by Hilary Thomas
My dear friend Corinne Eventhall, who passed away in 2003, had a strong connection with the St Annes community, but I had no idea of that when first I started working on this project. Thanks to her son David, I discovered that her father Philip played a key role in the St Annes community relief efforts during the early years of WWII, following in the footsteps of his father-in-law Phineas Webber. The story goes back to the early 1920s, when Phineas, the owner of a lighting business in Manchester, moved with his wife Emily and four daughters (Sadie, Dorothy, Muriel and Gladys) to St Annes, settling at 27 Rowsley Road.
Their daughter Gladys married Philip Salter, and the couple lived just along Rowsley Road at number 38 with their children, Leonard and Corinne, and Philip's parents, Moses and Annie. In 1938 Philip set up a business manufacturing lampshades at Egyptian Mill, Radcliffe near Manchester.
Both Phineas and Philip played key roles in the expanding St Annes Jewish community. Phineas was involved with the Social and Literary Society, founded in the mid 1920s, and served as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer during the 1930s. In 1940 he was honoured as Chatan, a Bridegroom of the Law. Philip, born 1905, followed in his father-in-law’s footsteps by serving as the synagogue Treasurer in 1939. His tenure coincided with the move of the St Annes synagogue to newly-purchased premises in Orchard Road, where it remained until 1961.
Sadly, Philip did not live to see the outcome of his work, meeting an untimely death in early 1941. His father-in-law survived him by 3 years.
Philip's grandson David was born after Philip died, but remembers being told that Philip organised events to raise funds for both the local Red Cross and the YMCA. Philip had poor health but still did his duty as an ARP warden. After his death Gladys took on the running of the business. David recalls her telling him that Leonard and Corinne then went to boarding school so that Gladys could work full time. She worked until she was in her sixties. Leonard eventually took over the business.
All pictures courtesy of David Eventhall
Opening of the Orchard Road Synagogue 1940, Philip is 6th from the left
Webbers, L to R Dorothy, Gladys, Phineas, Emily, Muriel, Sadie
Dear Hilary:
I am the son of Muriel (Webber) Lawton, sitting crosslegged, lower right on the Webber family portrait
you posted. I was born in 1938 (Oct). my dad (Myer went into the army, and my mum & I moved to St Annes,
where she helped keep house with her mother & father, and we avoided the bombs in Manchester.
I actually spent the remaining war years at 27 Rowsley Rd. I began school in St. Annes. The school was called The College (I think). that’s where I learned to read (as well a s from the headlines in the Daily Express, which my grandpa Phineas read daily.
I grew very close to my cousin Corinne and remained so until late in life. I am also very familiar with the photographs you posted. I believe we have copies in a family album. I never knew Corinne’s father Philip, but am certainly in touch with his grandson (same name), who forwarded me your news and announcement.
You & I have never met (I believe), but it is nice to be in touch. And congratulations on the work you do in keeping family histories within Jewish communities alive in the UK.
Warm regards,
Harry Lawton
Very nice picture