Joseph Bamford J. P.

Joseph Bamford was in business in Kilrea from about 1863.  He and his elder brother, Thomas, jointly operated a drapery business for many years at the arcade, Kilrea, until their partnership was dissolved in October 1883.  At this point Joseph took over the drapery business.  Joseph was also a funeral furnisher, emigration agent and from 1881 an auctioneer in Kilrea.  In addition, he was also a Justice of the Peace (commissioner of affidavits).  After marriage on 1st November 1883, Joseph and his family lived in Maghera Street, Kilrea (at his shop's premises, the emporium or the arcade).  He retired in June 1918 to 22 Cyprus Avenue until about 1922.  They then moved to 21 Salisbury Terrace, Portrush.  He is buried in First Kilrea Presbyterian Church burying ground.

The Royal Arcade, Maghera Street, Kilrea

(photo courtesy of 'The Fairy Thorn Revisited by Kilrea Local History Group)

The Royal Arcade, Maghera Street, Kilrea

(photo courtesy Google Street View)

The Bamford Emphorium, Kilrea

(photo courtesy Google Street View)

The following newspaper article (transcribed by myself) was found by History Hub Ulster researcher, Nigel Henderson.

Coleraine Chronicle - circa mid 1918

POPULAR KILREA COUPLE HONOURED

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bamford

UNIQUE BUSINESS RECORD

Mr. Joseph Bamford J.P. (8th December 1848 to 1st January 1923) and Mrs. (Margaret) Bamford (née Hazlett - 1853 to 5th September 1934) were the central figures in a most interesting social function which took place in the Town Hall, Kilrea  on Tuesday afternoon.  A large assemblage of people, representatives of the business and agricultural life of the town and district, had come together for the purpose of taking a formal farewell of the popular couple on their leaving to take up residence in Belfast (Cyprus Avenue), and of presenting them with tangible tokens of their regard and esteem, accompanied by good wishes for their future happiness and prosperity.  For over half a century Mr. Bamford has loomed large in the business, social and religious life of Kilrea.  In his well-known premises, "The Arcade", he, by his enterprising and exemplary business methods, built up an extensive trade, and won for himself a widespread and enviable reputation for honest and fair dealing.  Just as his retirement deprives the business life of the town of a man who was in many respects its most dominant personality, so does his departure to Belfast remove from Kilrea one who was always to the fore in many other circles.  Movements for the moral or material advancement of the people, patriotic, social, philanthropic, or religious, had always in Mr. Bamford and his amiable wife the most cordial supporters and their departure from the town which has known them so long, and from a people all sections of whom hold them in affectionate regard and esteem, is keenly regretted.

An illuminated address from his many friends in town and district, together with a cheque for a substantial amount, was presented to Mr. Bamford, while Mrs. Bamford was made a recipient of handsome pieces of silver plate.  The address bears interesting views of favourite places around Kilrea.  "The Arcade" employees also presented Mr. Bamford with an address, and Mrs. Bamford with a silver salver, suitably inscribed.

Dr. S J Bolton, J.P., Aghadowey, who presided, said they were met that afternoon to show their regard for Mr. Bamford who had for over half a century taken a foremost place in the affairs of Kilrea.  That he had been a great success in business went without saying.  The name of "The Royal Arcade" was a household word throughout the counties of Derry and Antrim.  Yet, notwithstanding the claims of his  extensive business, Mr. Bamford always found time to take a leading part in every project at tended to the advancement and prosperity of Kilrea.  (Applause).  They considered it a privilege and a pleasure, as well as a duty, to do honour to Mr. Bamford, who was ever ready and willing to honour others, and that testimonial was a proof of the old maxim that as a rule one got out of any district what he gave to it.  If he were asked to describe Mr. Bamford in a few words, he would say that he was a broad-minded, good-hearted, open-handed man, whose departure from Kilrea was a serious loss to the town.  (Applause).  With regard to Mrs. Bamford, he could not speak too highly.  (Applause).  She had always commanded their utmost respect and esteem, and Mr. Bamford would be the first to acknowledge how much his success was due to her advice and influence.  He heartily wished them both long life and happiness.  (Applause).

