Stamford -

Stamford A town in Lincolnshire, England. James Fuller Scholes - Newspaper Articles from 1928

94 YEARS OLD NEXT SATURDAY Mr James Scholes Looks Forward to His Century REMINISCENCES OF A BUSY AND EVENTFUL LIFE "News" Representative's Interview with a Stamford Worthy

   I believe I am the oldest man in Stamford. I shall be 94 next Saturday. I am not dead yet, though. I am enjoying life still. And if I live to be a hundred years old I shall have to write to the king and ask him to grant me a special pension!
In this jocular and light-hearted way Mr James Fuller Scholes, of Pretoria Cottage, Foundry Road, Stamford, greeted a "News" representative who called on him to extend to him birthday greetings in advance. Mr Scholes, who is believed to be Stamford's eldest man, is certainly not a pessimist on the eve of his 94th birthday. THIRTEEN TRADES    He smilingly reminded our reporter that there was no need to write an obituary notice about him yet, adding:
   You must call on me when I am a centenarian in six years time. I am looking forward to reaching the Century mark, and will tell you some more news about my life then. Jimmy Scholes is not dead yet.

And that is the spirit of the man. Although Mr. Scholes's eyesight is dim, his hearing is failing, and infirmities cause him to be inactive, his mind is alert, there is a twinkle in his eye, and he can crack and enjoy a joke. His out-look upon life is that of a middle-aged man, and his reasoning is sound and clear.
James Fuller Scholes, one of Stamford's best known and most highly esteemed inhabitants, has crowded a good deal into the past 94 years. His career has been extremely varied. He proudly told our representative that he had been during his lifetime:

A carpenter
A pit sawyer
A mill stone maker
A pattern maker
A general engineer
A miller
A stone dresser
A millwright
A painter
A corn and flour dealer.
A threshing machine owner
A shoeing-smith
And a posting and livery establishment proprietor.

NEVER AFRAID OF HARD WORK    " I have been a handy man in my time," he said, " and I was never afraid of hard work. I was apprenticed for seven years to the mill wright and carpentering business at Caldecott, near Uppingham. My mother paid a premium of £28 for me to learn my trade, and I did not receive a penny in wages all the seven years of my apprenticeship. After I had completed my time I stayed on with my master for about a year and a quarter, and he paid me 26s a week. First of all he docked me 2s because I had only just finished my apprenticeship, but I would not have that and I packed my tools in my chest and told my boss I was going to leave because I was not getting so much as the other men. However, after a talk with his missus he paid me the other two shillings and I stayed on with him for over a year. I was the only one of four apprentices who completed their time with this man. Once I ran away from him because he kicked me, but my mother took me back and told him she would have him put in prison if he did it again, and she properly frightened him."
   Few men of 90 can do what Mr.Scholes did when he was that age. These are amongst the achievements standing to his credit when he was 90 years of age:
     He had a trip in an aeroplane over Stamford.
     He climbed trees in his garden and gathered fruit.
     He rode a tricycle regularly in the busy streets of Stamford.
     He took part in a grand carnival for the Stamford Infirmary, being dressed in fancy costume as a tricycle
     rider.
     He went to Hunstanton for a day by motor bus
     He did most of his own shopping.
     And he could boast that he had never had to take medicine.

Two years ago Mr Scholes and his devoted and faithful housekeeper (Miss Rigby) went to a wedding at Grimsby and the old gentleman thoroughly enjoyed the outing and its festivities.
Mr. Scholes's life was not exactly a bed of roses. He lost his father (the late Mr. James Scholes, farmer of Stamford, who was knocked down and killed when his horses ran away on a journey near Empingham) when he was only seven years of age. But through the help of his mother (who lived to be 90), coupled with his own industry, he attained a position of affluence and was able to retire from business about 20 years ago. His initial venture, in trading on his own account was made when he was quite a young man. He commenced business as a miller and dealer in corn, flower, and offals at 9 St.Peter's Street Stamford, and later let out a pony and trap on hire. The demand for the pony increased, and as soon as he had saved sufficient money he bought another pony and trap for hiring purposes. From this small beginning he established livery stables and a posting house in Foundry Road in 1873, and he built up a thriving and very successful business, letting out horses and carriages of all descriptions for hire. In all he supplied mourning coaches, etc., for around 2,000 funerals in Stamford and the neighbouring villages, and he estimated that quite 2,000 brides and bridegrooms rode in his wedding carriages. He had a complete record of all the funerals he attended, but has no details of the weddings.

