Winifred Grace Alicia HULL [1343]

  General Notes:

Julius Jottings June 1901 No 5.
Perhaps Miss Winifred Hull might feel inclined, when she has a little leisure, to write a short account of her experiences in Algiers.
We have heard vague rumours of her taking part in a battle of flowers, and being awarded the champion banner, but perhaps it was a mistake!

A marriage has been arranged, and will take place on May 18 at St John's, Redhill, between Capt E C de Renzy Martin, 5th Gurkha Rifles, eldest son of Lt Gen Sir A R Martin, KCB, and Lady Martin, and Winifred, daughter of Mr E C P Hull of Earlswood Mount, Surrey and 45 Queens Gate.
Ref: Homewood Mail from India, China and the East 20 April 1912.

Military Wedding at Redhill.
Miss Hull and Capt Martin.
St John's Church, Redhill, was the scene on Saturday of one of the most picturesque weddings that have taken place in the Borough for a considerable time, and the interest evinced in the happy occasion was very great. The bride was Miss Winifred Grace Alicia Hull, the eldest daughter of Mr E C P Hull, JP, of Earlswood Mount, Redhill, and 45, Queens Gate, London, and the bridegroom was Captain E C de Renzy Martin, 5th Gurkha rifles, the eldest son of General Sir Alfred Martin, KCB.
The bride's family is well known and held in the very highest esteem in the borough and the County of Surrey, and therefore the nuptials of a daughter could not fail to excite considerable interest. Mr E C P Hull has taken an important part in the administrative work of the County, and is a magistrate for the Borough of Reigate and also for the County of Surrey, and until recently he was a Member of the Surrey County Council. His activities have led him, however, to devote the greater portion of his time to work of national importance, and his neighbours on behalf of one of the great institutions of the country, whose home is situated at Earlswood, have deservedly won for him the highest encomiums. Quite recently he was laid aside with a serious illness, but to the great pleasure of his numerous friends he has now happily recovered, and is restored to health. The bridegroom is a captain in one of the famous Indian Regiments, the Gurkha Rifles, who have won renown by reason of their splendid loyalty to the British Empire, and their sterling qualities as soldiers. His father is a distinguished officer, who has seen considerable service in India, having taken an honourable part in several campaigns. He served against the Jowaki-Afredis in 1877-78, for which he received a medal with class, he served in the Afghan War of 1878-80, being mentioned three times in dispatches, and receiving a medal with four clasps and a bronze star. His next active service was in the Hazara expedition of 1888, for which he received a clasp, and at Miranzai he was in command of the first Battalion of the 5th Gurkha rifles, in which regiment the bridegroom is an officer. General Martin's active services also include Waziristan, 1894-95 and Tirah in 1897-98, in both of which campaigns he was mentioned in dispatches. It was therefore only in the order of things that the wedding should partake of a military character, the officer friends of the parties wearing the full dress uniform of their particular regiment. The bridegroom himself was in the full dress of a captain of the Gurkha Rifles, the uniform being very similar to that of the English Rifle Corps, but with the distinctive badges of the Indian Corps, and the helmet having a wider rim suitable for tropical countries.
A very large number of parishioners assembled outside the church to witness the arrival of the guests, a continual stream of motors and of other vehicles conveying the visitors to the principal entrance of the church. An awning had been erected over the path leading to the church, which was laid with red carpet. Inside the church a scene of surpassing loveliness and beauty was witnessed. The sacred edifice requires but little to transform it into an ideal picture, the architectural beauty of the building permitting elaborate treatment at the hands of the skilled and tasteful decorator. Such was the case on Saturday, particular attention having been paid to the entrance to the chancel, an ambitious scheme of floral and plant decoration being successfully carried out by Mr A A Rose, florist, of London Rd, Redhill. The chancel steps were tastefully decorated with stately kenta and cocus palms and maple leaves with magnificent Harissa lilies, while marguerite's and spiraea were also used to advantage. Suspended from the elegant screen was a large cross of white flowers. Choice white flowers also adorn the altar.
The seats in the nave of the church were reserved exclusively for the wedding guests. The effect produced by the smart and dainty toilettes of the ladies, and officers resplendent in scarlet uniform with gold facings, and on their breasts rows of medals and decorations with bright ribbons, in sharp contrast to the dark and subdued uniforms of the Gurkha Officers, was one that was most striking and brave, and its beauty will not be soon forgotten by those who were privileged to witness such a scene.