Mr. George Kidd read the address, which, with Mr. Bamford's reply, appears in our advertising columns. 

Mr. John R. Gordon, on behalf of the subscribers, handed Mr. Bamford the cheque, while the silver plate was presented to Mrs. Bamford by Mrs. Bolton, who said their numerous friends in and around Kilrea wished Mr. and Mrs. Bamford and family very many happy days.  (Applause).

Mr. Bamford, who was visibly affected, said they would excuse him for not making any supplementary reply.  "My heart is too full to speak", he remarked, and then resumed his seat, amid loud and prolonged applause, the general feeling being that his silence was "more eloquent than words".

Mrs. Bamford who was very cordially received, returned thanks for the kindly allusion that had been made in the address to herself and to her boy.  "You all knew him" she added, "and of course that will always be an attachment for us to Kilrea.  I thank you very much for the splendid gift to me.  I feel that I have been able to do very little for Kilrea".  (Applause).

Mr. Kidd said he could heartily endorse what had been stated in the address as to Mr. Bamford having always been foremost in every cause which had for its object, the social and material advancement of the Kilrea people.  When Mr. Bamford left them they would lose one of their best  subscribers, particularly to the Red Cross and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.  He had remembered Mr. Bamford for the greater part of his lifetime, and always found him straightforward, kind-hearted, and generous.  (Applause).

An address to Mr. Bamford from the employees of "The Royal Arcade" was read by Mr. George Archibald, and Miss Faris presented Mrs. Bamford with a beautiful silver salver.  The address together with Mr. Bamford's reply will be found in our advertising columns.

Mrs. Bamford in thanking the employees for their handsome gift, said the assistants have certainly a great deal to do with the prosperity of the "The Arcade".  They had always found them very loyal and true.  She thought Mrs. Bamford ought to be very proud of business men and women whom he had turned out.  Some of the most flourishing businesses in Kilrea, Garvagh, Ballymoney, and other places were now owned by men who had received their earlier training in "The Arcade".  It was a very heavy trial for Mr. Bamford to leave Kilrea where he had spent his youthful days and built up his business.  Mr. Bamford was so much affected by their kindness to him that he was unable to express his feelings in words.  In the circumstances she was sure they would excuse him.  (Applause).

The Chairman believed they would all agree that Mr. Bamford had made a most impressive speech; a more eloquent one, perhaps than if you had spoken for an hour.  (Applause).

Rev. W. J. Jamison said he deemed it a very high privilege to join with them in expressing their high regard for Mr. and Mrs. Bamford.  Mr. Bamford had a genius in business, and had he had been in such a country as the United States he would have occupied a foremost place.  (Hear, hear).  He had gifts and capacity for managing a big concern not only with success,  but also for making it a pleasure for people to have dealings with him.  He had the happy knack of negotiating business in a way that always left pleasant memories.  Mr. Bamford was a very good friend to people in trouble.  He (Mr. Jamison) had had experience of that.  He was able to give wise council, and it seemed to be a pleasure and inspiration to him for help anyone who required assistance.  As to Mrs. Bamford, she always impressed her friends as being a lady of high ideals.  She encouraged Mr. Bamford in every good work.  Reference had been made to the outstanding part played by Mr. Bamford in social and even on State occasions.  Speaking as a clergyman, he (Mr. Jamison) wished to say that since he came to Rasharkin some 35 years ago he had always see Mr. Bamford at the head of his church, supporting his minister and all other worker.  Amongst the happy recollections he (Mr. Jamison) had of First Kilrea, was meeting Mr. and Mrs. Bamford and hearing them bid "God Speed" to every good movement.  (Applause).   At the end of the long and useful career he did not think they would have any greater reward than the consciousness of taking away the good wishes of all, not only in Kilrea, but in the adjoining districts Co. Antrim and Co. Derry.  In the evening of their life, when they renewed the associations of youth in middle age, it would be to Mr. and Mrs. Bamford a joy to know that all were sorry at their departure.  It was their united wish that Mr. and Mrs. Bamford might have a very pleasant eventide; a time when they would have as many well- wishers and friends in Belfast as they did in Kilrea.  (Applause).

