Cudgegong Valley History Project

Death of Mrs. Readford. A very old resident of the Mudgee district passed away on Thursday afternoon in the person of Mrs. William Readford, of Cudgegong. The cause of death was senile decay, the deceased lady being 83 years of age. Mrs. Readford was born at Richmond, and has been a resident of Cudgegong for more than 40 years. She was one of the oldest native born women in the State, and leaves a husband and grown-up family of five sons and two daughters, one of the latter being Mrs. Thompson of Lochiel. The funeral took place on Saturday at the private cemetery at Carwell, the Rev. F. J. Harris, of Rylstone, officiating at the graveside. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 28 January 1907, p. 2. Obituary Sophia Readford

STRATHFIELD WEDDING.

SYKES - THOMPSON.

Another interesting wedding was celebrated at St. Anne's Church, Strathfield, on Saturday night at 7.30, between Mr. Percy L. Sykes, "Blairgour," of Scone, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Sykes, of "Albany," Croydon, and Miss Muriel Alice Thompson, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson, of "Chepstow," Strathfield, and of "Oakley," Whiddon Station, near Mudgee. The Rev. H. E. Rose officiated, and the service was fully choral. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked graceful and charming in her handsome gown of ivory duchesse mousseline, with tunic overdress of ninon du luxe, edged with Limerick lace, and finished with a pearl and crystal fringe. The long square court train, with applied motifs of the lace and sprigs of orange blossom, fell from the shoulders, and the bodice, cut to the normal waistline, was finished with a pearl girdle. A coronet of orange blossoms was worn under a Limerick lace veil, and she carried a shower bouquet of carnations and hyacinths, tied with satin streamers. The bridegroom's gift was a handsome diamond ring. The bridesmaids. Miss Nellie Thompson (sister) and Miss Rae Dunn, wore lovely frocks of shell pink charmeuse, veiled in powder blue marquisette, with tunics and berthas of silver and crystal beads. Their head dresses were of blue marquisette, with a streamer of the same flowing from the left side, finished with a carbushion of pink bebe roses. They were recipients of diamond brooches and pink shower bouquets from the bridegroom. Mr. Percy H. Head came from Scone, N.S.W., to act as best man, and Mr. Harold. E. Thompson, "Wingarra," Rylstone, near Mudgee, was the groomsman. After the ceremony a reception was held at "Chepstow." The presents were displayed in the drawing-room, hall and library. A marquee was erected on the lawn, and the numerous small tables were decked with yellow jonquils, while the bridal table was a veritable bower of white hyacinths. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson received in the drawing-room, the latter at tired in a gown of black marquisette over satin, with aluminium and steel embroidery, and a black toque finished with violets. She carried a bouquet of violets and hyacinths tied with ribbon the same shades. Mrs. J. Sykes (mother of the bridegroom) wore black duchess satin, veiled with net, and a smart toque relieved with violets. Her empire posie was also of violets. Among the guests were: Dr. and Mrs. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Sykes, Mrs. W. Thompson, Miss Myra Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. A. Thompson, Mr. W. B. Thompson. Dr. Jamison-Dunn, Dr. Cecil Abernethy, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. H. Whiddon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Whiddon. Mr. and Mrs. Poyten, Mrs. and the Misses Levinge, Miss Rita Robson, Miss Garrett, Misses Corkhill (2), Mrs. W. and the Misses Gibb, Miss Nellie Doyle, Miss Norrie, Messrs. Howard Marks, O. G. Callaghan, A. Taibly, F. Taibly, Douglas Dunn, O. O. Callaghan. Later the happy pair departed for Medlow, where the honeymoon will be spent, the bride wearing a Bokhara cachmere de soie suit, with revers and cuffs of panne velvet, and a picture hat of sand colored tagel straw, with black wheat ears and pink roses.

DEATH OF JAMES THOMPSON.

The death of Mr. James Thompson, the famous horse-breeder, is reported, and came as a great shock and a surprise to even his most intimate friends. Last week Mr. Thompson went for a motor trip along the northern and western lines, and at Medlow he was seized with a painful heart trouble, which compelled him to remain until Friday last on the Mountains. He returned to his home at Strathfield on Friday evening, and under medical care made, apparent, rapid progress. On Monday evening, he was visited by his great friend, Mr. John Inglis, who found him cheerful and optimistic. He signified his intention of going to the races during the week, but next morning he was dead. The cause was heart failure. Mr. Thompson was a man of great natural strength, and apparently in the enjoyment of robust health. He led an active bush life for many years. He was born in the Rylstone district, and was one of a stout-hearted band of brothers who transformed the greater part of Widden Valley from a densely-timbered country to a fair pastoral paradise. Mr. Thompson was always a first-class judge of cattle and horses. As a reward for his judgment in the purchase of a large draft of stock many years ago, the late Hon. E. K. Cox presented him with a thoroughbred filly, by Yattendon. She was afterwards known as Keepsake, and her descendants materially helped to establish Mr. Thompson as a horse breeder. About 18 years ago Mr. James Thompson and his brother Alfred purchased Lochiel at a high figure. This was the turning point of his career as a breeder, for Lochiel, was an immense success as a stallion. In time Grafton came to Widden later to help the old son of Prince Charlie in the work. This was another lucky hit. The progeny of Lochiel and Grafton have made the name of Thompson a household word all over sporting Australia. Less than a year back Mr. Thompson retired from active service, and handed the management of the stud over to his sons, intending to enjoy the balance of his days, at his ease.

