30th June 1934 SA

SANDON

Edward Thomas, Schoolmaster.—Mr. J.A. Walker writes: “In your last issue a correspondent asks for information about Thomas. Edward Thomas was the schoolmaster of Sandon from 1824 to 1857. Examples of his artistic work are still to be seen on the walls of the old schoolroom. The east window of the chancel of Sandon Church, which is so much admired by visitors, was the work of Thomas. All the rare glass which was scattered about the many windows of the church was taken out and used to make the east window. The following is taken from the Trent Valley magazine, dated November 1872. “On September 7, 1862, Edward Thomas was buried at Sandon. He was the son of a post-boy at the Dog and Doublet, which was then a very great posting-house, and, as a boy, had a desire for learning and some taste for painting and poetry, which were so far cultivated that he became master of Lord Harrowby’s School, and held the office for 33 years. As a teacher, from the gentleness of his character, and the practical kindness of his daily life, he was an example of great value to the scholars under his charge. To more than one of the boys left without parents he supplied a father’s place. His never-ceasing and tender affection to his aged mother, who died in 1850, aged 85, was a pattern better than any lesson. He also received under his roof and maintained for some years, with loving care, an aged uncle reduced to poverty, who had been a tradesman in London. Much of his spare time was devoted to visiting the sick, and often has he spent whole nights in nursing and attending them. He had a great knowledge of the Scriptures, and a remarkable gift of reading and applying them to the comfort and benefit of the sick and afflicted. At length in 1857 he resigned his school, and the office of parish clerk, which he had held 21 years, to devote himself entirely to this work as a scripture reader in connection with one of the churches in Nottingham. But it was too late in life to commence such a charge in that great population; however, he gave himself to it with all his heart for between three and four years, when his labours brought on an attack of paralysis, which obliged him to resign the office. After a few months he was partially restored, and a home was then offered to him at Colwich Vicarage, where he lived about a year and a half, and, so far as his remaining strength allowed, devoted himself to the visitation of the sick and suffering, and is still gratefully remembered there. He died at the house of his sister in Nottingham, to whom he had gone for a short visit in his usual health, aged 57.’”

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