Isle of Thanet Gazette 21st March 1944 Mr Edwin BAXTER Death of Thanet Farmer Mr Edwin BAXTER a well known Thanet farmer and prominent nationally as a greyhound owner, passed away at his home Bolingbroke Sarre, on Tuesday. Born in Margate, Mr BAXTER was 69 years old and his death followed a seven week illness. Following his education at Dr Head’s School, Margate, and St Alban’s Grammar School, Mr BAXTER entered the sausage manufacturing business established by his grandfather over 100 years ago in London. With the death of his father Mr Walter BAXTER he became governing director of the business which he extended in 1940 by opening a factory at Sarre. Between 45 and 50 tons of sausages are produced there every week. A Thousand Acres Mr BAXTER left Margate in 1921 and made his home at the picturesque residence attached to Bolingbroke Farm, which he had bought together with Elms Farm Pocock’s Farm and Sarre Court. With his later acquisition of Wallend Farm a total of over 1,000 acres came under his ownership. His great interest was coursing and mainly through his efforts Thanet became a famous coursing centre. He was elected president of the Isle of Thanet Coursing Club in 1928 and through his influence the South East of England Coursing Club patronised the St Nicholas grounds for such events as the Barbican Cup, regarded as second in importance to the Waterloo Cup. The St Nicholas meetings were attended by many titled and notable greyhound owners and MR BAXTER acted as host to them. Associated with the national Coursing Club, he entered dogs from well known ‘E.B’ kennels at Sarre in the Waterloo Cup on many occasions. He achieved his greatest successes in 1927 when Entry Badge won the first greyhound racing ‘Derby’ at White City and Ever Bright and Elder Brother came second and third. Won Trophy Three Times Mr BAXTER was donor of the Barbican Cup and in 1940 he created a record in the competition by winning the trophy for the third time with Ever Brave. Two of his dogs, Exotic Bloom and Ellen Beaton, reached the final when he won the cup for the first time at St Nicholas in 1934. Equally well known in Irish coursing circles, Mr BAXTER was a winner of the Irish International Cup. Feeling that such a luxury sport should not continue in war time, Mr BAXTER gradually closed his kennels in the early months of the war. A popular figure in Margate, he was an ex-president of the Constitutional Club and president of the Margate Club for several years. An enthusiastic angler, he won many trophies and prizes in the sport. Twice married Mr BAXTER was a widower for about 23 years. He leaves four sons and one daughter. The Funeral A service at St Pail’s Church preceded the interment at Margate Cemetery on Saturday. The Rev J B Cowell (Vicar) officiated and the service included the psalm “The Lord is my Shepherd” and the hymn “O God our help in ages past”. Mr F Wake, who was at the organ played “Andante Cantabile” (Tchaikovsky). “Evening” (Alfred Hollins) and “O rest in the Lord” (Mendelssohn). The mourners were Mr and Mrs E BAXTER and Mr and Mrs G BAXTER, (sons and daughters in law), Mr and Mrs D BOULANGER (son in law and daughter), Mrs MELL (sister) Mr and Mrs L MELL, (nephew and nice) Mr J H SKINNER, Mr Bruce BLEWITT (Solicitor) Mr W McCULLOCH (representing Mr BAXTER’s London Factory) Mr H C BATHURST and Mr William BANKS. They were followed by about 30 of Mr BAXTER’s farm and factory employees. Others present in church included the mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs F J CORNFORD) Alderman and Mrs F L PETTMAN, Alderman E S LININGTON, Alderman W C REDMAN, Alderman W J PERKINS, Alderman G A ABBOTT, Councillor R G SCOTT, Councillor H J ROGERS, Mr W PALMER (Deputy Chief Constable of Kent), Dr A M BOWIE, Messrs J A MONGOMERY (chairman) and Mr W J GARDNER (secretary) representing the National Farmers Union, Mrs J CORNHILL (secretary of the Isle of Thanet Coursing Club), Mr and Mrs. W G GARDNER, Mrs TANNENBAUM, Messrs A MONTGOMERY, E H SMITH, CW STANLEY, A MILES, AHL WATSON, E T BROADLEY, AJ SAXBY, JH MILLAR, P KNIGHTON, H MERVYN COBB, AJ STICKELS, GF PARRETT, C SOLOMON, (Charley from Margate), AT GIFFORD, C ELGAR, F THOMPSON, WS COLE, ER COLE, RG JAMES, HT PRESS, A FINCH (secretary Isle of Thanet Licensed Victuallers Association), AG BOUCHER, HA SMITH, RA LUNN, Harry SHAW, A HARRIS, A BALESTRINI, AE WOODMAN, HA LEIGH, G TOZER, R WILSON, HS HARVEY, F CARLEY, HT WILLETT, C WILLETT, E A BORG, Alan SMITH, F JONES, GW BARTLETT, F WESTON, E WANSTALL, J PRICE, TM WILLETT, J WILLETT, W SMITH, F EDMONDS, A CHESSEMAN, S TOBIN, H MOUNT, GF WHITEMAN, JS ARNOLD, T W GOMM, TF COLLINS, and A McDONNELL, Mrs D DALLAS, Mr and Mrs HEDGE. Margate Local & Family History