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Julia Quilliam · 7/18/2007 3:59:00 PM

new.BrentfordTW8.com Communtity Forum Topic posting

Looking for any History on James (Jim) Clements

We have a Mrs Pauline Garner (nee Norris) in our office who is visiting Brentford in search of information on her family. Pauline's Great Grandfather James Clements was born 1862 in Orchard Road and went on to establish a business called Clements Knowling in Goat Wharf who were tug boat men, bargees and lightermen. Subsequently became Clements Tuff and was understood eventually to go out of business in the 1950's/60's. James Clements was a councillor who became the Charter Mayor of Chiswick and Brentford. He died in 1934 with glowing tibutes shown in a copy of the Middlesex Independent newspaper. Any information would be very welcome. Many thanks Julia Quilliam, Quilliam Property Services

Julia Quilliam ● 6596d17 Comments

Thanks to the Brentford History website for featuring the Grand Old Man of Brentford...and for TW8's front page feature.Many will recall Julia Quilliam's plea for information some years back..and it all makes interesting reading.Wow he was a member of six Lodges!

Jim Lawes ● 4103d

There are several mentions of James Clements on the Brentford Chamber of Commerce website..history section.It states..amongst other things that he lived at Caerleon, Boston Road..(isn't that Hanwell?) and inferred that his name inscribed on several local building plaques.Anyone know of Caerleon...from the 1920' /1930s ?

Jim Lawes ● 6580d

Hi JuliaI have searched the 1891 census and found what I believe to be the Clements family you are interested in.I will send the details if the family are interested! You/they can contact me by email, and I will gladly give it to them.

Account suspended ● 6594d

Hounslow Local Studies department does have some old film of the Borough, they also produced for sale, a few years ago, a video on Hounslow in WW11.

Neil Chippendale ● 6594d

War graves:http://www.cwgc.orgWhen you find the soldiers unit from that site then the unit war diary will be at Kew Archives so you can map out the spot where the man fell ie the trench location his unit was in.London met Archives has many many old photos of the London Boroughs

Ken Collins ● 6594d

I haven't had to do this but somebody can probably advise on how to trace a War grave? The forces records which survive (at Kew) are amazing to read. Would there be more photographs tucked away at the London Metropolitan archives? What about old film footage - does Hounslow hold old cine films of public events?

Sarah Felstead ● 6595d

Pauline and her husband have just been back to the office to read your responses. They were so pleased with the amount of information especially the photos and Jim Clements' signature. They have today been visiting the cemetry and found Mr Clements' grave, Eileen Henderson who gave them a photo of a Clements' company truck and the cenotaph at the library were his son is sadly listed, having lost his life in the war. Again thank you all so very much, it has for me been very interesting.

Julia Quilliam ● 6595d

Mr James Clements with his wife in 1932.This picture appears on page 18 of Gillian Clegg's new book called THE CHISWICK BOOK isbn 0 948667 96 6...available currently at lots of locations..and well worth adding to your Library.

Jim Lawes ● 6595d

JuliaGlad to hear you enjoyed what you saw when you logged on this morning!If only one could find the Clements Cup!There could well be a painting of Mayor James Clements hanging somewhere like Chiswick Town Hall..along the corridors..or staircases..of that nostalgic building.I'm sure I saw such paintings when I was last there. Hidden away in Chiswick Town Hall, is the old disused Chamber. It's like a mini House of Commons with a Gallery..and grand seating for the Mayor. One assumes this would be where the Charter Mayor held his "new" Borough Council Meetings. That must be worth a visit too!There must have been much excitment at the time as all Schoolchildren were given a souvenir booklet..and there was even a procession of floats around the streets.I've scanned a few more pages for you. This copy of the booklet is owned by a local 85 year old Chiswickian lady ..who just happened to lend it to me this weekend..as I was researching cricket on Turnham Green and Chiswick House in the 1940's! ----------------------------------------------------------Mr James Clements signature appears in the next message..together with his address to the new Borough.

Jim Lawes ● 6595d

Having just logged on I am both amazed and delighted at the number of replies and the amount of information everyone has come forward with, especially the photographs. A great big thank you to you all. I can't wait to get into the office and telephone James Clements' daughter Pauline to let her know. I am sure she will be very grateful for the kindness you have all shown. I'll keep you posted and thanks again.

Julia Quilliam ● 6595d

Seems I missed out a directory cutting!It seems that the family tug boat business was indeed at Goat Wharf..before it moved to Ferry Lane...as indicated by the following clip. From Kelly's 1914!

Jim Lawes ● 6595d

SarahI had a quick delve into that National Archives website you highlighted..and did a search on "James Clements Brentford" and this popped up!"information relating to document ref. no. 2515 210 Box 143/1 Agreement between James Clements & George Knowling (of Goat Wharf, Brentford trading as Clements Knowling & Co) and GWR for tenancy of stables at High Street, Brentford Date: 1907."----------------------------------------------------It seems that the family TUG business was indeed at Goat Wharf..before it moved to Ferry Lane...as indicated by the following clips.From Kelly's 1914!------------------------------------------------------Also interesting is that according to Kellys 1914, the "Contracting" part of the business had a depot in Netley Road! ------------------------------------------------------The swimming Cup reference was magic Andrew!

Jim Lawes ● 6595d

Julia will have plenty to read when she returns!There appears to be many hours of research abegging when one thinks of the Brentford and Chiswick Charter documentation dated 1930-1932 which must be lurking at the two Local History Libraries!I recall that there are pictures of the Mayor at those ceremonies back in 1932..in some of the local history books about Brentford. So Mr and Mrs Clements must have had a big day when the Charter was sealed!Here is the "mint" chain of office that the younger Mr Clements was presented with..and which is seen in that previous picture.His term of office apparently ended at the end of his year on 9th Nov 1933.---------------------------------------------------------Here is a picture of his wife The Charter Mayoress, Mrs J Clements>

Jim Lawes ● 6595d

Was Clements Place in Brentford named after him, being a councillor it's more than likely, don't you think?Also in the 50's Brentford Senior school competed in a swimming gala against other schools for the prestigious "Clements Cup"!

Account suspended ● 6596d

Plenty of medal cards and references to the name of James Clements if you search the National archiveshttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Sarah Felstead ● 6596d

--------------------------------------------------------------There is also a picture of his wife..the Charter Mayoress..which I'll be able to post this evening...after work!

Jim Lawes ● 6596d

I have a picture of James Clements the Charter Mayor in 1931(?)..and I'll post that in the next message!A 1938 booklet(Kellys) mentions that Clements Knowling & Co Ltd was based at No 3 Ferry Lane (on the east side) at Ferry Wharf.A booklet produced by the Council in 1949 again mentions Clements Knowling at the Ferry Lane address..and also gives their phone number as EAL 0039 !

Jim Lawes ● 6596d