Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 08 Jun 1957
Page 3 Column 6
Death of Col. E. J. STEAD
County Surveyor for 32 Years
The death occurred on Friday of last week at Musgrove Park Hospital of Lieut.-Col. E. J. STEAD, M.C., who was county surveyor of Somerset from 1914 until 1946. He was 78. His home was at Dinham, Trull-road, Taunton.
Col. STEAD began his professional life with the Lancashire County Council. In 1903 he went to South Africa and carried out important public works in Natal. On his return he was appointed assistant county surveyor of Somerset, and in 1913 he became county surveyor of North Devon. He returned to Somerset a year later as county surveyor, giving unbroken service in that position, with the exception of the First World War, for 32 years.
Road Improvements
During this period he initiated and carried through countless improvements to Somerset roads and bridges, and proposed many plans which, if put into effect, would have provided the county with a road system capable of handling to-day's traffic problems. Col. STEAD was a man of drive and vision and great integrity, and only reasons of finance and lack of government approval prevented many schemes being undertaken.
One example of this was the County Surveyor's Society's plan for new motor roads put forward in the late 1930s. As one of the main instigators of this imaginative scheme, Col. STEAD was tireless in his efforts to win Government approval. He had been to America in 1930 for the International Roads Congress, touring the Southern States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec inspecting thousands of miles of roads. On the Continent he studied the new German autobahnen. He knew what was required and more than 20 years later saw a belated start on those plans.
Professional Offices
Col. STEAD was elected to the National Executive Council of N.A.L.G.O. in 1935, became vice-president two years later and president of the Association in 1939. He was president of the Association of Somerset Surveyors for more than 27 years, was a Fellow of the Surveyor's Institution, an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, a Member of the Institution of Muncipal <sic> and County Engineers, and a Member of the Town Planning Institute; also a past president of the County Surveyor's Society.
Awarded Military Cross
During the First World War he served in France and Belgium with the Royal Engineers, being awarded the Military Cross. He was also appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour. Whilst serving on the staff of 2nd Corps his was the difficult task of keeping open the roads in the Ypres salient. In the last war he was responsible for maintaining communications throughout the county and was very active in Civil Defence.
Until recently he was president of Trull branch of the Conservative Association and was also on the Executive Committee of the Taunton Divisional Association. As chairman of the Trull Parish Council, he took a keen interest in the activities and well-being of the village. Last year he accepted the presidency of the Trull Memorial Hall Committee. He was a member of the British Legion for many years.
Kindly Presence
Col. STEAD was a fine example of an older generation of professional men who have contributed to the greatness of their country and his gentleness and kindly presence will be missed by people in many walks of life.
He is survived by his wife, son and four daughters.
The funeral took place privately on Wednesday at Trull. Preb. C. W. TREVELYAN, the vicar, conducted the service. A memorial service will be held at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15th, at All Saints' Church, Trull.