Ellis Charles Atkins (abt. 1829 - 1919)

In his 90th year - Mr Ellis Charles Atkins died on Sunday in his ninetieth year. He was secretary to the Foresters' Court for over 50 years ; one of the Auditors of the Colchester District A.O.F. ; agent for several fire insurance companies, and a former secretary to the Brightlingsea Conservative Association. He was also secretary to the Shipwrecked Sailors' Widows & Orphans Fund and to the Brightlingsea Gas Company for 44 years. He was for many years a churchwarden, as well as superintendent of the Church Sunday Schools.

Bro. E. C. Atkins

Bro. Ellis Charles Atkins, the first and only secretary, as will hereafter appear , of Court “Lifeboat” 4390, A.O.F , Brightlingsea is a Norfolk man having been born in the year 1830 at Bressingham, near Diss, where his father was a farmer. The good abilities he Manifested at an early age attracted the notice and help of several influential friends, by whose advice he was encouraged, when 13 years of age, to seek to qualify himself for the scholastic profession. After a course of training at Norwich he found no difficulty in obtaining various teaching appointments, one being an office under the Poor Law, for which he was indebted to the interest of the late Sir John Walsham. In the year 1853 an opening attracted his notice, and he eventually came and settled there as a private schoolmaster. Educational opportunities were very scarce there at that period and Bro. Atkins’ abilities mat a much-felt want, while his success is attested by the number of his pld pupils now occupying responsible and honourable positions in various departments of social and public life. In the year 1864 our brother commenced the work, which every succeeding has shown to have been, from a Forester’s standpoint, the most eventful and most fruitful of his life. When in the year 1864, the officers from Court , 2094, Colchester, announced by poster their intention of visiting Brightlingsea with the object of laying siege to the town, the inhabitants were fairly startled , and wild imaginings were immediately raised in the breasts of landsmen and sailors alike, each and all wondering what those mystic and apparently unheard of symbols A.O.F. meant, and the interpretations given, in many quarters were, to say the least amusing, but when it was discovered that this band of skirmishers were only the representatives of a great friendly society, and meditated very friendly intentions towards the inhabitants, it may be fairly said that Brightlingsea without hesitation took Forestry into its arms and homes, a decision it has never had cause to regret. Brother. Atkins, one of the founders, was at once appointed to the office of secretary. By leaps and bounds, the court increased in numbers, and quickly assumed a position of importance amongst friendly societies, and while the various offices in the Court have from time to time been filled by worthy and aspiring men. Bro. Atkins being always abreast of the times with Forestrial information., has been the coxswain who has guided with the assistance of those officers, the “Lifeboat” into a position of financial stability. The duties connected with a Court now numbering 812 members, with 3 distinct classes of members and an invested capital of £11,000, necessitates an amount of work which can only be gauged by those having like duties to perform; and for 34 years Bro. Atkins has conscientiously, considerably, with painstaking care and an ever increasing love of the work, so successfully performed the duties of secretary as to call forth the highest enlogriums from the members of his own Court. “The word of a Forester” has been to our brother more than a formal expression, for sympathy with the sick and suffering and bereaved have characterised the whole of his official life. As a testimony to this after 25 years’ faithful and generous service, Court “Lifeboat” justly recognised those services by presenting him with an illuminated address and a suitably inscribed silver watch. These tokens of appreciation and recognition of work well and nobly done are treasured by our brother amongst his most valued possessions. Through the long course of years, with a membership continually increasing and funds rapidly accumulating, the duty has devolved upon certain members of the Court to find suitable outlets for this annual increase in funds, and over this department he has watched with a jealous eye and paternal regard, knowing that it was only by safe and sound investments that the ultimate prosperity of the Court could be secured and he haas now the satisfaction of knowing not only that every investment is a safe one, but also that the interest accruing thereupon is contributing materially to the financial soundness of the Court. Not only has the parent society reserved the benefit of our brother’s services. Very early in the movement, recognising the important fact that a juvenile society would be a powerful feeder to the adult branch, he, with others, established the Brighlingsea Juvenile Foresters Friendly Society, which from its commencement has admitted 770 members. From which 390 members have been transferred to Court “Lifeboat” and it has at the present time a membership of 240, with a reserve of £440. Within the last few years Bro. Atkins has willingly co-operated with the promoters of the new Foresters Hall, which was built in the year 1891. Here the members can meet for the transaction of business , clear of the public-house, in heir own hall. By erection of this building another channel has been opened whereby a fair rate of interest can be obtained on the capital invested. In 1886, when endeavours were being made to establish a District of the Order at Colchester upon sound financial principles, by forming a new amalgamation of the Courts in and around that town, which were affiliated to other districts , he rendered valuable service. Ever since the establishment of the District Bro. Atkins has been one of the auditors, and in April 1898, he was unanimously elected as High Court Auditor. He is at all times ready to act as a consulting friend, and many a secretary owes him debts of gratitude for the advice so freely given. It is not too much in asserting that his labours have been the means of improving the postion of our Order in the North East of Essex. The parish of Brightlingsea having a population of about 4,000 is so geographically situated that very few, if any, members have joined the Court from places outside, which renders the fact that 1,150 members have been initiated into it somewhat interesting. The High Court Meetings have always had a peculiar attraction for our worthy brother, they being considered by him as an annual education, and an interesting occasion for cultivating the friendship of those kindred spirits who are interested in the welfare of our great society. Attending regularly for the past 11 years his has become a well know figure , and although not often taking a prominent part in the great debates his quiet influence and practical suggestions he has been able to contribute in a private way towards the solution of some of the complex problems continually cropping up , have won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been brought into contact. Recurring to earlier chapters of his biography, it was not an unnatural development of his pursuits as s teacher that , by and by, in the days when there was not even a newspaper to be bought thence, Bro. Atkins was led to tp provide a supply of literature for the town of Brightlingsea and became its first bookseller, eventually relinquishing the scholastic profession for this business, which he carried on successfully for some years. For some years he has been a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Accountants and Auditors, and also a public auditor under the Friendly, Industrial, and Provident Societies Acts. In all departments of social life Bro. Atkins has always taken a willing part, having figured, amongst other things, for a number of years as secretary of the Brightlingsea Regatta Committee. . As a zealous member of the Church of England has always been foremost in its councils, having served faithfully and energetically for many years as superintendent of the Church Sunday School and now faithfully performing the duties of Churchwarden. With a man so many-sided, possessing qualities which are not being used “for himself alone” it is a pleasure to be associated, and to our sincere hope is that the Court with which he is connected and in whose interests he has so indefatigably laboured may long retain his able, experienced , and exceptionally valuable service. W.F. P.