THE LATE MR W. L. HAWKINS, CARDIFF.
The late Mr Hawkins, whose entry upon business life was made in the office of the London and Blackwall Railway (a short Metropolitan lint now absorbed by the Great Eastern Company), came to Cardiff 33 years ago, taking a position in the Cardiff office of the Aberdare Iron Company (Messrs Fothergill's). It is worthy of note that on the Blackwall Railway he had as a colleague Mr Lambert, now general manager of the Great Western Railway. In the service of Fothergills he remained for about 15 years, advancing until he was managing clerk; and he was in London on the business of the firm at the time the smash came. Mr Hawkins used to tell at how, although so much occupied with the affairs of the company, neither he nor any other of the employees bad any idea of the financial position and how, when a Cardiff acquaintance met him on the street in London and notified him of the failure, he was absolutely dumb foundered. For a little time after this be engaged In business on hi& own account, and acted as assistant to Mr Alexander Dalziel. the founder and honorary secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Subsequently, on Mr Daiziel's resignation, he was appointed to the secretaryship, and has ever since discharged the duties of the office with careful assiduity and great credit. He was instrumental in the formation of the Cardiff Shipowners' Association, and has held the post of secretary also to that- body. Latterly, since the establishment of the Shipping Federation, Mr Hawkins has held the position of local superintendent, his district comprising Bristol and the whole of the Channel- ports the heaviest in the country for work, as wet! as one of the most, inconvenient to administer. Into this work he entered heart and soul, yet, at the same time administering affairs with due regard to the Virtue of conciliatory operation in every case where conciliation did not involve surrender of principle. In this part ot his duties he has been devotedly assisted by his son, Mr W. R. Hawkins, who during the deceased gentleman's frequent enforced holidays and prolonged absences owing to illness has undertaken and fulfilled in a highly satisfactory manner all the positions, whether in relation to the Chamber of Commerce, the Shipowners' Association, the Federation, or other of the offices held by his father. Concerning the latter it is to be noted that during the struggle for the Barry Bill, when the Chamber of Commerce was supporting the project, he had a considerable amount of work to do in the collection of evidence, etc. As showing the growth or the chamber, it may be mentioned that when he took the secretaryship there were but 80 members, at the present time there are 450. Mr Hawkins, who took no part in political or municipal affairs was a member of the Freemasons' organisation and at one time held office as Master of the Windsor Lodge. Willoughy Legay Hawkins was born at Chilcompton, Somerset, in 1841, and was there for 52 years of age. In addition to the son mentioned, Mr Hawkittt leaves a widow and a second son, Mr W. E. Hawkins a daughter, the wife of Mr E. S. Fergusson. The day of the funeral has not yet been fixed.
South Wales Echo 6th January 1893
DEATH OF MR W. L. HAWKINS.
We very much regret to announce the death of Mr W. L. Hawkins, secretary of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, who expired this morning at half-past ten o'clock at his residence in Partridge-road, Cardiff, after an illness of some months' duration. Mr Hawkins had been in bad health for a year or two, but only within the past two or three months had the complications from which he suffered developed to a serious extent. In the early part of the year he took a trip to Egypt, and derived considerable benefit from the change, and subsequently, during last summer, he spent some time at the seaside, again receiving much benefit, but almost immediately after attending a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce at Newport he returned home, and was confined to the house, succumbing, as already stated, this morning. Mr Hawkins was in his 51st year, and the cause of death was failure of the heart's action.
South Wales Echo 5 January 1893
FUNERAL OF MR W. L. HAWKINS.
The funeral of the late Mr W. L. Hawkins, secretary of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, of the Bristol Channel Committee of the Shipping Federation, the Cardiff Shipowners' Association, and the Cardiff Exchange Company, took place on Monday morning at the new cemetery, the mourners and friends leaving the residence of the deceased, 17, Partridge-road, Roath, a little after eleven o'clock. The remains were encased in n massive polished oak coffin, with brass facings, the name plate bearing the following inscription, Willoughby Legay Hawkins, died 5th January, 1893, aged 51 years. The relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Mr W. R. Hawkins and Mr W. E. Hawkins, sons of the deceased Mr n. C. ] Hawkins, London, brother of the deceased Mr E. S. Fergusson, son-in-law Mr J. T. Edwards, 1 Penarth Mr David Culley (representing Messrs R. P. Culley and Co.),and Mr Dionysius Cometson (representing the Shipping Federation, Cardiff). The ceremony at the memorial chapel and at the grave side was impressively conducted by the Rev t R. J. Ives, vicar of. St German's, Roath. The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths sent by ( the following relatives and sympathisers : Mrs W. L. Hawkins, Mr W. R. Hawkins, Mr W. E. Hawkins, Mr and Mrs E. S. Fergusson, Mr I. C. Hawkins, Miss Julia Hawkins, Mr E. R. Moxey (president of the Chamber of Commerce), Mr J. T. and Mrs Edwards, the Windsor Lodge of Freemasons, Penarth the Bristol Channel Committee of the Shipping Federation, and Messrs R. P. Culley & Co. The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Messrs Solomon Andrews and sons, Cardiff. The inclement weather no doubt prevented a large attendance of friends.
The Cardiff Times 14 January 1893
SOURCE: Welsh Newspapers Online