Stoke Lacy Heritage
The Ayletts - George
George Aylett 1876-1945
George was born 3 October 1876 in Pencombe, Hereford; he had one older brother, Henry, and two older sisters, Elizabeth and Emily.
​
On the 13 May 1902, when he was 25yrs old, he married Ellen May Payne in Worcester. They had four children, Muriel Ellen 1903, Ernest Charles 1904, Gwendoline Vera 1907 and George Henry 1908.
​
Following the early deaths of Henry and his wife Edith, George took over the running of the Stoke Lacy Post Office, butchers and provisions shop at Lower House. In the 1911 Census he is shown to employ a General Servant, a Slaughterman, an apprentice Butcher and a Rural Postman. George himself is listed as Butcher and Asst. Postmaster.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
As well as running a successful business he was also a Churchwarden at the local St. Peter and Paul’s Church, Stoke Lacy. Examples of the variety of work he was called upon to do can be found in the Bromyard Deanery Magazine:
January 1922
“The Ringers, Choir, Churchwardens and Sidesmen had supper at the Rectory on the last day of the old year. Before separating Mr. Aylett (senior Church warden) proposed the health of the Rector. The Rector in his reply mentioned the fact that this was the 50th ringers’ supper at which he had been present at Stoke Lacy. The Ringers rang out the old year and rang in the new.”
September 1927
“On August 16th was the annual garden fete. ….. There were many attractions – Punch and Judy, Fancy Dancing, Living Whist, and a very amusing Hat Trimming Competition for gentlemen, the prize being won by Mr. G. Aylett.”
​
October 1927
“At a meeting of the Parochial Church Council Mr G. Aylett was appointed to commissioner on the Bishop’s commission to arrange for the amalgamation of the parish of Avenbury with the parishes of Stoke Lacy and Bromyard. Mr Aylett will represent the patron of the benefice (Prebendary Morgan who inherited the patronage from his father, the Rev. H. Morgan) and the Stoke Lacy Parochial Church Council. The commission will consist of representatives (chosen in the same way) of the three parishes concerned, and nominees of the Bishop, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Diocesan committee for the amalgamation of benifices.”
There was also an article in The Bromyard News and Record, Thursday 2nd July 1936 about the “Celebrations at Stoke Lacy” when the Rev. Preb. H. G. Morgan celebrated the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee as Rector for 50 years and Curate for 10 of Stoke Lacy.
“……….. Mr George Aylett (rector’s warden) in presenting the Rector with a solid silver flower vase, to commemorate his sixty years ministry in the parish, said no words of his could express all that the parishioners felt towards their Rector, who he hoped would continue to enjoy the best of health so that he might be spared them for many years to come. ……..”
The inscription on the vase was :-
“Presented to Preb. H. G. Morgan by his present and past parishioners of Stoke Lacy to commemorate his sixty years’ ministry in the parish, June 30th 1936”
“The presentation arrangements were made by Stoke Lacy Parochial Church Council with Mr. C. C. Hodges as Chairman, Mr. G. Aylett as hon. Treasurer and Miss Ingram as hon. Secretary.”
“Preb. Morgan has had the distinction of serving under Bishops Atlay, Percival, Hensley Henson, Linton-Smith, Lisle Carr and probably Bishop Hampden.”
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
“Probendary H. G. Morgan, who celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ministry at Stoke Lacy on Tuesday. Photographed with Mr. G. Aylett, who has been a churchwarden for 30 years.”
(4th July 1936, Hereford Times)
In Kelly’s Directory of Hereford 1937 he is recorded as ‘Butcher’ and Mrs Gertrude Passey is listed as ‘shopkeeper’, it must be assumed that Mrs Passey had taken over the provisions side of the business. In 1941 Mrs Passey was still the ‘shopkeeper’ but Miss Kate Smith is listed as ‘tobacconist and Post Office’ – still operating at Lower House.
​
George eventually died on 28 November 1945 in Hereford at the age of 69.
​
​
​
Author: Stuart Sutcliffe, 2019
​
​
Editor's note: George Aylett was the uncle of Charles Aylett who died in the Great War of 1914-1918:
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
