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Biography of Matthew Thomas Stevens (newspaper proprietor)
 Contents
Overview
Other newspapers
Stevens' directory
Family
Transcription of obituary
An appreciation
Many sources of information about Victorian Malvern can
be found in Malvern library. Amongst those we have dipped into are Kelly's
Trade Directories, Norman May's Guide to Malvern, and archived copies of the
Malvern Advertiser and Malvern Gazette newspapers which can be viewed on
microfilm.
Another publication, which we have only recently started
to explore, is MT
Steven's Annual Directory and Gazeteer of Malvern, which was published from
about 1900 to 1933.
So who was MT Stevens, we wondered? It turns out that
he was Matthew Thomas Stevens (1866 - 1944) the printer who founded the
Malvern Gazette newpaper in 1898.
An article in the Malvern Gazette relates (ref 1):
The Malvern Gazette was founded by Matthew Thomas Stevens
(1867-1944) when he was aged just 20 years. Stevens had originally been a
reporter with another local newspaper, the Malvern News.
In 1898 he bought a printing business in Church Street
and founded the Malvern Gazette.
For 25 years he was also the lessee of the Assembly Rooms
(later the Winter Gardens, now Malvern Theatres). Kathleen Joyce King
(1911-1965) was a popular editor of the Gazette for 25 years. Both are
buried in Great Malvern cemetery.
The above report says MT Stevens founded the Gazette when
he was 20, but in fact he was then 30 years old.
MT Stevens became a Freemason in 1905, and is listed on the website of
Royds
Lodge thus:
MT Stevens was an important figure, being at one time
managing director of the Assembly Rooms, later to become the Winter Gardens.
He is most remembered as the founder of the
Malvern Gazette, which had
premises in Church Street opposite the Lyttelton Well. He was the Master of
The Royds Lodge for two years, in 1914 and 1915.
Two of Malvern's water doctors had also
promoted newspapers; Ralph Grindrod Barnes is said to have started the
'Illustrated Malvern Advertiser, Visitors' List and General Weekly
Newspaper' in 1855; it was published by H W Lamb, bookseller and stationer
at the Royal Library (now the premises of Barclays Bank). Archives exist for
the years 1855 - 1907.
James Manby Gully invested in the rival 'Malvern News'
launched in 1860, published by W and J Berrows. Archives exist from 1903 - 1938.
The Malvern Gazette was the last to be launched, by MT
Stevens in 1898.
 MT
Stevens was a printer. In addition to the Malvern Gazette, he published
'Stevens' Directory and Gazeteer' of Malvern annually between about 1900 and
1938, when he sold the business.
'Stevens' includes a residential directory, a street directory listing
houses by order in road, and a telephone directory.
Click to view page 1 of
1933 index
Click to view page 2
of 1933 index
According to his obituary MT Stevens was the son of a
Ceylon tea planter, but we think Matthew Thomas Stevens was born in London in 1866, the
son of Alfred William Stevens (1834 - 1869) and Catherine or Catrina Alice
Creaser. His father was an accountant and his paternal grandfather a green
grocer.
He was baptized at
All
Saints, Worcester in 1867. We have found no family connection with
Worcester, so wonder if his father had business in the city.
In 1869, MT Stevens father died in London, and his mother
married second, at Manchester in 1874, Canadian agent, John Learmouth, by
whom she had a daughter; she
died in 1878.
In 1871 MT Stevens was recorded as a nurse child, aged 5,
living in the home of William and Sarah Sayers at Powick - we don't know
where his mother was.
The 1881 census recorded MT Stevens, aged 14, as a page,
one of four servants, in the household of widow, Lydia Wodehouse, at Ham
Hall House, Powick.
Lydia Wodehouse, died 1892, was the widow of Colonel Philip Wodehouse
whose grandfather was
Sir Armine Wodehouse 5th Baronet, to whom the author
PG
Wodehouse was related.
MT Stevens' obituary relates that he got a job as a
reporter with the Malvern News and then, about 1887, helped by friends,
bought a bankrupt printing business.
The 1891 census
recorded MT Stevens as a printer visiting the home of boot manufacturer
Thomas Hewins in Great Colmore Street, Birmingham. With him was Amy
Bridgewater, daughter of bootmaker Henry Bridgewater of North Malvern who
had died in 1886; in 1881 Henry had been employing 3 men.
