Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Archibald Bunker

07/02/1887 –1940

Won a Bourne Charity scholarship as a boy and went on to become a gardener.

Relatives

Raymond L. Bunker — son

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave: Archibald Bunker (1887-1940)

Archibald was born in Berkhamsted 7 February 1887, the son of William, a general labourer, and Adelaide Bunker and was baptised in St Peter’s 16 March that year.

In 1891 the Bunkers were living in Bridge Street. Archie had an older brother, William, and a younger sister, Florence.

Young Archibald must have been a good scholar because in April 1897 the records of the Berkhamsted and Northchurch National School record that he was one of the eleven boys “nominated by the Governors to fill the vacancies” for the Bourne’s Exhibition Foundation. This was a £5 scholarship paid from the Bourne Charity funds and recipients wore a blue cap with a red tassel.

The 1901 census shows the family living at 10, Bridge Street. William senior was working as a nursery labourer, William junior and Archie were employed as labourers at the “sheep dip factory” – presumably Cooper’s factory in Raven’s Lane. Emily and Bertie had joined the family which must have made this little house (four rooms including the kitchen) somewhat crowded.

The 1911 census revealed that Archie’s father had died. William junior was still working for Cooper’s, Archie was employed as a jobbing gardener, Florence was working as a servant and Emma/Emily was a factory hand at the mantle factory in Lower King’s Road. Bertie was at school.

Archibald married Annie E Foskett in 1918 at Berkhamsted and appears to have continued working as a gardener, as the 1921 census describes him as a “Gardner, private” employed by Mr Smith at Highfield House (demolished in the 1930s). Archie and Annie lived at 26, Highfield Road with their one year-old daughter, Beatrice Louise.

Their first son Raymond L was born in the last quarter of 1921 and Edward was born in 1925.

Sadly little Raymond died aged 5 in early 1927. He is buried in this cemetery in an unmarked grave.

The family were at 23, Highfield Road in 1939. Archibald was described as a landscape gardener, Annie was working as an office cleaner and Edward as a “dairy hand”.

Archibald died in 1940 aged 53.