While the guests were assembling Sir Frederick Bridge MVO, gave a recital on the organ, embracing skilful interpretations of Sternedale Bennett's Minuetto and Trio from the Symphony in G minor and Galuppi's "Adagio and Spiritoso" from a Sonata.
Shortly before 2:30 members of the bride's and bridegroom's families arrived, and then the choir, with the clergy, left the vestry and awaited the entry of the bride at the principal door of the church. Radiantly happy she looked as, leaning upon the arm of her father, she and the bridal party slowly made its way up the central aisle of the church, the bride being the cynosure of all eyes, and the choir leading the singing of the processional hymn "O God of Jacob by Whose hand". The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Evelyn Hull, who acted as maid of honour, and there were six bridesmaids, Miss Isabel Hull (sister), Miss Helen Martin, Miss Ada Martin (sisters of the bridegroom), Miss Lathbury, Miss Maud and Miss Hermione Wetherall.
The bride wore a beautiful gown of cream satin with exquisite old lace, worn with a court train, also of cream satin, draped with old Limerick lace. Her early Victorian embroidered Vale was lent by her mother, and was worn over a wreath of orange blossom. She carried a magnificent bouquet of lilies of the valley, artistically arranged in flume and semi-shower.
Miss Evelyn Hull, as the maid of honour, wore a soft gown of white ninon and a full lace. The other bridesmaids wore dainty shepherdess dresses of pale pink flowered crêpe with muslin fichus and sleeve ruffles, over petticoats of apple green. They also wore black mittens and pink hats, lined with black, with lace frills and pink ribbons, and they carried bouquets and beautiful single soft pink roses mounted on myrtle sprays.
The officiating clergy were the Lord Bishop of Winchester and the Rev G F Wilson (honorary chaplain to the King and superintendent of the Missions to Seamen), the Rev A W Payne Brown and the Rev J Craufurt Murray. The choir gave a beautiful rendering of "God be merciful unto us, and bless us" and an appropriate and short address was delivered by the Lord Bishop of Winchester. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr T Blackwell. At the conclusion of the prayers the hymn "O perfect love all human thought transcending" was sung kneeling.
The blessing was pronounced by the Bishop, and after the register was signed Sir Frederick Bridge gave a spirited rendering of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March". Meanwhile the officer friends of the parties had formed a guard of honour at the entrance to the church, and as the newly married couple approached they drew their swords, and crossing them, Capt and Mrs Martin passed underneath. A merry peel of bells was then rung on the church bells.
The bride's wedding dress and her going away dress were made by Devereux (Paris), who also made the dress of Miss Evelyn Hull, the maid of honour; and the other bridesmaids dresses were made by Liberty (London), and the hats by Woolland (London). The bride and bridesmaids and the principal guests bouquets were supplied by Mr W P Bound, Redhill, who also decorated the house for the reception, and the floral decorations at the church were carried out by Mr A A Rose, Redhill. The wedding cake was supplied by Mr A B Jenner, of Meadvale, the wedding breakfast and refreshments were supplied by Mrs G Lucas and Son, of Reigate. The carriages by Messrs S Marsh and son, Redhill, and the wedding stationery by Mr Alec J Hall Redhill
Ref: Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser 25 May 1912.

The death on Sunday last, following upon an accident in Switzerland, is announced of Mrs de Renzy Martin, wife of Lt Col E E C de Renzy Martin CMG, DSO, of Farringdon House, Alton. Mrs de Renzy Martin was the eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs E C P Hull, who for many years, resided at Earlswood Mount, prior to taking up their abode at Park Gate House, Ham Common.
Ref: Surrey Mirror 12 February 1937

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, The Mount Reigate SRY. Winifred is recorded as a daughter aged 9 a scholar born Blackheath Kent

2. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Reigate SRY. Winifred is recorded as a daughter aged 29 unmarried unemployed born Blackheath KEN

Winifred married Col Edward Cuthbert DE RENZY-MARTIN DSO MC [1344] [MRIN: 422], son of Lieut Gen Sir Alfred Robert MARTIN KCB [12705] and Bessie Charlotte St George DE RENZY [13990], on 18 May 1912 in St John Redhill SRY. (Col Edward Cuthbert DE RENZY-MARTIN DSO MC [1344] was born on 30 Mar 1883 in Abbottabad India, baptised on 30 Apr 1883 in Abbottabad India and died on 15 Dec 1974 in Wiltshire.)