PROMINENT EARLY CAT FANCIERS - MRS FOSBERY
Mrs H.J.W. Fosbery, of Blacknest, Brimpton, near Newbury was a well known breeder of Persians, and was particularly well-known before WWII for her “Eastbury” line of Red/Red Tabby Persians which were described as having a red, rather than orange, ground colour. She also bred tortoiseshell, black, blue and cream Persians and sometimes advertised that she was over-stocked and selling cats at “giveaway” prices (£2 25 between the mid 1920s and 1930s). She judged longhair classes and was Hon. Sec of the Newbury Cat Club and an organiser of the Reading Cat Show.
Born Frances May Pears, she was involved in church work and social causes, and continued to be involved in various causes after her marriage to Henry James Wilson Fosbery, a British tennis player who was a finalist at the 1893 and 1905 Wimbledon Championships. The description of their lavish wedding gives an idea of the wealth of both families.
FOSBERY-PEARS. - Kenilworth Advertiser, 13th April 1901
“The marriage took place on Thursday, at Kenilworth Parish Church, of Mr. Henry James Wilson Fosbery, son of the late Mr. G. L. Fosbery, of Pentremawr, Denbigh, to Miss Frances May Pears, daughter of Mr. W. T. Pears, of The Hall, Kenilworth. A good deal of interest was taken in the happy event, Miss Pears being well-known in Kenilworth, where she has been very active in church work. She has also (from its inauguration, in which she took a leading part) been the prime mover in the work and maintenance of the Ministering Children’s League, which has done a vast amount of good. She has also taken a great interest in the bringing of children from the Birmingham slums, and she will be very much missed in that and in other directions, her kindness endearing her to many who have received thoughtful consideration at her hands.
The weather was not so propitious as could have been desired for the auspicious occasion. Nevertheless there was a large number present to see the wedding, besides the many invited guests. The church was very elaborately decorated for the occasion by Mr. Everitt, the head gardener at the Hall. In front of the reading desks were large palms, spireas, ferns, foliage, etc.; and at the foot of the chancel rails were arranged white azaleas, spireas, ferns, white hyacinths, etc., with ivy foliage disposed along the floor in front of the pots. Within the altar rails were massed on either side of the altar large palms, azaleas, dutsias, ferns, and foliage, the whole having a very handsome effect. The bride was driven to church in Mr. Pears' own carriage, with her father, who gave her away. The carriage of Mr. Twist, Coventry, conveyed the principal bridesmaid and Mr. Witherington (best man); Mr. Evans' (the Spring), Major Berkeley's, and Mr. Anson Yelda (Leamington) carriages conveying the other bridesmaids and guests. The bride's dress was composed of white moire Imperial, brocaded with a handsome design of satin tulips, trimmed and draped with old point lace and chiffon. A beautiful diamond clasp was in front of the bodice. She also wore a fine point lace veil to match the lace on the dress, over a coronal of real orange blossom, and carried a bouquet of choice white flowers. The bridesmaids were Miss Woodcock, Miss Fosbery, Miss Evans, Miss Wyer, and Miss G. Ryley. Their dresses were of white panne satin, with point de Alencon insertion, with yoke and puffed sleeves to correspond, and hats to match the colour of the lace, trimmed with black tulle and hydrangeas. The bridegroom's gifts to the bridesmaids were gold bracelets. The bridesmaids' bouquets were of mauve lilac and ox-eyed daisies.
[. . . ] Afterwards a reception was held at The Hall [. . .] The presents numbered about 200, and included a pale blue silk skirt trimmed with Valenciennes from the servants at The Hall, a silver salver from the servants at Bryn Elwy, a clock from the boys' Sunday school, silver frame from girls schools, M. C. L., and others. The bride's going away dress was of elephant coloured cloth, coat and skirt tailor made, with a pale blue silk skirt trimmed with valenciennes lace; and hat to match. The carpet from the High-street to the church was supplied by Messrs. Wackrill, of Leamington.”
The couple later moved to Blacknest, a house with a 103 acre estate including cottages and a farm, situated between Newbury and Reading. Although my illustration shows the estate for sale in 1915, they could not have moved there until the early 1920s (after the death of Mr W.J. King). Mrs Fosbery began advertising Persian cats from that address in 1923.
Adverts in 1938 and 1939 show Mrs Fosbery advertising for staff, including a married couple to move into one of the cottages and look after the small farm on the estate. This was where Mrs Fosbery bred her Persians.
She was active in the South Berks Conservative Association, holding garden meetings and whist drives at her home, Blacknest, Brimpton (Reading Standard, 31st July 1936). She was a member of the South Berks Women’s Unionist Association (Reading Standard, 20th March 1936), resigning as president of the Lambourn branch in 1939 (Reading Mercury, 1st April 1939).
The Fosberys appear to have been “pillars of their community.” Her husband served as a magistrate at Lambourn Police Court (North Wilts Herald, 7th January 1940). In 1937, Mrs Fosbery, assisted by members of the Crimson Ramblers Tennis Club organised a Divisional Tennis Tournament, with some of the matches being played at Blacknest, on 4th September (Wokingham Times, 17th September 1937).
