UK
Neville Manwaring Wells, Master of the The Worshipful Company of Launderers, 1973/74 died 19 October 2021 after a short illness, writes current Master Ken Cupitt. The much-loved father of Frances, Michael and Martin, and grandfather to Daniel, Hannah, Jason, Joshua, Toby, Sam and Jack and great-grandfather to Deakan, died peacefully in his sleep at Maidstone Hospital with his children at his bedside. His funeral service was held at St Peter's Church, Limpsfield on 25 November with the church full of mourners, including many from the laundry industry as well as others representing the varied activity groups that he supported.
Neville’s father, Major Stanley Wells, was also Master of the Worshipful Company of Launderers 1960/62 and they owned and ran two laundries in their working lives.
There will be many who remember Neville from the perspective of his diverse interests, of not only laundry but aviation, golf, tennis, walking, swimming as well as his choir singing. Both Neville and his father Stanley promoted the setting up of the Worshipful Company of Launderers (1959/60) using their experience as active members of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers (who can trace their origins back for 700 years). Nevile is oictured above in his Tallow Chandlers Livery gown. In the early days of the Launderers Company meetings were held at Tallow Chandlers Hall, Dowgate Hill, London.
Neville was a kind man with time for all with whom he came into contact and, although in his nineties, he remained very active attending most functions that he had time in his busy diary to appear and the last for the launderers was a Sunday lunch on the River Thames in August. He will be sadly missed by all.
Neville was born in 1925, son of Major Stanley Walter Wells, MBE (1887-1975), and his wife the former Violet Manwaring (1888-1972) and married 19 May, 1951, Margaret Mary Alexander (1929-2011).
