Plymouth, Business Houses | Messrs Parsons & Son

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BUSINESS HOUSES

Messrs PARSONS & SON

Updated: 14 February 2011

Mr Frederick Alfred Parsons was born at Allington, in Dorset, on May 12th 1878, the eldest son of Mr Alfred Parsons and the former Miss Dinah Welch, whom he married at Allington Parish Church on May 23rd 1875. [1]

His parents at one point lived at Shaldon, near Teignmouth, and it was from there that 15-years-old Frederick joined the Royal Navy. [1]

Parsons' shoe repair factory in Hastings Street, Plymouth

Mr Frederick Alfred Parsons married Miss Maud Beeton at Upton Pyne, Dorset, in 1903. They had met in 1901 when the Parsons family were living at Tiverton, where Maud was in domestic service. Maud took a post at Cann House, Tamerton Foliot, but after they were married they settled in Devonport. [1]

While serving in the Royal Navy as a submariner, Frederick was selected to join Captain (later Sir) Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. As one of the survivors, he was awarded the Albert Polar Medal before rejoining the Navy in the Great War. He left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. [2]

He was one of the leading members of the Submariners Old Comrades Association and was president of the Plymouth branch for his last four years. While attending one of the Association's parades at Hyde Park in London after the Second World War, he was apparently introduced by HRH the Prince Philip to the Queen as 'My friend Fred'. The two men had often met at Royal Navy and polar expedition events. [2]

As his trade was that of boot and shoe maker it must have seemed natural to set up in business on his own in that trade after leaving the Royal Navy in 1920. This he did in Plymouth and ran the business until he retired in 1962 at the age of 83. He then handed over the business to six of his former employees, five men and one woman, with the immortal words: 'The business is yours. I will see you are on a firm financial footing. It is up to you to see that it is a success'. [2]

Trading before the Second World War as Parsons & Son, the headquarters of his business was in Hastings Street (telephone Plymouth 60612). After the War he also had a stall within the Plymouth Market. One of his sons, Mr John 'Jack' Beeton Parsons, who lived at 29 Ponsonby Road, Milehouse, ran a separate shoe repair business from 71 Wolseley Road (telephone Plymouth 4742), where the shoes for repair were sent down a chute to the workshop in the basement. [3]

Mr Frederick Alfred Parsons died at his home, "Terra Nova", 35 Churchill Way, Plymouth, on Friday January 16th 1970 at the age of 91, leaving two sons and a daughter. He was the last surviving member of Scott's expedition. [2]

On June 4th 1987 Mr John 'Jack' Beeton Parsons passed away at the age of 81. [1]

Sources:

[1] Information from Mr Andrew Norman, great grandson of Mr Frederick Alfred Parsons, 2008.

[2] "The Duke's friend Fred dies", Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, January 17th 1970.

[3] Trade directories for Plymouth held by the Plymouth Local Studies Library.