PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
|
|
Young Thomas Hoyle was born circa 1862 into a wealthy family of great antiquity in Yorkshire. The family at one time owned the whole of Huddersfield and Halifax. Messrs Hoyle and Harrison were commissioned yarn spinners, weavers and millers, of Victoria Mills, Bramley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Thomas chose to become an engineer and was trained at the Leeds College of Engineering. However, when his father's mills were destroyed by fire, he decided to join a firm of brewers instead, where he attained the position of chief licensing valuer. He retired at the age of 30 but on finding that a life of inactivity was not to his liking, he moved to Plymouth where, as Messrs Thomas Hoyle & Sons, he took over the Golden Lion Public House at 16 Old Town Street. That was in 1902. In 1914 he and his family were living at Cadleigh House, Ivybridge, but soon moved to Townsend House, at Mutley, Plymouth. As a youth he had apparently taken part in amateur theatricals and just before the outbreak of the Great War he purchased the Palace Theatre in Plymouth. However, he sold it in 1920 but repurchased it again in 1924, after marrying Mary Ulyatt of Plymouth. He and his new wife moved to Torquay and used to travel from there to Plymouth in a large chocolate-coloured Rolls Royce. He was described as a typical northerner: straight and blunt and with the utmost integrity. He was never deaf to calls for help and gave generously to local worthy causes. He opposed the idea of opening the Theatre on a Sunday and deplored the effect that the American film industry was having on the variety theatre. Thomas Hoyle died at his home, Protea, Seaway Lane, Torquay, on the night of Friday March 11th 1932, after a short illness. He left a widow, Mary, and two sons by his first wife. Two other sons had died serving in the Great War, which possibly influenced Mary Hoyle's decision to open the Palace on Sundays during the Second World War to provide entertainment for the troops stationed in the City. His funeral took place on Tuesday March 15th 1932. The body was taken from Torquay to Plymouth in a motor hearse. The mourners left from the Palace Theatre for the service at St Andrew's Church. Family mourners included Mr & Mrs Bertie Hoyle; Mrs Harry Hoyle; Miss Marie Hoyle; and Mrs Lincoln Little. Also present were the manager, Mr Jack Fitchett, and staff from the Palace Theatre; Mr C H Rundle and staff from the Cinedrome; and staff from the Belgrave Cinema, Plymouth, and the Empire Cinema at Torquay. His body was interned at Efford Cemetery. Mary Hoyle died at their home in Torquay on January 20th 1945. It is said that 'at 4.10pm her eyes just rolled up and she passed away'. It was happened to be the last night of the Christmas pantomime, "Humpty Dumpty", and at the end of the performance the news of her death was announced to the audience, who stood in silent tribute. On the evening of January 24th her body was laid in the Palace Theatre covered with wreaths and she was later buried with her late husband at Efford Cemetery.
|