Matthew Thomas Stevens and Amy Mary Jane Bridgewater
married at Holy Trinity, North Malvern, in 1893. They lived at Westeria in Zetland Road, not far from Amy's mother who in 1911 was living at the Old
Post Office, North Malvern.
Matthew's wife Amy died in 1923, and he married second at
Great Malvern Priory in 1929, Stella Eugenie Wade, whose mother latterly
lived in Georgetown, British Guiana.
Newspaper proprietor Matthew Thomas Stevens latterly of 6
Promenade Flats, Queens Drive, Great Malvern died on 21st February 1944 aged
77 years, and is buried in
Great Malvern cemetery.
Brother
If we have it right, Matthew had an elder brother Alfred Henry Charles Stevens
who
joined the Royal Navy in 1875 aged 18 years. He served on many ships and
shore establishments, and latterly worked on railway boats connecting
Portsmouth with the Isle of Wight. He married and had four children.
Malvern Gazette, Saturday 26th February 1944
Death of Mr M T Stevens
Founder of the 'Malvern Gazette'
It is with regret that we record the death on Monday of
Mr Matthew Thomas Stevens, of 6 Queen's Drive Malvern.
He had been in failing health for some time.
Born in London 77 years ago, the son of a Ceylon
tea-planter. Mr Steven's boyhood days were spent at Powick in the family of
Mr and Mrs Sayers, father and step-mother of the late Chairman of the
Malvern Urban Council, Mr W Sayers.
He became a reporter on the old 'Malvern News' and was
later transferred to the 'Worcester Daily Times'.
At the age of 20, with the help of friends, he acquired a
small bankrupt printing business in Malvern, which at that time carried on
at what was known as Haynes' Music Salon. Later he transferred the business
to Church Street, where he launched the Gazette in 1898, and saw its
influence grow rapidly.
In 1938 the Gazette was acquired by Messrs George and
William Berrows Ltd, who later disposed of the general printing side of the
business to Ebeneezer Baylis and Son Ltd of Worcester. Mr Stevens continued
up to his death to take a keen but unofficial interest in the progress of
the concern, which still bears his name. He would visit the office almost
daily, and was always ready with advice for those who had succeeded him in
control.
For 25 years Mr Stevens was lessee, and later managing
director, of the old Assembly Rooms Company, and he brought to Malvern many
great personalities of the concert platform, also leading touring companies,
and famous lecturers, including Mr Winston Churchill, Capt Scott, Sir Ernest
Shackleton, and many others.
Shakespeare Festival
He founded the Malvern Shakespeare Festival, which under
the direction of Mr (later Sir) Frank Benson, was for 25 years the leading
theatrical event in the county. With the coming of pictures, Mr Stevens
advocated the erection of the Picture House.
Always interested in the Malvern hospital, he did much
for its welfare through the 'Gazette'. A Shilling Fund realised 1,000
guineas, and the egg weeks used to bring in an average of 10,000 weekly.
He never sought Council honours, although approached
several times to do so, preferring as a newspaper man to remain independent.
Mr Stevens was one of the founders of Manor Park; in fact
it was owing to his suggestion that the late Sir H Foley Grey placed the
Sling Meadow at the disposal of the committee. Mr Stevens was Chairman of
the Management Committee.
He was a well known Freemason, and was for the last two
years during the last war, Worshipful Master of Royds Lodge, and about ten
years ago he was appointed Provincial Grand Senior Warden of the Province of
Worcestershire. He was a sidesman at the Priory Church.
Through the medium of the 'Gazette', and his own personal
efforts, Mr Stevens did much for Malvern, and by his death the town has lost
one who had been a very real public servant. To the many societies that
exist for helping others he was always a sympathetic friend doing all he
could by his influence to forward the cause for which these societies stood.
MT as he was usually known, had many friends in all ranks of life, and his
death has caused widespread sorrow.
He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Amy
Bridgewater, of North Malvern, and his second, whom he married in 1929, Miss
Stella Wade, contributor to the 'Gazette' of Suede's Note Book.
