Arthur Earle Williams

Arthur Earle Williams

Arthur Earle Williams, my Great-grandad was born into a family of musicians in 1920 In Thames , New Zealand. He is the son of Arthur and Virginia Williams and was the youngest child of the family of three children Selwyn and Gwendoline . family and friends knew him as Earle .

Earle had his first day of school in 1925 at five years old at Thames Central school Then at the year of 1933 at 13 years of age he entered secondary school which is currently called Thames Highschool and taught himself how to play the drums and learned how to play the cornet at secondary school and played in the Thames Brass Band and was helped and motivated by his dad who also played the cornet and cello .

After finishing highschool he learnt how to be a cabinet maker and then worked for a business creating furniture as well as finding the love of his life, Dawn Price. My grandma Lorraine is their daughter who is also known by all her grandchildren (including me) as Lulu .

In 1942 he finished working in Thames and decided he would serve in WW2 . He Joined the New Zealand Air Force at RNZAF base Ohakea and specialised in maintaining aircrafts. If he wasnt maintaining planes he would formed a dance band to entertain the troops and their partners on Saturday nights with four other friends.

Earle played the cornet and sometimes the drums . Later on he joined the Air Force band and mained the cornet on parade . In 1945, the war was ending, he married his partner in life and had a child 1 year later called Noel Earle Willaims.

7 years later they had daughter named Lorranie Dawn Williams and three years later Colleen Francis Williams was born. He also had a building business and built the family house with his group.

In 1959 a dark patch came over his life and suffered recurring depression for around 6 years and spent a short time in hospital and the rest struggling to recuperate , The highlights of this horrible time were when he would get up before dawn on ANZAC day and play the last post on his cornet like the lone trumpeter did in WW2 at the Thames ANZAC service . His main lifesaver when he had his illness was being successful and confident in his new job at a freshly open Farmers department store . He became the manager of the furniture , homewear , and electronics department which kept him busy and happy .He stayed with Farmers until he retired in 1986 and spent the rest of his life at home with his wife as his three children had kids. Noel Earle Williams one boy and one girl , Lorraine two girls , Colleen two boys .

After 7 years of relaxation and fun family times Arthur Earle Williams Died in 1993 of cancer .

I chose him because of his interesting life and I also made this because he seems like a very nice person and I believe his life should be known to others in my family . Another reason is because it's my grandma's dad and she was really happy when I told her I was doing it for her dad. I thought he would have been a type of person that would have been humble, kind and caring. I admire how he tried his best in anything he wanted to do.

Rest in peace Great Grand Dad.

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