| Sources |
- [S1257] The school Magazine of The McCabe Commercial School, Maidstone Dec 1930.
- [S1257] The school Magazine of The McCabe Commercial School, Maidstone Dec 1930, Dec 1930 (Reliability: 2).
- [S849] Notes on girl pupils of H I Piper, F0400.
- [S1257] The school Magazine of The McCabe Commercial School, Maidstone Dec 1930, Dec 1930 (Reliability: 2).
MR. McCABE'S DEATH.
(The following account is reprinted from the South Eastern Gazette, to whom our thanks are due.)
There passed to his long rest at 9.15 p.m. on Wednesday last, Mr. William John McCabe, for many years the principal of one of Maidstone's best-known private schools for boys. Mr. McCabe, who had attained the age of 74 years, came to Maidstone from South Newington, London, where he was head of Lonsbury College, in 1888. In that year he took over St. Augustine's College, which was conducted in what is now the Parish Room at the Old College, close to All Saints' Church, and worked it up from 13 boys to 80, and continued to run his school there until 1808, when he sold out and for a time was in London again. Returning to Maid¬stone in 1901, Mr. McCabe founded the Commercial School at the Masonic Hall in Brewer Street.
Started with Three Pupils.
On the opening day he had only three pupils, but he was a successful schoolmaster and soon raised his number to 70, and at one time had a waiting list on his books three years ahead. The School remained in Brewer Street until 1910, when Mr. McCabe transferred the establishment to London Road, where it was conducted with continued success up till the present day. Although not of robust physique, the de-ceased gentleman enjoyed remarkably good health, never missed a day in school, and was on the active list right up till the School broke up for the summer holidays last month. After he dismissed the school, Mr. McCabe, that day, took to his bed and never got up again. He had intended to retire next Christmas, and Mr. H. Piper (University of London), who was with him lor some five years before he went to Streatham Grammar School, had accepted Mr. McCabe's invitation to come and take over the Commercial School. Mr. McCabe had an eye to the future for the boys leaving his school, and always interested himself in finding them a career.
A devoted Churchman, the deceased was a strong pillar in support of Queen's Road Mission, and took a leading part in raising a fund for the restoration of the mission building and in providing a new organ there. He was also a pioneer of the Barming Heath Mission some 34 years ago, with Mr. Stephen Ashby.
Coached Maidstone Police.
For many years Mr. McCabe was scholastic coach to the Maidstone Police Force, and at Christmas used to invite his pupils from the Force to a party in the schoolroom. As a Freemason, he was a member of the Robinson Lodge.
Mrs. McCabe, who was a Devonshire lady, predeceased her husband in 1922. Five sons and two daughters survive. The eldest son, William John, is a Channel pilot; Reginald Victor, the second son, is engaged in the paper-making indus¬try in Canada; and the third son, Howard, is departmental manager of a large store in Winnipeg ; Colin, the fourth boy, is H.M. Inspector of Taxes at Stone-on-Trent; and the young¬est son, Stanley, is with Messrs. A. E. Reed and Co., Aylcs-ford ; whilst the eldest daughter is matron at the Military Hospital, Edinburgh Castle, and the other surviving daugh¬ter, Annie, is the wife of Col. Harvey Knapp, resident in Johannesburg.
The Funeral.
The funeral at St. Peter's Church, on Saturday, was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev. C. W. Martyn), who came especially from Bexhill to pay " a last personal tribute to an old and loved friend."
The processional, played by Mr. M. Bowles at the organ, was " I Know that my Redeemer Liveth." The hymns were "Lights Abode, Celestial Salem," and " Who are These like Stars appearing? " The Psalm, " The Lord is my Shep¬herd," was chanted. The mourners were: Mr. W. J. McCabe and Mr. Stanley McCabe (sons), Mr. and Mrs. Colin McCabe (son and daughter-in-law), Miss Mary McCabe (daughter), Mrs. H. Wadkinson and Mr. H. I. Piper.
Among those who also attended the service were the following of the late Mr. McCabe's brethren of the Robinson Lodge of Freemasons : Mr. B. Lockyer (Worshipful Master), Mr. E. A. Avery (Director of Ceremonies), Alderman F. E. Wallis, Councillor S. J. Lyle, who was also a pupil of the Commercial School, Captain H. Rogers, Messrs. W. J. Beecher (Past Master), A. J. Wood, Goodman, H. Small, J. Cloke, R. Sharpe, W. V. Brett, G. Starnes, and A. Jarrett (Steward), members of other Lodges being : Messrs. J. W. Solman, F. W. Vidler (Belvidere), and R. A. Haywood (Per¬fect Ashlar, London). Old pupils of the School present in¬cluded Messrs. L. W. Busbridge, S. Gascoine, F. G. E. May, W. Weeden, A. J. Wood, E. Wood, K. F. Fowles, C. Beale, W. Love, V. Whibley, V. Langley, W. Bloor and F. Wicken-den. Others who also attended were : Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Haslewood, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Wallis, Mrs. Masters, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Haywood, Mr. F. J. Whibley.
An Old and Loved Friend.
The Vicar, just before the close of the service, paid an eloquent tribute to Mr. McCabc's memory. He was a very old and loved friend, he said, and a familiar figure in the life of the parish. But especially would he be remembered for his work at the Queen's Road Mission. It was a work he always had very much at heart, and when his health and strength permitted no duties were too arduous for him to undertake. In the life of the town, too, he had made his mark. His wonderfully successful school had sent out pupils throughout the country, and perhaps throughout the world, and not a few of them, perhaps, owed their position in life to the steady work and kind influence of their old master.
The cortege left the church to the strains of " O Rest in the Lord."
We cannot realize what a great loss Maidstone has had, and we would like to quote an extract from a letter of sym-pathy received from one of his many friends. The letter says : " The world is going to be very much the poorer for such a loss. I sincerely hope all the boys will be loyal and keep up the splendid name the School has got. Such would be his greatest wish could he but tell them so."
The suggestion has been made that it would be a fitting memorial to the memory of Mr. McCabe and his work in Maidstone to place his portrait in the schoolroom. A fund to this end has been opened, and it is hoped that we shall be able to arrange a short unveiling ceremony in the New Year.
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Our Family History
1856 - 1930 (74 years)
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