Death of Mr. James Thompson. At Homebush yesterday morning the death occurred of Mr. James Thompson, one of Aus tralia's leading breeders of thoroughbred stock. Mr. Thompson started breeding at Oakleigh, near Widden, and later extended his operations to Woodlawn (near Rylstone) and Wingarra (near Bylong), and was interested in the three places up to the time of his death. Lochiel was the first stallion owned by Mr. Thompson to make a name at the stud, and after the latter came Grafton, whom, as well as Ayr Laddie, Sylvanite, Royal Artillery, and Petrillo, he and his sons used this season, though they only had the last-mentioned horse on lease. Mr. Thompson's stud of mares was probably the largest in Australia, and it may be mentioned that at the recent sales he and his sons were represented by no less than 63 yearlings. Mr. Thompson bred many of the best horses seen on the Australian Turf of recent years, but owing to lack of space in this week's issue, I am only able to refer briefly to the deceased gentleman's association with horse-breeding in this State.

DEATH OF MR. JAMES THOMPSON

Mr. James Thompson, owner of the famous Widden thoroughbred stud, succumbed (suddenly to heart disease last Tuesday morning at his residence at Strathfield. The deceased horse breeder was always regarded by his friends as being a particularly robust man and his death therefore came as a great shock. He was 61 years of age, but seemed to carry his years lightly. He was a good-living man, genial and temperate, and he had a big host of friends in the racing world and amongst pastoralists. It is not often that dreams are acknowledged as having any significance in regard to coming events, but a well known Rylstone man mentioned a few days before Mr. Thompson's death that he had dreamt that the Widden stud muster was dead, and the dream seemed to have troubled the dreamer a good deal. Of course, it was not recalled to Mr. Thompson.

JAMES THOMPSON.

The unexpected death of Mr. James Thompson was the most discussed topic at the races on Wednesday, and very general regret was expressed at the loss of such a worthy citizen. Mr. Thompson was buried on Wednesday afternoon. Had the interment taken place a day previous, or a day later, there would have been a large assemblage of sportsmen to pay their last respects to the old studmaster, who was well liked by all who knew him, for his friendships were not lightly made, or lightly broken. Mr. Thompson was an exceptionally levelheaded man, whose honesty of purpose equalled his undoubted courage and capacity for work. He possessed the faculty for minding his own business, and this, with other simple virtues, combined to make him a notable man, who would have succeeded in any walk of life. Nature endowed him with gifts that enabled him to win fame in the management and judgment of stock, and his studs at Widden and Wingarra stand as monuments to his energy and capacity. The stud of thoroughbreds now owned by his sons began in a very humble fashion with one mare. Today the firm owns the largest collection of thoroughbred mares in Australia, and, in addition, James Thompson's brothers, William, John, and Joseph, are large owners, as are his nephews, W. B., C. L., and Alfred Thompson, who all started with mares bred by James Thompson. As I mentioned last week, Lochiel was the first touchstone of success, then came Grafton, a wonderful stallion, who is now supported by Ayr Laddie and Royal Artillery, while next door to them, at Widden proper, J. and W. Thompson keep Maltster, whose phenomenal success as a stallion has brought his owners into high prominence as breeders. Since J. and W. Thompson dissolved partnership in all their horses except Maltster, John Thompson and his son Alfred have purchased Linacre. These stallions are used by the family under some special arrangement, which is one of the reasons of the success of the Thompsons as breeders, for, if a mare is unsuitable for one horse, she goes to one that is considered the right mate for her. All this was inaugurated by James Thompson, who looked the strongest of all his family, yet he was taken with hardly a sign or warning. Comparatively recently Mr. Thompson was medically examined, and pronounced as sound as a bell. Never a moment's sickness worried him until his heart refused its office at Mellow, after a long motor trip with Messrs. J. N. Hart and John Brown. Of all the horses, great or mean, that have been through his hands, Mr. Thompson loved Lochiel the best. The horse was the apple of the studmaster's eye, and great was the shock when, in seeming good health, this famous son of Prince Charlie ripped out into his paddock one bright morning for his gallop, and before he had gone many paces dropped dead with hardly a kick. Mr. Thompson used to say he was glad to think the old horse went that way, without a pain, and it is a curious coincidence that his own ending was somewhat similar.

When I was last there the late Lieutenant Harold Thompson shared the labour of management with him. The manner of Harold's death in France was related to me. It appears he was shot through the stomach and was successfully operated upon; a great surgeon regarded his recovery as certain, but a couple of days later he took a bad turn and died. Harold Thompson had great faith in Aryan, whom he purchased on behalf of the firm for this stud, in South Australia, and the good opinion he expressed to me more than once looks like coming good for Aryan's stock, both at Wingarra and Oakleigh, are top class to look at.

DEATHS

THOMPSON. - March 24th, 1926, Vera Clarice Thompson, beloved daughter of Mrs. K. Thompson, Strathmore, Neutral Bay.

FUNERALS

THOMPSON. - The funeral of the late Miss VERA CLARICE TUOMPSON will take place THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON, at 4 o'clock, in St. Thomas Church of England Cemetery, Enfield. WOOD COFFILL LIMITED, Funeral Directors.

DEATHS READFORD.- November 28, 1930, at his residence, 248 Concord road, Concord West, William Henry (late of Wentworthville and Mudgee), beloved husband of Evelyn Readford and loving father of Noel, Arthur and Mona, aged 78 years. Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 29 November 1930, p. 14. Obituary William Henry Readford

FUNERALS READFORD. - The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. ALMA READFORD and FAMILY are informed that the Funeral of her late beloved HUSBAND and their dear FATHER, Charles Napoleon Readford, will leave their residence, 11 Wilson-street, Kogarah, THIS (Friday) MORNING, at 10.15 o'clock, for the Church of England Cemetery, Woronora. W. N. BULL, LIMITED, Funeral Directors. Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 12 June 1936, p. 9. Charles Readford Funeral