OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

WALTER RICHARDSON FOX (1867-1951)

When Mr George Edward Fox (1826-1912) died on Monday April 8th 1912, his businesses, Messrs Fox, Eliott and Company, and the West of England Joinery Company, were left in the hands of his two eldest sons, Mr Edward Fox (1861-1945) and Mr Walter Richardson Fox (1867-1951).  They converted them into limited liability companies in 1891.

Mr Edward Fox married Miss Bessie Ethel Kathleen Bone at Charles' Church, Plymouth, on April 26th 1894.

This was followed on January 28th 1897 by the marriage of Mr Walter Richardson Fox and Miss Elizabeth Caroline Hunt at Saint Andrew's Church, Plymouth.

The West of England Joinery Company ceased to operate between 1937 and 1939.  Widower Mr Edward Fox had also retired and gone to live at Middle Gooseford, Throwleigh, near Okehampton, thus leaving his younger brother as managing director along with his two sons, Mr Walter Aubrey Fox and Mr Terence Rochfort Fox.  In the census taken on Sunday September 29th 1939 Walter Aubery Fox (1906-1997) was serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and Terence Rochfort Fox (1912-1943) as an Aircraftsman in the Royal Air Force, both living at Post Office Farm, Newton Ferrers, Devon, presumably to be near to their base at RAF Mount Batten.  (Another of Mr Fox's sons, Ronald De Vere Richardson Fox joined the Indian Army.)

Timber being highly inflammable, it is not surprising that during the Second World War Messrs Fox, Eliott and Company Limited lost a great deal of their stock.  However, the business did manage to continue, being run from the home of Mr Walter Richardson Fox at 6 Penlee Gardens, Stoke, and a makeshift saw mill in a garage at Millbay Docks.

Sergeant (Air Gunner) Terence Rochfort Fox (1912-1943), went missing, presumed dead, on September 6th 1943 while serving with number 427 Royal Canadian Air Force in a night bombing raid over Germany.  His plane had taken off from Leeming, in West Yorkshire, on the night of September 5th 1943 but did not return.  The Officer Commanding, Wing Commander R S Turnbull, wrote to his father: 'I would like to assure you also how much we all honour the heroic sacrifice your son has made for the cause of humanity in the service of the British Commonwealth of Nations.'

On July 1st 1945 Mr Edward Fox died at his home in Throwleigh at the age of 84 years.  He was cremated at Efford Crematorium on July 4th 1945.  During that year the business was purchased by two brothers, Mr Arthur Henry Reeves and Mr Francis George Reeves, and thence traded as Messrs F J Reeves and Fox, Eliott Limited.  (Their father, Mr Francis John Reeves, founded their business as English and foreign timber merchants, saw mill proprietors, coal merchants and builders' merchants.)

Mr Walter Richardson Fox died at his home in Penlee Gardens, Stoke, Plymouth, on Sunday November 4th 1951 at the age of 84 years.  During his life he had been managing director of both Messrs Fox, Eliott and Company Limited and Messrs West of England Joinery Company Limited.  He had been a Justice of the Peace and treasurer of the Devonport and Stonehouse Habitation of the Primrose League, a national group started in 1883 that promoted Conservative political principles.  At one time he represented Devon County at football and was also an active participant in hockey, golf, yachting and shooting.

The business still traded separately until 1964 when the names were merged as Messrs F J Reeves and Company Limited.

It is not known when the timber yard at Millbay or Richmond Walk closed down.