Friends

Of

Hastings

Cemetery

It is worthy of note that as an undertaker Mr. Vidler had crossed the Atlantic and other oceans as custodian of the bodies people of affluence.  Of a kindly and sociable disposition, the deceased won the esteem and goodwill of all with whom came into contact.

Since the above was written the almost sudden death of Mrs. Vidler has intensified the sadness and sorrow created by the announcement of Mr. Vidler's demise.  It rarely falls to our lot to have to place on record such a tale of woe.  The sympathy which went out the widow and children for the loss of a husband and father is now extended in deeper form to the three children for the loss of both father and mother in the same week.

Mrs. Vidler had been suffering from a cold for a few days, and on Wednesday morning bronchitis manifested itself.  She was obliged to keep to her bed, and Drs. Nicholson and Trollope were called in.  But being, no doubt, worn out with the work of nursing her husband and suffering from the shock caused by his death, she was easily susceptible of disease, and congestion of the lungs and pleurisy supervened, with the result that she succumbed at three o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The family of the deceased couple consists a son, aged 14, and two daughters, the eldest of whom is 18.  Another sad incident, of this heartrending case is that the boy is only just recovering from serious illness.  Mrs. Vidler was about the same age as her husband.  The funeral of Mr. Vidler had been fixed for to-day, but it has now been arranged that husband and wife shall be interred together on Tuesday next, at the Borough Cemetery.  The first part of the service will held at St. Andrew's Church, about one o'clock.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 02 March 1895
The Late Mr. Charles Vidler.  Messrs. Dunk and Burton, who took over the business of the late Mr. Charles Vidler, have decorated the left wall of the chancel of St. Andrew's Church in a very artistic manner in memory of the deceased gentleman.  A few personal friends are contributing towards the cost of the material used, but the work has been done gratuitously.  The wall is neatly panelled out.  In the centre is the monogram "I.C.P.," the Greek initials for I.H.S.," are painted in red, blue, and gold, and surrounded with a crown.  On one side of the centrepiece is a scroll bearing the text, “My Peace I give unto you" and on the other one the words, "Prince of Peace."  The scrolls are worked in red, white, and gold, on a green groundwork, and are very effective.  The rest of the wall is embellished with a stencilled, draperied pattern of heliotrope on grey ground.  Under the centre is the following inscription :—" In memoriam of Charles Vidler, died November, 1893. The design is finished off with a pretty blue and gold border, and the whole forms very effective work, which is undoubtedly a great improvement to the church.

In 1905 Robert Noonan, better known as ‘Robert Tressell’, the author of “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists” decorated the chancel with a 40 ft. x 20 ft. mural that had been paid for by his employer, Burton & Co .....

There is a copyrighted image bearing the words “My Peace I give unto you"  [as above] at https://www.historicmedway.co.uk/chatham/hmsbarfleurmemorial.htm purporting to be by Tressell, but he had not arrived in England at this time.

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 31 August 1901
DEATH OF MR. WALLACE VIDLER. :: DROWNED AT WEI-HAI-WEI.
We regret having to record the death of Mr. Wallace Vidler, son of the late Mr. Charles Vidler, of Stonefield-road, who met his death whilst bathing at Wei-Hai-VVei, China, July 14th

Mr. Wallace Vidler, who had been in the, Navy for nearly a year, was carpenter to the battleship Barfleur.  A letter of sympathy from the Chaplain of the ship, writing to the deceased's sister, says: From what I can gather from those present, I understand that your poor brother was bathing off the beach with lot of his shipmates, and swam a stroke or two beyond his depth, and sank.  Those nearest him pulled him to the shore as soon as possible and called for the aid of three sick-bay stewards, who were also of the bathing party.  These went through all the operations for the treatment of a drowned man, and artificial respiration, etc.  But although they worked hard for three-quarters of an hour their efforts were unavailing. The doctor had then arrived, and he, too failed to restore life.  The body was taken and deposited the mortuary of the Naval Hospital

All his messmates speak very highly of him, especially his Chief Officer, the carpenter.  The funeral took place July 15th. seven o'clock.  He was buried in the Wei- Hai-Wei Cemetery with full naval honours.  It is supposed that deceased had a weak heart, and it is probable that this was the chief cause of his death.  Many, we are sure, will sympathise with his relations.  He was only 22 years of age, and was an only son of a family of three.

Barfleur memorial https://www.historicmedway.co.uk/chatham/hmsbarfleurmemorial.htm