Known as the “Queen of Eastern Showmen,” Mrs. Charlotte Thurston, widow of Mr. Charles Thurston, senr., founder of Charles Thurston and Sons, the well-known amusement caterers, passed away at 11p.m. on Sunday in her caravan, which during the war has been pitched in West-street, Wellingborough, near the caravan of her younger son, Charles, who is president of the Showmen’s Guild.

Mrs. Thurston was 68 years of age and had she lived another hour her death would have occurred on the birthday of her elder son, John H. Thurston, who was born at the Kettering fairground on July 6th 1895, and is now at Kettering once again for the annual Feast, to which the family is paying its 55th annual visit.

She had expressed a wish to attend Kettering Feast this year, and arrangements had been made to take the caravan there, but the onset of illness on June 17th frustrated the plan.

Mrs. Thurston was born in a caravan, lived most of her life in a caravan and, as is stated above, died in a caravan. For some years she had resided in Finchley, N., but removed to Wellingborough about two years ago when heavy bombing of London necessitated her evacuation with her daughter, Mrs. Ruby Greenslade. She had been an invalid for 12 years but as a younger woman was extremely beautiful and with her dark wavy hair dressed habitually in the style favoured by Queen Mary, was considered very much like the Queen Mother in appearance.

Helped Good Causes

Mrs. Thurston was a daughter of the late Mr. John Barker, of Norwich, who, with her husband’s father, founded the amusement firm of Barker and Thurston. For many years she held the deep affection of the travelling fraternity because of the help she invariably gave in time of illness or other trouble.

She also helped good causes in the towns she visited, and was, for example, a supporter of Kettering Hospital. [part of a longer article]