The Tragic Death of the Rev. Reginald Helliwell - Birminhgam 14th October 1933
I came across the death of the Rev. Reginald Helliwell when I found an old file relating to the War Dead in Sheffield's Abbey Lane Cemetery. The person who diligently recorded the details on the memorials had come across a grave that bore this inscription
"In sweet and treasured remembrance of Rev. Reg E
Helliwell. the divine and beautiful son of Walter Philip and Mary Helliwell, who died
October 14th 1933, aged 26 years, of Westhill College, Birmingham, from overtaxed brain, studying the spiritual upbringing of young people.
"The fragrance of his life abides."
I checked on the excellent Sheffield Indexers website and found that it was a family grave in Section N of the Cemetery.
HELLIWELL, Child (Stillborn, age 0). Died at 82 Lees Hall Avenue; Buried on March 3, 1939 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 9156, Section N of Abbey Lane Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: of . Page No 267
HELLIWELL, Mary (Wife of Walter P, age 66). Died at 8 Mount View Avenue; Buried on January 19, 1938 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 9156, Section N of Abbey Lane Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: of . Page No 249
HELLIWELL, Reginald Ernest (Minister (Methodist Church), age 26).
Died at Woodbook College, Bristol Road; Buried on October 19, 1933 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 9156, Section N of Abbey Lane Cemetery, Sheffield. Remarks: Removed from Birmingham. Plot Owner: of . Page No 184
HELLIWELL, Walter Philip (Retired, age 65). Died at 98 Leeshall Road; Buried on October 30, 1942 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 9156, Section N of Abbey Lane Cemetery, Sheffield. Plot Owner: ~ ~ of ~. Page No 332
The 1911 Census contained this record of the family
Birth July 1907 • Sheffield
Name Reginald Ernest Helliwell
Registration Date 1907
Quarter of the Year Jul-Aug-Sep Registration Place Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding, England Volume 9c Page 445
1911 Census
Name Reginald Ernest Helliwell
Age in 1911 3
Relation to Head Son Gender Male
Birth Place Sheffield Civil parish Ecclesall County/Island Yorkshire-West Riding England
Street Address 31 Spencer Rd Heeley Sheffield
Registration District Number 509 Sub-registration district Ecclesall South ED, institution, or vessel 22 Piece 27800
Household members
Name Age
Walter Philip Helliwell 34
Mary Helliwell 39
Walter Philip Helliwell 7
Harold Arthur Helliwell 5
Reginald Ernest Helliwell 3
Archibald Fredric Helliwell 1
Intrigued by the passing of Reginald I then found a report in The Sheffield Independent dated 17th October 1933 that details the circumstances surrounding his death. I was both surprised and saddened.
The Coroner's observations about a "safety valve" are still relevant today
Sources
Sheffield Indexers
Sheffield History Forum
The Sheffield Independent dated 17th October 1933
Ancestry - UK Census
This page was last updated on 18/11/24 14:57