MARRIAGES.

June 22, at the Parish Church, Mr. George Charles Pratley to Miss Louisa Large

This is the last Will and Testament of me George Charles Pratley of Cemetery Road Cheltenham in the County of Gloucester Cemetery Superintendent I give and bequeath to my Son Ernest Edward Pratley my cold chain and silver watch absolutely I give and bequeath all my real estate and all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate of whatsoever nature or kind and wheresoever situate unto my dear Wife Louisa Pratley absolutely And I appoint my said Wife Sole Executrix of this my Will And hereby revoking all former Wills and other testamentary dispositions by me at anytime heretofore made I declare this to be my last Will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March one thousand nine hundred and one ----- George Charles Pratley -------- Signed by the said Testator George Charles Pratley as and for his last Will and testament in the presence us both being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses -----

------ Robert E. Steel Solicitor, Cheltenham -------

------ Edwin J. Cook Coal Merchant, 12 Promenade Cheltenham ------

Deaths.

PRATLEY - June 13, at 21 All Saints'-terrace, Cheltenham, George Charles, beloved husband of Louisa Pratley, aged 72.

DEATH OF MR. G.C. PRATLEY

A WELL-KNOWN FORESTER.

Our obituary column to-day records the daeath of Mr. George C. Pratley, one of the best-known figures in Forestry in Cheltenham who last December was presented by his fellow members of that friendly society with a silver tea and coffee service and illuminated address in commemoration of his golden wedding.

Mr. Pratley was born at Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, in 1840, his family removing to Cheltenham while he was a small boy. Here he attended the Parish Church School, and later at the age of 18 became fired with Forestrie zeal by a fellow workman, and became a Forester, being initiated a member of Court "Town of Cheltenham" on Sept. 28th, 1858. Six months later he was elected to the office of J.B., quickly passing on to J.W. and S.W. Afterwards he was appointed auditor, and in 1863 secretary of a Foresters' fete in aid of the National Lifeboat Institution, which yielded a good round sum. His zealous work on behalf of his Court was in 1865 rewarded by his being appointed its secretary, a post he held for thirty-one years. During this period the Court, as a mark of its appreciated, presented him with a silver lever watch and gold chain and an illuminated address bearing 400 signatures; and upon his resignation owing to the pressure of other duties he was the recipient of a revolving desk and another illuminated address. In 1867 Bro. Pratley was instrumental in establishing a Juvenile Forresters' Society, of which he was still secretary, and during his membership of Court "Town and Cheltenham" he established no fewer than eight other courts. He attended the district delegate meetings twenty-eight times prior to being elected D.S. in 1886, a post which he held to the day of his death. His first High Court was at Worcester in 1874. At Glasgow he was elected, and at Reading discharged the duties of High Court Auditor. At Hull he was elected and at London sat as member of the High Court Investigation Committee. He attended nearly twenty High Court meetings, and had been trustee of at least four lodges. As mentioned above, Bro. Pratley was married in 1861, and his good wife gave him seven sons, of whom six are Foresters. "Bro. Pratley," said the "Foresters' Miscellany" in 1898, "is looked upon as the representative of Forestry in Cheltenham, and there was a time when his friends hoped he would fill the office of High Chief Ranger of an Order he had done so much to popularise." He was for many years superintendent of the Cheltenham Cemetery.

His death was feelingly alluded to at the quarterly meeting of the Leckhampton Court, at St. Philips schoolroom, Leckhampton-road, on Thursday evening, and a resolution of sincere condolence with Mrs. Pratley and family in their bereavement was carried, also their desire to mark the great loss the district had sustained by the death of an officer who for many years had faithfully and ably carried out the responsible duties of his office.

The funeral of the late Bro. G.C. Pratley, District Secretary of the Cheltenham Foresters, will take place on Monday next, the 17th inst., at the Cheltenham Cemetery, leaving the residence of the deceased, All Saints-terrace, at 1.15. It is hoped members of the Order and kindred societies will make a special effort to attend.