Georges Camichel

Research Notes

• Georges Camichel Georges Camichel probably arrived in England from France about 1885 with his father, also Georges Camichel. In 1898 he was in Birkenhead, where he married Julia Hopcroft from London. George Camichel was born here in1899. He returned to London and in the 1901 census the family is found in rooms at 96 Lillington St, Pimlico, although the name is incorrectly spelt as Carmichel (this was how it was then pronounced). Georges became the head chef of the Victoria Hotel on Trafalgar Square at the top of Whitehall. This was the premier hotel during the Edwardian years. The hotel was requisitioned by the War Office in 1917 and Georges and family moved to the Empire Hotel in Bath with the intention of returning to London after the war. He resided at 11, Southcott Place, Lyncombe Hill. Ten months later he went off duty at 2.30 and retired to his room at the hotel. At 6.30 having failed to appear in the kitchen he was found dead on the floor by a pantry boy. He died from a cerebral hemorhage, probably resulting from chronic inflammation of the kidneys. He was 44, very stout, and had headaches for years according to his widow, although he had not seen a doctor for 8 years. He was a member of the City of Bath Lodge No 267 of the Royal and Ancient Order of Buffaloes and 22 primos and members attended the funeral service at St James's Cemetery, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, conducted by the Very Revd T L Almond and Primo W Dawe. His eldest son, George, had been conscripted into the army and was in France. The mourners were:- the widow, Bertie and Willie, the children, Mrs Polly Hawkins (sister-in-law). The grave number is T.B1. Entry in Register No 16440. The grave has a kerb inscribed 'In memory of my dear husband Georges Camichel'. According to his eldest son he had intended to open a restaurant of his own with a wine waiter friend but the war intervened.
  
  BURIAL: 'The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon at St James's Cemetery of Mr Georges Camichel who died suddenly on Tuesday at the Empire Hotel, where he was employed as chef. Mr Camichel lived at 11, Southcott Place, Lyncombe Hill. As deceased was a member of the City of Bath Lodge No 267 of the R.A.O.B., a large number of members attended the funeral and there were also present many of the hotel staff and friends. The service was conducted by the Very Rev. T. L. Almond and afterwards Primo W. Dawe read the funeral office of the R.A.O.B. The mourners were:- the widow, Bertie and Willie (children), Mrs. P. Hawkins (sister-in-law), Sergt. Major Munday, Mrs ? (friend), Mr. George Dixon (manager of the Empire Hotel), Mr A ? Denton (maitre d'hotel), Monsieur Rupp (in charge of the kitchen), Mr. R. Clare (chief engineer) and Mr George Marsh (hall porter). The following members of the City of Bath R.A.O.B. were present:- Primos Knight, Biggs, W. Dawe, F. Parker, A.Hales, J. Dawe, W. Latham and E. Heard, Bros. Knight, W. K. Castle, J.Baker, W. Griffiths, E. Bowler, G. W. Worrell, W. Blake, J. A. Escott, J.R. Hughes, J. Smith, W. R. Mullins, E. Macfarlane and Bros. E. Sanders and H. Scott of the Southwood Lodge. Among those also present from the staff of the Empire Hotel were Messrs Castle, H. Ballinger, E. Marchant, Beaumont Frey, Skinner, J. Cronin, L. Hewish, R. H. Bulsiger, A. E.Stocks, C. Lewis, T. W. Wells and F. Beck. Also present were:- Mr. T.Clack, Mr. A. Thery, chef of the Poulteney Hotel, Mr. P. Hug, chef of the Pump Room Hotel. Among the wreaths was one from the City of Bath Lodge R.A.O. B., G. L. E. The undertaker was Mr. A. E. Tanner of 6, Monmouth Street' (notice in Bath Newspaper.)¹