Annual Report of the Council. xxxvii 



circle of friends, and was much respected and beloved of them. 

 He married in July 1886 Mrs. Watts, widow of the late Samuel 

 Watts of Burnage Hall and of the firm of S. and J, Watts 

 and Co. of this city. F. S. 



Thomas Harker was born at Hawes, a small market town 

 in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, in 1830, His father, for the sake of 

 his large family, wisely resolved to remove to Manchester, 

 where he settled in 1844. After a short experience in a stock- 

 broker's office, he entered, in 1849, the service of Messrs. 

 Rylands and Sons, where his brother-in-law was a buyer. He 

 maintained his connection with this firm as salesman, buyer, 

 and director until a few months before his death. 



In early life, fishing was his favourite amusement, and his 

 devotion to the "gentle craft" continued till late on in life. As 

 a member of the "Anglers' Club" he helped to make known to 

 his fellow members the waters of his native dales. In later life 

 he made flower-growing one of his hobbies, and was a very 

 successful exhibitor at local shows. In politics he was an 

 advanced Liberal, and for many years was a well known figure 

 at the Manchester Reform Club. 



About twelve years before his death he was made a magis- 

 trate, but of late years, owing to faiUng health, seldom appeared 

 on the bench. W. H. R. 



Thomas Read Wilkinson was born in Duke Street, 

 Chorlton-on-Medlock, on March 13 th, 1826. His father, 

 Thomas Wilkinson, was a printer, and the founder of the now 

 well-known Gutenberg Printing Works, of Pendleton. At the 

 age of 13 the boy entered his father's printing works as a 

 compositor. He remained at this work two years, from 1839 to 

 1 84 1. In the latter year he entered the Manchester and 

 Salford Bank as a clerk, thus beginning a connection which 

 lasted uninterruptedly until his death, 62 years later, in 1903. 

 Mr. Wilkinson rose steadily in the Bank, becoming General 



