A.R. Adams Funeral Directors Ltd

A.R. Adams > About Us > Our History > Archibald Richard Adams

Archibald died in 1948. The picture above was taken of his funeral service.

Archibald was born in Bow, London in 1881. His father William Adams was a joiner by trade and Archibald studied his Father's work as a boy.

At the age of 19 Archibald started his own Funeral Directing Company. His first premises were located at 187 Campbell Road, Bow and it was from here that the A. R. Adams Funeral Directing legacy began.

Archibald was from a large family. His Father William, Brothers Fred and Sydney and many cousins were all working in the company. Soon the business expanded and there were many offices around the Bow and Poplar area.

One of his obituaries read:

"The first chairman of Benfleet UDC when it was inaugurated back in the middle 1920's, Mr. Archibald Richard Adams J.P Manor Lodge, Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, died at Southend General Hospital on Sunday. He was 66.

Mr Adams came to live in the district 32 years ago, residing for a short while at Leigh-on-Sea, then moving to Thundersley, where the business he founded – that of funeral undertakers and monumental masons – still exists in the Rayleigh Road. He actually entered the business in 1900.

Chairman of the County Juvenile Bench at Southend-on-Sea, Mr. Adams' efforts to point out the right path to the children who appeared before him were highly appreciated by all in the locality and bore good results.

He will be missed by all members of the Freemasons who knew him, especially at Thundersley and Leigh Lodges where he was Master. He was also connected with Trinity Chapter and the Grand Lodge.

Mr Adams was called upon to fill many offices. Members of Thundersely Gardening Association and Nursing Association knew him as their president and the Funeral Directors Association will notice his absence from its ranks. He was also a commissioner of Income tax.

Amongst his family he leaves a widow, four daughters and a son as well as eight grandchildren."