Alfred Pooley Petch was born in 1875 in Brandon, Suffolk, the son of Alfred Pooley Petch and Susan Elizabeth (née Lingwood). He married Priscilla Cundy in 1899 and there is one known child. He died in 1949 in Whaplode, Lincolnshire.
Married at the Albert Street Methodist church, Holbeach, half-a-century ago, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Pooley Petch, of Main Road, Whaplode, celebrated their golden wedding with a party in the Sunday school on Wednesday, attended by nearly 70 of their old friends and acquaintances.
A native of Brandon, Suffolk, Mr. Petch came to East Elloe as a young man, and worked for Mr. Tom Clarke, the Holbeach coal merchant, for five years. He then farmed at Holbeach Fen for a short while, and later at Whaplode Cross Keys for 30 years, until he retired three-and-a-half years ago and came to live at Whaplode.
Mr. Petch has been a local preacher for 52 years, and hopes to preach his jubilee sermon at the Albert-street Methodist church, to celebrate 50 years on the plan. He has been a school manager at Walpole Cross Keys for 14 years. A staunch Liberal, he actively supported the late Sir Richard Winfrey in his campaign.
The Party
Mrs. Petch was Miss Priscilla Cundy, fourth daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Cundy, of Whaplode. As a girl she was employed as a dressmaker by Mrs. Bean, of Church Street, Holbeach, and for many years was a teacher at the Whaplode Methodist Sunday school and attended the Bible class organised by Mrs. Horry.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Petch enjoy excellent health. The former is 75 years of age, and his wife five years his junior. They have one daughter, Mrs. Gladys Snare, of Brandon, and two grand-daughters.
The present superintendent minister of the circuit (the Rev. E. Isherwood) presided at Wednesday’s party, and also present was the Rev. John Jay, of Lincoln, who was the local minister 30 years ago. The M.C. was Mr. Albert Hunter. and congratulatory speeches were made by Messrs. John Bollons, George Stanberry and George Molesworth, all of whom were members of the former Free Methodist church when Mr. Petch was a young man.
Bouquets were presented to Mrs. Petch by her younger granddaughter, Janice, and by Janet Wright, a scholar at the Sunday school, and her elder granddaughter, Myrtle, recited a specially-composed poem.
Mrs. French, the church organist, was responsible for the decorations of the schoolroom and the musical entertainment.
Spalding Guardian (30 September 1949)
DEATHS.
Whaplode. — Oct. 4, on Main Road, Alfred Pooley Petch, 74.
Stamford Mercury (7 October 1949)
WHAPLODE
Funeral of Mr. A. P. Petch.
The Interment of Mr. Alfred Pooley Petch, of Main Road, took place at on the cemetery on Friday, following a service at the Albert Street Methodist church, conducted by the Rev. E. Isherwood. The mourners were: The widow; Mr. and Mrs. Snare (son-in-law and daughter); Mr. H. Petch and Mr. and Mrs. E. Petch (brothers and sisters-in-law); Mr. and Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. Judge, Mr. Jack Cundy, and Mr. and Mrs. R. Cundy (brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law); Mrs. Oglivie, Mr. and Mrs. H. Petch, jun., Mr. and Mrs. W. Petch, jun., Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, Mrs. Pulling, Mr. G. Bingham, and Mr. R. Cundy (nephews and nieces); Mr. Hunter, Mr. H. Mashford, Mr. and Mrs. J Dickinson, Mr. G. Molesworth and Mr. and Mrs. Heningway, friends.
