The first Weaver family member to live in Bembridge was Thomas. Born 1792 in Coventry, he took the King’s shilling in 1806 and enlisted in the 30th Foot Cambridge regiment. A soldier with Wellington in the Peninsular Wars and in the central front line at the battle of Waterloo. He first moved to Bembridge in 1823 and took up residence in a property in the High Street opposite Woodford’s butchers shop, which he named ‘Waterloo Cottage’ and it still stands today in fine order. He lived there with Jane, whom he married in 1815 and together they had their son Henry. He was posted to Secundrabad, India in 1822 where he remained until was discharged and pensioned in 1829, finally settling in Bembridge. He quickly immersed himself into the small community and was Sexton at Holy Trinity for 28 years. In 1867 Jane died and Thomas went to live with an estranged daughter in Lymington. He died the following year in 1868, but his body was returned to Bembridge and he is buried at Holy Trinity Church with Jane.
Thomas Weaver was the first to settle in Bembridge
Thomas Weaver Grave
Henry Weaver outside of the Marine Hotel (latterly
the Row Barge) of which he was publican.
His son Henry was a keen businessman and became a Building Contractor and Undertaker. He also ran the Marine Hotel, Station Road at the harbour for many years. This was the family home and he fathered nine children in total. seven with his first wife Ellen and two with his second wife Clara.
Three of Henry’s sons, Harry, Alf and Percy, formed Weaver Brothers, taking forward the business he had created. The roles were largely shared with Harry a skilled carpenter and leading with clerical work and general management. He also ran the funerals as undertaker.
An early business card
Arthur ‘Perce’ Weaver
Weaver Bros outing in the early 1900’s – Left to Right – Harry
Weaver, Harry Laughrin, Fred Jeans, Henry Jacobs, Tommy
Staples, Percy Weaver, Tom Gouge, ??, Tim Holbrook, Fred
Weaver, Langford Butler, Geoff Bunce, Newton Newman,
Alfred Weaver, Frank Chappell, Neddy Gouge.
Arthur, Percy’s son, carried on the firm and during the Second World War diversified for the war effort and became an agricultural contractor. After the end of the war he took up the building business again and forged ahead with the help of his son Terry. He was also Hon. Sec of the local RNLI branch at Bembridge and ran the local fire station which was, and still is, manned by retained staff.
Terry continued to run the building business and took the firm into new areas with the development of the firm’s premises in Lane End Road. Firstly by building the Lane End Court shops and flats which were completed in 1967 and then by continuing to develop these and the rest of the site with the addition of a number of commercial units and flats in what has become Weaver’s Yard.
Terry
Caroline and Richard
After graduation, Richard joined Weaver Brothers where he worked with his father, Terry until his retirement in 2015 . Richard oversees, arranges and conducts funerals offering families a wealth of professional experience to help at a difficult time.
Richard’s sister, Caroline joined Weaver Brothers in 2005 after a career in London in Public Relations bringing with her years of experience in organising high profile events. Working alongside Richard in the arrangement and conducting of funerals, together they offer families a compassionate, personal and professional service.
Caroline
Richard
In Spring 2020 we proudly opened a second office in East Cowes. We decided to open in East Cowes because we felt that as the longest serving funeral directors on the island, East Cowes has a strong sense of community and we were right. From the moment we opened, we had visits from neighbouring residents and businesses, town councillors, local clergy and many other locals simply dropping in for a chat and to make us feel at home. Already many of you have placed your trust in us and we have been honoured to have helped families at a difficult time.
Thus for the past 190+ years the Weaver family have conducted their funeral business on the Island and are continuing to offer personal, independent service with the intention of passing it on to future generations.
East Cowes Office
We are proud to be members of SAIF, The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) which is a trade association whose members are all independent funeral directors. Independent funeral directors are known for their high standard of service and a caring, traditional approach to their local communities, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. By choosing a SAIF member when the need arises, you are assured of a trusted and caring professional who is dedicated to serving the needs of the community. SAIF Members must adhere to a strict Code of Practice.
Islandwide Service
With two offices; one located in Bembridge and one located in East Cowes. Weaver Bros. Ltd have the Isle of Wight covered.