia, aged 90 years.

 

 

Sheila Elizabeth

born 30th October 1910 in Knighton,

baptised 19th January 1911 in Knighton,

 

In 1939 Sheila was living at home with her parents, one of her duties was as a Chauffeuse for her father.

 

Married Harry Walton in Mere, Wiltshire in 1940.

She married for a second time to Edward Lawton James Middleton in Bishops Castle in 1947.

Sheila died on 31st March 1992 at 47, Orchard Clo Gilwern, Nr. Abergavenny, Gwent, aged 82. Edward died in 1999, aged 80.

 

Married in: The Registry Office, Bishops Castle, in the district of Clun on 9th August 1947

Groom: Edward Lawton James Middleton
Age: 28
Condition: Batchelor
Occupation: Commercial Clerk
Residence: Chapel Lawn, Bucknell
Father: Henry James Middleton
Fathers Occupation: Farmer

Bride: Sheila Elizabeth Walton formaly Tench
Age: 36
Condition: The divorced wife of Harry Walton
Occupation: Commercial Clerk
Residence: Shirley, Knighton
Father: Rowland Tench, Deceased
Fathers Occupation: Company Director

 

George Roger

born 1915 in Knighton

married Kathleen M Carroll in Chelsea in 1940.

 

In 1942 he was, 70667, Acting Squadron Leader G. Roger Tench, D.F.C., R.A.F.A. and served in the RAF during WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He was shot down over Germany and was in Stalagluft 3 from 1942 to 45.  He was active in the escape committee and his brave acts were documented in two books written after the war, Great Escape and Wooden Horse.  Also, he was a graduate of Oxford University.  (information on how George became a prisoner of war can be found HERE)

 

George died on 19th December 1984 in Pershore, Worcestershire. He had been living at 6, Ham Farm Road, Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey

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