SHEPHERD BOY TO MAYOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22006, 12 January 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

SHEPHERD BOY TO MAYOR

FORTUNE IN RAGS AND BONES Mr. William Thomas, Maidenhead's new Mayor, led the corporation in the Armistice Day service at church on November 11, and then discarded his Mayoral robes to play in a street service in the uniform of the Salvation Army. He plays the cornet. Air. Thomas, who made a fortune as a dealer of old iron, rags and bones, intends to continue playing the cornet for the Salvation Army during his term of office. He will also conduct some of the Army's open-air services and pass round the collecting box. He says: " When I first came to Maidenhead they used to pelt me with rotten eggs. I even spent a week in Reading gaol for playing my cornet in the streets for the Salvation Army. We were forbidden to hold open-air meetings in those days. So I am not going to give up the Salvation Army because I am mayor." Maidenhead has long known that its new Mayor is an ardent Salvationist, but only members of his family know that lie was once a shepherd tending sheep on Salisbury Plain for 2s (id a week. He says that he could have made at least £150,000 from his deals in scrap-iron, bones, rabbitskins and rags during the war. He bought substantial land and property, but gave the bulk of his profits to charity. As a boy of eight, and with as many brothers and sisters, Mr. Thomas had to get up at 3 a.m. and work for his food only and an occasional 6d, lending a donkey and cart. The family

were so poor that they were often compelled to catch sparrows for food.