Tuesday 28th February 1984
Herbert Sidney William Fox, who was always known as Bert to his family and friends, was born at Chippenham in 1899. He was the son of Charles Henry Fox, a Chippenham billposter. During the First World War Bert served in France with the Somerset Light Infantry, before transferring to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He completed his Army service as Chief Clerk on the Calais train ferry. He met his wife-to-be, Miss Constance Georgina Selfe, at a dance in his home town. She was a labourer’s daughter and was a native of Lacock. After leaving school she worked first as a probationer nurse at Fiddington House, a mental asylum at Market Lavington, and later as a part-time hairdresser at Chippenham.
Bert and Connie were married at the Parish Church of St Andrew, Chippenham, eight months after they had first met, on 19th June 1920. Bert followed in his father’s footsteps and secured a job as a billposter at Warminster. He and Connie, newly-married, set up their first home together at East Street in the former White Swan inn (closed 1907). They lived there and then at 4 Prospect Cottages, also at East Street, until 1940 when they moved to 34 West Parade. They had four children: Alan Herbert, born 9th December 1925; Gordon Eric, born 17th June 1927; Barry; and Joan Constance (Mrs Welsh), baptized 7th April 1921. Alan died of diphtheria, on l3th June1945, while serving with the Royal Navy at Madras, India. He had gained the rank of stoker in charge.
Bert Fox worked as a full time billposter until 1930. He then became an auxiliary postman for 15 years, although he continued to do some billposting on apart-time basis. He was finally employed at the School of Infantry, first as a bar steward and later as head batman. He retired in 1966. Between 1920 and 1934 he was also a retained fireman at Warminster.
Bert was a footballer of some renown and played in most positions for Warminster Town FC from 1920 until the mid-1930s. He was a member of the Wiltshire League Championship side of 1925/26 and was Captain for a year. He also played five times for Wiltshire. After his long soccer connection with Warminster, Bert played briefly for Westbury United before becoming a referee, serving as third man on most of the county’s pitches. He ended his footballing career as a first-class referee.
Bert’s other sporting passion was darts. He and his son, Gordon, were members of the Three Horseshoes team that won the Wiltshire Darts League Championship three years running. Later, Bert, Gordon and Bert’s other son, Barry, were members of the team from the Fox And Hounds that won the same championship. In 1940 Bert won the Spitfire Darts Individual Championship Cup, and also played for the White Hart and the Bunch Of Grapes.
Bert Fox died, aged 73, at his West Parade home on Friday 15th September 1972. Connie Fox died, aged 86, at Sambourne Hospital on 14th February 1984. Both were cremated at Salisbury.