Long service at Youngs part two

Remember Mr. Coirnish? Who in 1935 celebrated 60 years of service with Youngs. Well, it seems he continued to work after that. Until he literally dropped dead at work at the ripe old age of 84.

OBITUARY
Mr. John Cornish
Mr. John Cornish. the veteran head horsekeeper at the Ram Brewery, Wandsworth High-street, died on Wednesday last week in St. Stephen's Hospital, Fulham-road. Chelsea, aged 84. For more than 67 years he had been in the service of Messrs. Young and Co.

His only surviving daughter, Miss Cornish, told a “South Western Star” reporter that on the preceding Sunday, when he was showing some visitors over the stable, a rupture from which be suffered gave way. He was immediately taken to hospital. While showing the visitors round the stable Mr. Cornish was carrying an enlarged framed photograph of himself, demonstrating how to handle two shire horses. The photograph was presented to him in February to mark his 67th anniversary as horsekeeper. Wherever the horses were exhibited they won prizes, including prizes at the principal shows at Islington. Regent's Park. Richmond, Maidenhead, and also in local parades, etc The late Mr. Cornish was a native of Thame, Oxfordshire, and was brought to London by his parents when he was nine months old.
South Western Star - Friday 17 April 1942, page 6.

I'm getting the impression that he quite liked his job. As surely he could have retired, had he wanted.

The article has some nice details about Mr. Cornish's work at the brewery:

RECORD OF SERVICE
Messrs. Young and Co.s Brewery, Ltd, Wandsworth. formed the subject of an article in “Live Stock Journal" of February 5. 1926, from which we make the following interesting attracts, viz.:—

The company has a stud of 27 splendid draughters of shire type, and puts on the road every day 10 or 11 pairs. A pair in the course of a day travels about 20 miles. On the outward journey they draw a load of anything up to 2.5 tons, exclusive of the dray weighing over 1 ton lO cwt., two men, and fittings. The dray brings back a load of empties, which works out at about two-thirds the weight of the full vessels. On an average day a total weight of 50 tons of beer is moved by the company’s horses.

To fill the requirements of such a trade for the seven or eight years which comprise the average life of the company's draughters, a horse must, in the first place, be of a type to stand hard wear, and, secondly, must receive the beet of care and treatment. As a matter of fact the company’s horses often last much longer than eight years under the care of John Cornish, who controls the stable.

We count ourselves fortunate in making the acquaintance of Cornish, for he has what must be nearly a record of service among horses, having been with the company for 51 years. His stock of horse lore is therefore something more than mere knowledge — it approaches instinct. Such men are not too numerous in this mechanical age. Many fine animals have passed through Cornish’s hands, and he is justly proud of the conduct of one of the best stables we have ever seen.
South Western Star - Friday 17 April 1942, page 6.

Around 20 miles was probably far enough to reach most of Young's tied houses, which were within a few miles of the brewery. That's one of the reasons they stuck with horse-drawn drays for so long.

The importance of Mr. Cornish's job running the stables is reflected in the turnout for his funeral.

HORSE-DRAWN DRAY AS HEARSE
The hymns sung were "Ye servants of the Lord" and "Abide with me."

The coffin rested in the private mortuary chapel of Messrs. Evershed Bros, funeral establishment, 84 Wandsworth High-street. The cortege started from the brewery. The coffin was borne on a dray drawn by two pure bred shire geldings. "Surprise," a winner of many prizes in pre-war days, and “Burton," recently purchased from a south country breeder. Mr. O. Odell drove the dray and pair to All Saints’ Parish Church, where the service Was held. Immediately after the dray came the directors of Messrs. Young and Co., the staff, foreman. and employees, who acted as pall bearers. Many old employees of the firm also attended the service. The coffin was conveyed from the church to the cemetery by a motor hearse. The directors. staff, and foreman attended the cremation at Putney Vale Cemetery, where the Rev. G. Freeman Irwin also officiated.

The Immediate mourners were Miss Cornish and relatives.

There were, in addition to floral tributes from Miss Cornish and relatives, beautiful emblems from the directors of Messrs. Young and Co., staff, foreman, all departments at the brewery, and local tradesmen.
South Western Star - Friday 17 April 1942, page 6.

This also demonstrates the paternalistic nature of many famliy breweries. Where the directors had respect for their employees. I can't imagine many of my former employers would have turned up to my funeral. But that's another story.