There was a large attendance at the funeral service at
the Priory Church on Thursday which preceded the interment at Malvern
cemetery.
Members of Royds Lodge of Freemasons formed a guard of
honour at the entrance to the church.
The Vicar of Malvern (the Rev HHM Bartleet) officiated,
assisted by the Rev F A Evelyn and the Rev F R D Kennedy. The lesson was
read by the Rev HJ Feiensener (Vicar of Christ Church and a member of Royds
Lodge).
The choir was in attendance and Psalm 23, 'The Lord is my
shepherd', was chanted. The hymns were 'O God our help in ages past', and
'Abide with me'. As the cortege left the church the 'Nunc Dimittis' was
chanted.
Dr LA Hamand was the organist and before the service
played 'Jesu, joy of man's desiring' and at the end 'O rest in the Lord'
(Mendelssohn).
There then followed a long list of people who
attended the funeral skip
Mrs Stevens was accompanied by Capt Roy Limbert.
Members of the Royds Lodge of Freemasons who attended
were,
Messrs DV Hall, WM; EL Stockall IPM; AEBaylis PAGDC Eng
PPGW; LB Morgan PPG Std Br; H Hillyard PPG Std Br; CHL Thompson PPAGDC;
EDWootten PP Asst G Sec; RF Brer PPGP; SG Campion PPAGDC; AF Evans Prov AGP;
AL Macvitie; H Hayes; CR Davis; AL Sutcliffe MD PPG Reg OM 4004; H Phillips;
TH Jones; J Bulman; CT Scourfield; ED Bowman; WC Walters; JH Sutcliffe; F
Rimmer; LHC Batt.
Mr WC Smith PPG Supt Wks (Hereford) was also present.
*Others who attended were Mr WH Grundy (Chairman of Malvern Urban Council).
Police Supt W Adams, Councillor T Cook, Mrs Ivor Griffiths (also
representing Mr Ivor Griffiths) and Miss Griffiths, Mrs Bartleet, Dr and Mrs
G Mackie, Mr and Mrs A Weston Priestley, Mr WH Marshall, Mr WA Churchill, Mr
GH Solomon, Mr and Mrs R Bartleet, Mrs Summers (also representing Mr G
Summers). Mr A Allsebrook, Mr and Mrs Severnn Storr, Miss Day (representing
WRVS), Mayor WJC Kendall (also representing Manor Park Club and Malvern Open
Lawn Tennis Tournament Committee).
Mr JW Collins and Mr AG Noond (also representing the
directors and staff of George Williams and Berrows ltd, publishers of the
Malvern Gazette). Mr HAE Pearce (representing Mr Russell Baylis, MT Stevens
Ltd). The staff of MT Stevens Ltd were represented by Mr EW Hammond, Mr TH
Pullen, Mr AE Langfield, Mr FP Hickling, Mrs Williams and Mrs KM Collins.
Mrs AG Noond, Mrs Stowell, Miss Ackerman, Miss Grundy,
Miss J Todd, Mrs Hill-Harriss, Mrs AW Davis (also representing Mr Davis), Mr
AJ Weller, Mr and Mrs F Lucas, Mrs A Bott, Mrs WH Lewis (also representing
Mr Lewis), Miss M Doughty, Miss Leather, Miss L Darby, and Miss Darby, Mr JE
Trapnell, Miss A Jones, Miss S Davison, Mr SR Cossey, Mr and Mrs AG Potter
(London), Mr SW Ridont (WH Smith and Sons), Mrs Howard, Mr HT Trigg, Mr JH
Russell, Mrs E Kain, Miss Kent (representing Mrs Sayers). Miss S Richards
(representing Mrs Lee), Miss Draper, Mrs FKR Davis, Mr A Harrison
(representing Malvern Hospital Committee), Mr H Bridgewater, Mr and Mrs
Steynor, Miss Cooper, Mr RA Ker (representing Malvern College and St Werstan
Lodge), Mr JH Tooley, Mr FH Fincher (also representing Messrs Tipping and
Morris), Mrs King (also representing Miss Joyce King).
