City: Manchester
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 17/08/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold albert & pendant, to:
10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company, 3rd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
832 Trooper Wilkliam Edward NORQUOY
Subscribed for by the employees of Messrs Peace & Norquoy, contractors and folding partition makers, New Islington, Manchester.
Presentation made by Mr John Nicholson (shop foreman), at the Saracen's Head Hotel, Heatley.
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper W.E. Norquoy by the employees of Messrs Peace & Norquoy, on his safe return from active service in South Africa, June 8th, 1901".
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Orkney Herald, 28th August 1901
ORKNEY FIRM IN MANCHESTER – WORKMEN’S ANNUAL EXCURSION.
The fourteenth annual excursion of the employees of Messrs Peace & Norquoy, contractors and folding partition makers, New Islington, Manchester, took place on Saturday, August 17th. A large number of the employees were present. The party left Manchester in special carriages by train for Heatley, a quaint old-fashioned village, charmingly situated in Cheshire, about twelve miles from Manchester. On their arrival, arrangements were made for a cricket match, married v. single, the sides being captained respectively by Mr Thomas Chalmers and Mr W.E. NORQUOY, junr. The game was continued for some time, and ultimately resulted in a victory for the married men. After this the party adjourned to the Saracen’s Head Hotel, where a splendid dinner, provided by the firm, was served. Dinner over, the tables were cleared, and a social evening’s entertainment commenced. The chair was taken by Mr Thomas Chalmers. …….
The chairman then called upon Mr John Nicholson, shop foreman, who had been in the employ of the firm for over twenty-five years, to perform an interesting ceremony, viz., to present Mr W.E. NORQUOY with a massive gold albert chain and pendant, the gift of the workmen. In making the presentation he explained that Trooper NORQUOY left for the front at a few hours’ notice, and sailed from Liverpool in January 1900 with the 10th Company Imperial Yeomanry, which was the first of the yeomanry to arrive at the Cape. They were all pleased that, although he had had a rough time and many narrow escapes, he had returned safe and in good health. He had much pleasure on behalf of the employees in presenting him with this gift. The pendant bore the following inscription: – “Presented to Trooper W.E. Norquoy by the employees of Messrs Peace & Norquoy, on his safe return from active service in South Africa, June 8th, 1901”. Mr NORQUOY, in accepting the gift, said it came to him as a pleasant surprise, and he wished to thank the workmen sincerely for the kind feeling they had shown in celebrating his return by the presentation of such a valuable gift. Councillor Norquoy said he highly appreciated the kind feelings which had prompted the employees to contribute towards the beautiful present. His son had been entertained in a variety of ways since his return home, but he regarded the gift of today more than anything else, because it displayed the spontaneous wish of the workmen of the firm.
