Alfred Watkins (1873-1950)

Obituary
ALFRED WATKINS. An army of district friends learned with the most keen regret of the death of Mr. Alfred Watkins, one of the old est and most widely esteemed residents of Lower Portland, the sad event taking place at the District Hospital on August 29, after a sudden illness, at the age of 77 years.

A native of Lower Portland, where he lived through out his life and established a reputation as a successful orchardist (in addition to a term, in his earlier years, as a businessman in the city markets), the late Mr. Watkins was noted for his many examples of a fine public spiritedness which his family has inherited; for his keen interest in all clean, healthy sport (cricket being his particular interest) ; and as a staunch Methodist churchman. He was, in fact, a pillar of the community in which he resided, vigorous in body and mind, a good citizen and neighbour, and the final sudden illness which terminated a life of previous rugged good health has removed a cheery presence whose absence will be keenly felt for a long time to come.

Deceased married Miss Sara Ann Mitchell, a member of another old district family (and herself a native of Lower Portland also), who survives him, with a family of eleven children, Dorothy (Mrs. Singleton), Verlie ('Sis'), Phoebe (Mrs. Gotts), Fred, Clarrie, Frank, Aubrey ("Jim"), Tom, Albert, Lily (Mrs. Alliband) and Henry.

The large and very representative funeral took place on the following day, when, after a service in the Methodist Church at Lower Portland, the interment was conducted in the West Portland cemetery.

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