Major General Park

PARK. - Mar.29, at Poynton, Major-General
Cecil William Park, C.B., Commanding East
Lancashire Territorial Division, aged 56 years.
Deceased served in the Afgan War 1878-80,
and commanded a battalion of the Devonshire
Regt. in the South African War 1899-1902. For
his work in the defence of Ladysmith he was
mentioned in despatches.
The body was removed from the General's late
residence, the Paddock, close by the Towers,
Poynton park, to Poynton Station, on Thursday
forenoon, with military honours, all the countryside
turning out to witness the unusual and impressive
spectacle. There were many distinguished
generals present, and a large body of troops,
the imposing procession being led by the Band and
Drums of the 9th Batt. Manchester Regt. The
body was borne on a gun carriage draped with the
Union Jack. On the coffin was the dead soldier's
plumed hat and sword, and a floral wreath from
the widow, inscribed, "I loving remembrance of
28½ years of happy married life." Many other
floral tributes were borne on an army service
wagon. As the procession moved along the band
played funeral dirges and cannon boomed out a
final salute. The body was taken by train via
Stockport to the barracks at Exeter, and on Satur-
day, after service in the cathedral, was interred
with military honours in Exeter Higher Cemetery.

The funeral service was held in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 5th April. St Edmund's Chapel (The Devonshire Regimental Chapel) in the cathedral now houses he following memorial.

funeral party.

MAJOR GENERAL
C.W.PARK C.B.,
DIED 29th MARCH 1913.
HE LED THE CHARGE OF THE
DEVONS ON WAGGON HILL
6th JANUARY 1900.

The burial took place in Exeter Upper Cemetery, a short distance from the cathedral. The grave lies alongside the cemetery's Church of England chapel, and is marked by a stone bearing just his initials and a short inscription. The cemetery record shows:

PARK Cecil William, age 56, from Stockport, interment no 34496, date of burial 5 April 1913

funeral party.

C W P

THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE

This old photograph shows a procession outside St George's Church, Poynton.
It is a funeral procession? or does it show the young men of Poynton going to war?

Little was known about the old photo when it was discovered recently. It was thought to be associated with a funeral, an explosion and the name Daniel Adamson.

Following a search, the location was identified as outside St George's church, Poynton. The second photo shows the same place today. The view of the church is now obscured by a fir tree, but the young tree can be seen in the earlier photo, just to the right of the lych-gate. To the right a bigger tree, although now much larger, shows the same fingerprint of branches in both photos. The lych-gate and boundary wall are unchanged.

It may be associated with Daniel Adamson, who was a successful engineer and business man in the latter half of the 19th century. He owned ironworks and boiler-making businesses in Hyde and Dukinfield. He was the first chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company, lived in Didsbury, and died in 1890. The funeral may not be his, but is possibly the result of an explosion associated with one of his businesses.

I think I can see two coffins in the procession, but I may be wrong. The casual behaviour of the crowd, all still wearing their hats, indicates that this is not a funeral. Prehaps the men are going to war.

From the photograph we can see that the procession approached from the direction of Hazel Grove, has turned right, and is now proceeding towards Woodford. To my eyes, it doesn't appear to have called at St George's. If a funeral, perhaps they are heading to Christ Church, Woodford, or Dean Row Chapel. If going to war, they are heading towards the present location of Poynton railway station. When did the station move there from its original location at the opposite end of Poynton village?