Mrs WG Lee, Mrs H Gwynn, Mr S Lambert, Miss Jones, Mr G
Downes, Miss Lambert, Mrs J Taylor, Mr and Mrs SJ Allen (representing George
Smith and Co), Mrs EA Wilson, Mrs V Goode, Mr J Nott, Mr AC Nott, Mr Edgar
Scott (Lloyds Bank), Mrs AL Doran (also representing Mrs Doorbar), Mr and
Mrs WH Stapleton, MR C Williams, Mr and Mrs WT Best, Mrs Brentnall, Mr TE
Stokes, Miss Owen, Mr AH Weller.
Malvern Chamber of Commerce was represented by Mr ED
Bowman.
Apologies were received from Mrs Cyril Hewens, Leeds
(Niece), Miss Severn Burrow, Councillor and Mrs E Layton, Mr WG lee, Mrs
Palmer, Mr and Mrs WH Jones and family, Mr and Mrs Hardie, and also the
following members of Royds Lodge of Freemasons: Wor Bros FW Ford, HL Morris,
HE Doughty and Bro AH Barclay.
(note: Mrs Cyril Hewens was Joyce Bridgewater, the
niece of MT Stevens' wife Amy).
A wreath from the widow bore the inscription, Fragrant
memories – with all my love Stella. Other wreaths were received from Dorrie;
Mr and Mrs Walter Phillips, Georgetown British Guiana; Stella's mother
Georgetown; Roy Limbert; Earl and Countess Beauchamp; Mr and Mrs Dyson
Perrins; directors and staff of MT Stevens Ltd; directors and staff of 'The
Malvern Gazette' and associated newspapers; Manor Park Club; Malvern Sports
Committee; Mr and Mrs Ivor Griffiths; Mr and Mrs Macvitie; Vera Rowe; etc.
The passing of Mr MT Stevens will cause deep regret among
his wide circle of friends, especially to those who can recall the main
incidents of his earlier life and work in Malvern. For nearly fifty years he
had been one of the most active and prominent of its citizens, exercising a
potent influence on its public and social life, and by his personal charm
and lovable qualities winning an outstanding popularity. In many respects he
was a typical Englishman of the best type – broadminded, frank, reliable,
genial and generous, helpful in emergencies, a good neighbour, and a
faithful friend. In business life he was enterprising, energetic, and highly
principled. The well merited success of 'The Malvern Gazette' which he
inaugurated in 1898, testified to his business acumen, and his high ideals
of what a journal should be.
But business cares did not absorb all Mr Stevens
energies. He was interested in all forward movements of the town, and by his
voice and pen gave enthusiastic support to everything that promoted the
well-being and prosperity of Malvern. For instance, it may be recalled that
through the medium of 'The Gazette', a shilling fund raised 1,000 guineas to
help the finances of the Malvern hospital in which for many years he took a
keen interest. He was a staunch Churchman, and regularly attended the Priory
Church, but he was tolerant and appreciative of all denominations, and
sympathetic towards all religious and philanthropic causes.
Mr Stevens encouraged all healthy sport and games. At one
time he was an ardent croquet player, and occasionally demonstrated his
skill in the Manor Park tournaments. He was always a willing helper in
social entertainments, and probably some will recall him as an ideal Santa
Claus – a role in which he was specially happy – entering into this and
other Christmas gaieties with the frolicsome spirit of a boy.
He did not often speak on public platforms, but as a
frequent after dinner speaker he was unrivalled in Malvern. When 'Stevens
was up' his eager listeners greatly enjoyed his sallies, and realised the
diversity of his gifts – his fluent, clear diction, his practical ideas, and
persuasive eloquence, and his keen sense of humour, for he always had a fund
of amusing stories with which to enliven and drive home his points. These
characteristics were enhanced by his rich musical voice. Americans who heard
and conversed with him were particularly impressed and fascinated by it. One
of them, an eminent professor of music, declared that if Mr Stevens would
visit America - say on a lecturing tour – his lovely speaking voice would
ensure him enthusiastic audiences, especially of women!
Malvern people will not soon forget his gracious
personality. They will remember with gratitude his unselfish services to the
town, and his many private personal kindnesses, some of which will keep his
memory green for many years to come.
AL
The resting place of MT Stevens
References
- The Malvern Gazette
- Census of England and Wales
- National Probate Calendar
- Wikipedia
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