Mayor 1905 – 1906.
Member of the Conservative Party.
A member of the established church – Church of England.
At a full annual meeting of the Ipswich Council held at the Town Hall on Thursday, 9th November 1905, Bunnell was duly elected Mayor of Ipswich for the ensuing year. He was not a member of the Council, but all felt he qualified by reason of his family traditions, and his own business ability.
Born: 9th July 1858, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1861 19, Neale Street, St. Margaret’s, Ipswich.
Bunnell was 2 years old and living with his father & brother.
Henry, 37, a Wholesale Grocer.
George, 1.
2 female servants.
1871 6, Burlington Road, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Bunnell was 12 years old and living with his parents, siblings.
Henry, 47, a Sugar & Cheese Importer.
Mary, 45.
George, 12.
Mary, 9.
Emily, 8.
William, 6.
Elizabeth, 9 months.
maternal aunt – Jane Lewis, 31, a Student in Government School of Art, born Liberty of Norton Folgate, Middlesex.
1 cook.
1 nurse maid.
1881 St. Peter’s Street, St. Peter’s, Ipswich.
Bunnell was 22 years old, a Merchant Importer. He was living with his widowed mother & siblings.
Mary, 55, a Wholesale Grocer.
Parker, 16, a Salesman Clerk.
Rosa, 10.
1 cook.
1 parlour maid.
1891 7, Burlington Road, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.
Bunnell was 32 years old, a Sugar Merchant and Miller. He was married and head of the household.
Eveline, 20.
sister-in-law – Eliza Beatrice Lawrence (nee Earnshaw), 28, a clergyman’s wife, born Sheffield, Yorkshire.
1 cook.
1 house maid.
1 ladies’ maid.
1901 ‘Moat’ Tuddenham Road, St. Margaret’s, Ipswich.
Bunnell was 43 years old, a Provision Merchant – employer. He was married and head of the household.
Eveline, 30.
1 cook.
1 nurse.
1 parlour maid.
1 kitchen maid.
1 house maid.
In 1911, Bunnell’s wife was living at their family home – ‘The Park’ Wherstead, Suffolk.
Eveline, 40.
guest – Dora Margaret Inskip, 25, born Spalding, Lincolnshire (Dora’s father, was Oliver Digby Inskip – Headmaster of Framlingham College, Suffolk).
1 butler.
1 footman.
1 page boy.
1 head house maid.
1 2nd house maid.
1 3rd house maid.
1 head kitchen maid.
1 2nd kitchen maid.
1 scullery maid.
1 ladies’ maid.
1 groom to Hunters.
Evening Star – Friday, 29th December 1905 – MAYORAL FESTIVITIES IN IPSWICH – Quite an exceptional brilliancy has been imparted to the round of Christmas festivities in Ipswich by the series of balls given by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. Bunnell Henry Burton, and Mrs. Eveline Mary Burton, at the Town Hall.
Recognising that there is more than one stage of human existence, the Mayor and Mayoress very thoughtfully divided their hospitable arrangements into three parts. The Town Hall was transformed into the exact antithesis of what it ordinarily represents. The vestibule, which was approached by a covered way of striped canvas, had lost all the cold severity of its appearance under the pleasing effect produced by heavy carpets and glorious latania palms and other large foliage plants. Ascending the stairs, one was confronted with a further generous array of palms, relieved with arum lilies, white soft couches and other comfortable seats were ranged on either hand. The Council Chamber had become a very handsome ballroom, plentifully adorned with palms and flowering plants, with boxes of flowers on the stoves, and large curtained mirrors at one end, while at the other was the charmingly decorated platform. The Town Hall library was converted into a tea-room, where every possible provision had been made for the satisfaction of the claims of the children’s appetites and the adult friends who accompanied them to THE CHILDREN’S PARTY.
Valentine Beard and his sister Marian had accepted their invitation to the Children’s Party, which commenced at four o’clock in the afternoon. Many of the girls were wearing bright silks and satins, while the bulk of the boys wore the orthodox Eton suit. As they entered the Council Chamber, their gaze met a glorious Christmas tree, well stocked with pretty things; forthwith, they commenced to enjoy themselves as only boys and girls can. A conjuring and ventriloquial entertainment was provided by Mr. George Robins from London. Tea was served to the children. The final and perhaps most exciting event of the day was the distribution of presents from the Christmas tree, which had been so elaborately set out with pretty things by Messrs. Smith and Smith, and Mr. A. J. Smith was there to assist in denuding the tree of its treasures. The Mayor handed each article to the children, and many youngsters lost no time in testing the speed of the mechanical motors over the polished floor of the room, while others pulled crackers here, there, and everywhere until they were checked by the warning voice of the Town Clerk – who had by the way distinguished himself to no small extent in Bland Man’s Buff. Every child received a toy from the three, and all also received a handsome “cracker” before they departed.
IPSWICH AMATEUR OPERATIC COMPANY
At a meeting held on Saturday, 4th May 1907, under the presidency of Walter Sinclair, it was resolved to revive the Ipswich Amateur Operatic Company. In the past it had become impossible to obtain the services of a sufficient number of amateurs in the town capable of acting as principles, so the company had been in a state of suspended animation for over six years. During the meeting reconstruction of the Society began, first with new personnel appointments of the management, all of whom were determined to announce that Ipswich once again had a Society, which would devote itself to the study and performance by amateurs of operas of various kinds. Mr. Brunnell Burton was elected President, with Walter as Vice-President on relinquishment of that of conductor, which was appointed to Mr. Jonathan Job, F.R.C.O., and Mr. William Chandler Block consented to continue as treasurer. Due to time, the Committee decided to revive Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe” for December. In the past, there had always been a rush to obtain tickets to the Society’s performances. The Committee hoped that the residents of Ipswich would still be ready and willing to support the efforts of amateur opera singers in such performances. Evening Star – Monday, 6th May 1907