REMEMBERS THE BULL-RUNNING    With evident pride the veteran townsman, becoming reminiscent, then said: "Perhaps you won't believe it, but I am the only Stamford man living who can remember the bull-running in the streets of the town. I can remember my mother showing me the bull and the horses and men and dogs who chased it. She kept the "Chequers" Inn St Peter's Street, at that time and she showed me the bull-running sport from a bedroom window. I was only four years old then, but I can clearly remember it all. The end of St Peter's Street (where it was joined by Rutland Terrace) was blocked by two farm wagons, and I saw the Bull come to the end of the street and return again. My mother told me not to put my head out of the window - apparently because she was afraid I should drop into the street" (and here Mr. Scholes laughed heartily).
   Talking of heavy floods in Stamford, Mr. Scholes recalled occasions when Water Street, Bath Row, New Road, and Wharf Road were submerged to a depth of several feet, and said that once he rescued his horses from stables in Bath Row when the water had reached above their knees and they were in imminent danger of being drowned.
   Mr Scholes has not enjoyed particularly good health since a serious illness he had about two years ago, but when the weather is favourable he takes a short walk and visits a barbers shop for a shave, being accompanied by his younger son, Mr. Clarence Scholes, of Tinwell Road, Stamford. The elder son is Mr. W Scholes of Princes Road, Stamford.
   There are no daughters. Mrs Scholes died in 1907, and for the past 15 years Miss Rigby (who belongs to London and was a friend of the late Mrs. Scholes) has kept house for him and been his companion. RECIPE FOR LONG LIFE Mr. Scholes's recipe for long life is:
     Hard work, good plain food, temperate habits, and plenty of fresh air.
   A man who has never known fear, he has had several serious accidents and narrow escapes from death. Once he was within an ace of being killed when he was flung to the ground in Scotgate whilst making a gallant attempt to stop a run-away horse belonging to the then Marquess of Exeter. Mr Scholes said: "My ribs were broken, and I thought that my end had come when I went down. But just when I thought I was dying I was able to take a deep breath and it restored life in me. That was the nearest I have ever been to death, I was so so exhausted and knocked out by the shock."
   Lord Exeter treated him very generously in regard to the results of the accident. He sent Dr Newman to attend to him and paid his fees, and also gave Mr Scholes £25, a new suit of clothes, and anything he wished for out of Burghley Park. His lordship also visited him during his period of incapacitation.
   On another occasion Mr Scholes fell from a load of hay in the Meadows and was seriously injured, and subsequently he received minor injuries and mishaps. FELICITATIONS    Our readers will join with us in the hope that Mr Scholes's health will improve, and also in extending to him congratulations upon attaining his great age. May he achieve his ambition of living to be 100 years old and have a big century birthday party on August 25th, 1934. ______________________

NONAGENARIAN CYCLIST'S ACCIDENT.-    Mr. J. F. Scholes, Foundry Road, Stamford, who although a nonagenarian has been for a long time a familiar figure on his tricycle, met with an accident last week. He was crossing Red Lion Square on his machine, and found when he came to apply the brake it would not work. To prevent running headlong into the kerb. He was thrown from his machine with considerable force, and sustained a nasty cut on the forehead. However, after receiving treatment in Mr.Hensmans shop he mounted his tricycle and rode away again. ______________________ MR. J. F. SCHOLES. STAMFORD'S GRAND OLD MAN. DEATH AT 94 YEARS OF AGE Worked at 13 Trades    Mr. James Fuller Scholes, of Petoria Cottage, Foundry Road, who celebrated his 94th birthday on August 25th, 1928, and was Stamford's oldest inhabitant, died on Tuesday at his residence after being in failing health for several months.
   Mr Scholes had crowded a good deal into his 94 years, and when he was interviewed by a News representative a few days before his last birthday he proudly boasted that he had been:-
(There follows a reprint of James's working life as told in the above article) WORK HARD TO LIVE LONG    Mr. Scholes's recipe for long life was:
      Hard work, good plain food, temperate habits, and plenty of fresh air.
   He was the oldest member of the Stamford Conservative Club, and the senior freeman of Stamford.
   The late Mr. Scholes did not enjoy particularly good health after a serious illness he had about two years ago, and his death was not unexpected. He is survived by two sons, Mr. J. W. Scholes of Prince's Road. and Mr. Clarence Scholes, of Tinwell Road. There are no daughters. Mrs Scholes died in 1907 and for the past 15 years Miss Rigby (who belongs to London and was a friend of the late Mrs. Scholes) has been the deceased's housekeeper and companion.
    The funeral took place at the Cemetery on Friday afternoon, the last rites being conducted by the Rev. A.S. Jackson, curate of All Saints'. The coffin was borne to the grave by Messers. E. Barlow, F. Barlow, G. Yates, and S. Lee, and was followed by Mr. C. C. Scholes (son), Mrs. Watkins (cousin), and Mr. W. Godfrey and Mrs Boor (friends). There were no flowers by request. ______________________ Mr. J. F. SCHOLES' WILL - the late Mr James Fuller Scholes left estate of the gross value of £2,113, net personaly amounting to £665.

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