Mr. James Tomb, U. D. C., Coleraine, said he supposed he was the eldest acquaintance present of Mr. Bamford, as it was something like fifty years since they first met.  In all that time he did not believe they ever had a quarrel.  He (Mr. Tomb) was Mr. Bamford's first customer, having made an effort to give him his first money just "for luck".  Mr. Bamford, like many another young man, began under difficulties - which he (Mr. Tomb) remembered well - but he was able to surmount anything, and soon acquired fame.  Reference had been made to the manner in which Mr. Bamford trained the young men under him.  If he (the speaker) had had a son going to business he did not know any house in Ulster to which he would have sent him as willingly as to "The Arcade" for honest, straight, business methods.  (Applause).   As they all knew, Mr. Bamford was keen to earn money, but it was for no purely selfish end.  His purse was always open to every worthy cause.  He (Mr. Tomb) had never known poverty to leave his door unaided.  (Hear, hear).  Mr. Bamford's family was a credit to Kilrea.  Two of his daughters were now professors in America (Hannah Hall née Bamford and Maya Brown Stephens Bamford).  They deeply regretted that his gallant son (Joseph Lamont Bamford, RFC, 5th January 1884 to 20 August 1917) had not been spared to be with him with them that afternoon.  In all his efforts Mr. Bamford had been enthusiastically supported by his amiable and esteemed wife.  (Applause). 

Rev. W. J. Farley, B. A., Castlerock joined in paying a tribute to Mr. Bamford's eminent business capacity.  Nowadays, he said business was looked upon by advanced thinkers as a profession which required a university preparation and education.  But long before that standpoint was reached Mr. Bamford had introduced into Kilrea and the business of the town an enterprise and methods that were really far in advance of his time.  Business was a part of the larger game of life, and Mr. Bamford had not only advanced his profession, but had played the game, as they all acknowledged.  (Applause).  Mr. Tomb had referred to the fact that Mr. Bamford never pursued his business with purely selfish ends.  It is not enough for him to clothe the naked from the ample stores of "The Arcade", but, as they all knew, Mrs. Bamford and he over and over again fed the hungry, lifted up the downcast, and restored the fallen.  (Applause).    He used no empty form of words when he said their places in Kilrea would be very hard to fill.  After speaking appreciatively of the kindness invariably shown to the members of his family and himself during the residence in Kilrea by Mr. and Mrs. Bamford, Mr. Farley said he had no longer the speak directly for the congregation of Second Kilrea, but he did not think anyone would object to him saying publically that  during all the years of his ministry there the congregation outside its membership, and even inside its own membership, had no more sincere well-wisher and no more helpful friend than Mr. Bamford.  (Applause).  They bade Mr. and Mrs. Bamford farewell, but would rejoice to meet them again and again.  (Applause).  He (Mr. Farley) had travelled over a good part of Ireland, and had found the firm of Mr. Bamford were known - and favourably known - at any rate throughout Ulster.  (Applause).  They had always admired the high standard of home life set up by Mr. and Mrs. Bamford, and had followed with interest the career of their family.  Their hearts went out with them in sympathy in the sacrifice they had made for their King and country, and it was the earnest wish of everyone present that with them at eventide it might be light.  (Applause).

Mr. R. J. Gordon said the people of Kilrea had done nobly in honouring one who for such a lengthened period had occupied a leading place in the business, social, and religious life of the town and district.  Every movement which had for its objects the uplifting of humanity had in Mr. Bamford a practical friend.  In everything concerning the welfare and prosperity of the people he took a lively interest, and was cordially seconded in his efforts by Mrs. Bamford.  He hoped and trusted that Mr. and Mrs. Bamford might be long spared to enjoy the gifts that had been presented to them that afternoon by grateful friends, and that the eventide of their lives might be long and happy.  (Applause). 

Mr. Joseph Anderson added his testimony to the loss Kilrea was sustaining by the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Bamford to Belfast.  The loss of a man of Mr. Bamford's outstanding business ability was considerable to any community, but much more so to a small town like Kilrea.  Business relations between Mr. Bamford and himself had always been of the happiest character.  He regretted his removal from their midst, and wished Mr. and Mrs. Bamford and family many happy days in their new home.  (Applause).

