Arthur Stanley Wills

The Times, Friday, Feb 8, 1935 OBITUARIES Mr. A. S. Wills     The death took place at Eshton Hall, Gargrave, Near Skipton, Yorkshire, on Wednesday. in his seventy-third year, of Mr. Arthur Stanley Wills, who was well known at Bath and in the Craven district of Yorkshire. He had been an invalid for some years.     The second surviving son of Mr. Henry Overton Wills, of Kelston Knoll, Bath, a director of the firm of W. D. and H. O. Wills, of Bristol, he was educated at Clifton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1886, practising until about 1900.   In 1890 he married Hilda, daughter of the late Mr. J. B. Dewhurst, J.P., of Aireville, Skipton, and resided for some time at Bromley, Kent.   In 1900, he went to live at Royal Crescent, Bath.   Mr. Wills was a director of the firm of W. D. and H. O. Wills for many years,retiring about 15 years ago.   In 1904, he was appointed a magistrate for Somerset.

Mr. and Mrs. Wills took up residence in the Craven District about 11 years ago, when they leased Eshton Hall from Sir Matthew Wilson.   Since that time they have taken a keen interest in village affairs.   During the war period, Mr. Wills was a member of a volunteer defence organization.   He was particularly interested in the Bath Royal United Hospital, of which he was a member of the board of management for some 30 years.   In the Skipton district, also, he continued his support of hospitals, and when the new Skipton and District Hospital was opened he and his wife defrayed the full cost of an x-ray installation.   Although not a great traveler, Mr. Wills was a frequent visitor to Norway for trout and salmon fishing.   He was unable, owing to ill health, to take an active part in public affairs, but was well known for his kindly interest in the social activities of Gargrave.   He is survived by Mrs. Wills, Mr. Ronald D. Wills, and Mr.Wilfrid D. Wills, National Conservative member for Batley and Morley.     The funeral is to be at Coniston Cold, near Skipton, to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m.

The Times, Tuesday, Feb 12, 1935 FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL SERVICES Mr. A. S. Wills     The Funeral of Mr. Arthur Stanley Wills, took place at Coniston Cold, Yorks, an Saturday afternoon.   The Rev. J. A. Sumner officiated, assisted by the Rev. A. C. Blunt.     The chief mourners included:   (Names Listed for ease of reading) Mrs. Wills (widow) Mr. Ronald D. Wills (son) Mr. Wilfrid D. Wills M.P. (son) Mr. Melville Wills (brother) Miss Wills Mrs. W. Wilson Mr. C. B. Thring Miss Dewhurst Mr. Harold Dewhurst Mrs. McGregor Miss Mary Dewhurst Mr. Cyrl Dewhurst Dr. G. E. Fisher Dr. G. Annesley Fisher

Among others present were: Mr. J. H. Preston Mrs. F. H. Garnett Mrs. John Yorke Mr. S. W. Corwell, representing Curtis, Jenkins, Cornwell, and Co., Bristol, and the family of the late Mr. F. H. Jemkins) Mr. J. W. Broughton (also representing Sir Matthew and Lady Wilson) Mr. C. P. Charlesworth (Registrar of Bradford County Court), and Mrs. Charlesworth Mr. R. G. Procter Mr. Charles Helm Mrs. J. A. Sumner Mr. G. W. Rickards, M.P. and Mrs. Rickards Mr. and Mrs. Alfrefd Rickards Alderman W. A. Brigg (also representing Alderman J. J. Brigg and Mrs. Leolin Brigg) Dr. Wales Mr. Illingworth Mr. and Mrs T. W. Irving. Mr. A. E. Elks Mr. L. A. Hargraves Mr. W. S. Hird (representing the Gargarve trooop of boy scouts) Mr. J. Brook (president of the Batley and Morley conservative Association) and Mr. A. Welford (secretary and agent) Captain A. Senior and Mrs. Senior (chairman of the Batley and Morley Women's Unionist Association) Mr. W. J. Hollinson (representing the Skipton and District Hospital)