Henry James Abbott TUNSTILL

‘Shipley Times and Express’ (3 January 1919)

ACTOR-SOLDIER’S DEATH
PLAYED SHAKESPEARE ON THE BENSON TOUR AND WAS AN EXPERT CONJURER

The funeral took place at Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley on Tuesday afternoon of Private Henry J. A. Tunstill, who died at his parents’ residence, Selborne House, on December 27th, aged 25.

He was “called up” in 1916, and served with the A.S.C. two years in Egypt, where he contracted Hodgkin’s disease. He was returned to England, and was under treatment for three months at the Bermondsey Military Hospital. There being little hope of his recovery, he was discharged from the Army and returned to Shipley three months ago.

At the time of his joining the Army he was touring the provinces with the Sir F. R. Benson Shakespearean Company, and had appeared with conspicuous success at Glasgow, Newcastle, Hull, and other centres. Having exceptional elocutionary ability he was well known on the concert platform previous to going on the stage, and had often appeared at the Eastbrook Hall, Bradford. He had a great liking for conjuring, and as an exponent of this art he gave numerous public exhibitions under his professional name of Gilbert Crescent. At the age of 18 he won in open international completion the first prize for the best original trick, offered by the editor of a periodical which caters for the devotees of legerdemain, the judge on that occasion being Professor Hoffmann, a writer on sleight-of-hand. The deceased aspired to literature, and had written a book, now in the Press, on the art of the magician. He was editor of “The Magic Record,” a monthly paper published in Bradford, and was a member of the Magicians’ Club (London), and the Society of Yorkshire Magicians. Not only was he an exhibitor of tricks, but he was also an inventor, and, in recognition of his all-round ability, he had been selected to judge a conjuring competition to be held shortly at Bradford.

At the funeral there were present, in addition to the wife, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tunstill (father and mother), Miss Edith and Miss Gladys Tunstill (sisters), Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Foster (grandparents), Mr. and Mrs. Howitt (Mrs. Tunstill’s parents), Mr. and Mrs. Henry Foster (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. George Newton (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Calvert (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Blake (Chesterfield), Mrs. Smith (Bolton, Lancashire), Mr. and Mrs. Brooksbank (Thornton), Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tunstill (uncle and aunt), Mrs. Backhouse (cousin), Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Foster (great-uncle and great-aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Foster (great-uncle and great-aunt), Mr. E. Sunderland (Bingley), Mrs. Bolton, Miss Wilson, Mrs. Tillotson, Miss Lambert, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs. Knox, Mrs. Heaton, and Mrs. Hunt.

Services were conducted at the house and the grave by the Rev. Henry Taylor, Primitive Methodist minister.

Among the floral tributes was one “To my darling husband from his own dear wife.” Others were sent by father, mother, sister Edith and Howard; “Mother, Dad, and Mary”; Aunt Louisa (London); Aunties Smith and Rob; Auntie Overend (Birkenshaw); Auntie Sally and Uncle George; Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Hunt; Mr. and Mrs. Ackroyd; Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson; Bert and Annie; Miss Waud; Mr. and Mrs Knox; and Mr. and Mrs. Calvert.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. A. Gill.

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1919

TUNSTILL Henry James Abbott of 65 Bradford-road Shipley Yorkshire died 27 December 1918 Administration London 23 April to Gwladys Glassbrook Tunstill widow. Effects £230 15s. 6d.

1937

TUNSTILL Mary Elizabeth of 12 Selborne-terrace Shipley Yorkshire (wife of Robert Tunstill) died 9 February 1937 Administration (with Will) Wakefield 7 April to The Yorkshire Penny Bank Limited. Effects £235 9s. 8d.