Mr. W. J. Hilton J. P., said he had known Mr. Bamford for about ten years, and during that time he had appreciated him very highly.  Too much could not be said regarding Mr. Bamford's business ability or his generous interest in and support of all worthy movements.  Having mentioned Mr. Bamford's liberal contributions to the Red Cross fund, Mr. Hilton spoke eulogistically of his work in the church, remarking that he never knew any man to take so much upon himself.  He had often wondered how Mr. Bamford, being such a busy man, could find time to do so to do so much for the church.  As to Mrs. Bamford, she was always in the forefront of church work.  He joined in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Bamford long life and prosperity.  (Applause).

Mr. W. W. Hill, U. D. C., Coleraine, in the course of a felicitous speech said he was an old boy of Kilrea, but he was sorry he could not claim the distinction of being an old boy of Mr. Bamford's.  However, during the most impressionable years of his life it had been his good fortune to partake of Mr. and Mrs. Bamford's hospitality on very many occasions, and he could say that his intercourse with them for been for his good.  In the course of his business he (Mr. Hill) had had considerable experience of the large centres of industry, and, in the nature of things,  had been brought into personal contact with the heads of those mammoth concerns which were a feature of the modern trade.  He said, and he had always thought, that Mr. Bamford had all the qualities that would have placed him at the head of such concern had he chosen to go further afield.  He had the happy gifts of  optimism, enterprise, and natural shrewdness, qualities that made for success in any undertaking.  But Mr. Bamford preferred to stay in his own native town, amongst the people he had known from his earliest years.  He for one wondered did he not choose wisely.  He had been an outstanding success in his own native town.  There were other things, as they all knew, than the mere piling-up of pounds, shillings and pence, and that Mr. Bamford had succeeded in those other things was evident by the presentation that day.  (Applause).  To have a place in the esteem and love of those who knew one best was, he thought, a very great thing in life, and that Mr. and Mrs. Bamford had it they all knew.  Mr. Kidd had referred to Mr. Bamford's  generosity towards the Red Cross.  He (Mr. Hill) had had some experience of war funds in the "trim little borough" of Coleraine during the last two years, and he could quite understand Mr. Bamford's liberality.  It had been the very same in Coleraine; those who have paid the heaviest price were willing to do a little more.  Mr. Bamford would forgive him for alluding to the great price he had paid in this awful time of suffering.  They all deeply sympathised with him.  In conclusion, Mr. Hill joined in the good wishes for Mr. and Mrs. Bamford's future happiness.  He was only sorry they had not followed the example of their good friend, Mr. Tomb, by going to live in Coleraine.  (Applause).

Mr. Richard McFadden, in a speech brimful of humour, associated himself with the presentation, and joined in regretting the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Bamford from Kilrea, where they had lived so long and done so much good, and had so many friends of every creed and class.  He could say without fear of contradiction that Mr. and Mrs. Bamford had clothed the naked, fed the hungry, and provided for the destitute.  To know Mr. and Mrs. Bamford and the members of their family was to appreciate them.  Nature had endowed Mrs. Bamford with every good quality that goes to adorn a lady , and particularly with that one great quality - real charity.  They cordially wished Mr. and Mrs. Bamford long and happy years of well-earned retirement.  He hoped that when the time came, and they went to enjoy the reward of the many gifts of charity which they had meted out on earth, they would be met at the gate of heaven by their loving and affectionate son.  (Applause).

A vote of thanks to the Chairman was proposed by Mr. Tomb, seconded by Mr. Kidd, and heartily passed.

Mr. Bamford expressed his thanks to the committee which had charge of the presentation, and also to all present for their attendance that afternoon.  That was the proudest day of his life.  He was proud to think that during his sojourn in Kilrea he had won the respect and esteem of the best people in the Kingdom.  He again asked them to accept his very sincere thanks.  (Applause).Belfast.

Mr. and Mrs. Bamford afterwards entertained all present to a sumptuous tea.