Just to the right of the War Memorial lies another famous son of Providence and another Mayor of the Borough. Thomas Cryer was born in Loveclough in 1847 to Betty Nuttall who hailed from Clitheroe and James Cryer his father who was born in Littleborough.
Thomas attended the National School on Burnley Road where he
excelled, especially in mathematics. On leaving School he worked in a
Cotton Mill until he was 29 years old but not satisfied with this joined the Crawshawbooth Mechanics Institute, there he became a very apt pupil carrying off many a prize, eventually becoming a master of Finance.
He then worked at Loveclough Print works and worked his
way up to Cashier at that place; Thomas was a Nonconformist and as such was connected with Providence United Methodist Church worshipping there from childhood. He was a trustee there and a teacher of a Young Ladies Class for many years, and also the treasurer of the Sunday school.
He began taking an active role in Politics in 1868, and being a Liberal was a member of the Rossendale Liberal Executive. Whilst Mayor he also was a Justice of the Peace, presiding in the Rawtenstall Police Court, and another string to his bow was that he was an Oddfellow and was a member of the Charity Lodge Crawshawbooth for about 45 years.
Thomas married Eliza Dawson in 1868 and they had 5 children, 4 surviving into adulthood and one, James, dying in Infancy. The 4 were Clara, later Mrs Farnsworth, Louisa later Mrs Charles Edward Nuttall of Clowbridge. Nancy who became Mrs Allen Heath, Nancy died 30th Dec 1910, and is interred in Cheshire, also Edwin, their son who married Barbara Pauline Barrett of Levenshulme in 1912. Pauline’s father John was assistant manager and cashier at a Print works so no doubt met through work association. Edwin was a Chemist at Loveclough Print works before becoming Chemist and Assistant Manager at Broad Oak Print works Accrington.
They had two children, Nancy Auriel Cryer, and Keith Dawson Cryer,(Dawson was his Grandmothers maiden name). Keith went on to become a Solicitor.
Thomas took an active interest in politics in 1868 and he represented
North Ward on Rawtenstall Town Council for a period of 15 years.as
well as Justice of the peace Alderman Cryer was Mayor three times they being 1907-1908,1911-1912, and 1912 to 1913.
Whilst on the Tramways and Electricity Committee it was largely due to his persistence that the Tramways were extended to the Loveclough Boundary, Other strings to his bow were being a member of the Hospital Charities and the Joint Sewerage Board, and obtaining the first Motor Ambulances for the Borough.
No3 Tram parked just up the road from Providence on Loveclough Border, Mayor Thomas Cryer was responsible for getting the service extended to Loveclough Border giving better access for local folk.
Due to meet the King and Queen on their Royal Visit to Lancashire,
including Rawtenstall July 9th 1913, Alderman Cryer died at home on the 24th of June 1913, he was looking forward to the opportunity but alas no, he had suffered a paralytic seizure some months before confining him to bed at the instructions from his Doctor.
It was at the weekly meeting of Rawtenstall Town Council that Councillor Samuel Compton rose, and speaking with some emotion explained that the Mayor wasn’t well enough to attend the meeting, later he seemed to have recovered well, but then his condition worsened and resulted in
his passing. Immediately on the News of Thomas’s death the flags
were flown at half mast on the Town Hall, Free Library, Whittaker
Park, the Fire Station, Loveclough Print Works and many private
residences.
Thomas Cryer was the only Mayor to have died in Office at that time
and his Funeral and internment took place at Providence Chapel.
Thomas Cryer took a great interest in the welfare of the Rossendale
Borough Fire Brigade and as such was involved in the creation of the
Recreation room for the Firemen, so it was fitting for that eight
members of the Brigade became Pall Bearers at his funeral under the charge of Superintendent Burrows.
The internment took place at 1pm at Providence Chapel on Friday
the 4th July 1913 leaving Thomas’s house at 12.40, members of the
Corporation left from Rawtenstall on the 12.05 Tram from that place.
Thomas’s wife Eliza died 12 months later.