Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 14 December 1909

MAJOR MABERLY DEAD.

PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT AT CUCKFIELD.

Not only in Cuckfield, but throughout East Sussex, the news will be received with the deepest regret that Major Thomas Astley Maberly, J.P., passed i away last (Monday) night at Mytten, Cuckfield.

The deceased gentleman had for a little over two years been under medical care, and although his affliction was a distressing one he bore it like a man.

Major Maberly was born at Cuckfield Vicarage on July 1842. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. T. A. Maberly, Vicar of Cuckfield, and Caroline Emily, his wife, youngest daughter of the late Rev. Samuel White, D. D., Rector of Brightwell and Perpetual Curate of Hampstead. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he obtained his M.A. degree. He entered the Army as ensign in the 25th Royal Sussex Regiment in 1863, and having been promoted to Lieutenant exchanged, in 1867, to the Ist Battalion Ride Brigade. He served as Volunteer with the 2nd Battalion in the Ashanti campaign of 1874, and received a medal.

In 1877 he was promoted to Captain in the 4th Battalion, and in 1877-8 served in the Jowaki campaign, and obtained North-West Frontier of India medal. He next fought in the Afghan campaign, and gained a medal, with clasp for Ali Musjid. In 1880, having reached the age limit, he resigned his commission. So strong, however, was his affection for things military that he joined the 2nd Sussex Rifle Volunteers as Captain. In 1886 he was appointed Hon. Major, and maintained his connection with the Volunteers until 1891, when he resigned, to the deep regret of all who served under him.

No man was better fitted for public work than Major Maberly. He was shrewd and thorough, and never spared himself when duty called. He was made a J .P. in 1888. At various times he was a member of the Cuckfield and Haywards Heath Local Boards, the Cuckfield Urban Council, the Cuckfield Board of Guardians and the Cuckfield Rural District Council. In 1889 he was returned unopposed as Councillor for the Haywards Heath Division on the East Sussex County Council, and six years later he was made a County Alderman. He had acted as a Visitor of the East Sussex County Lunatic Asylum both under Quarter Sessions and subsequently under the County Council. From 1888 to 1901 he acted as Vicar’s Churchwarden at Cuckfield. He also interested himself in the Haywards Heath Building Society, and for many years held the post of Chairman, his financial acumen being a great help the Directors. Church Schools he ardently supported, both with his purse and voice, and he was proud of his position as Manager of the Cuckfield Church Schools. In politics he was a staunch Conservative, and as Ruling Councillor of the Cuckfield Habitation of the Primrose League he delivered many a rousing speech. He was a strong advocate of Tariff Reform, and lost no opportunity of urging others to support the policy put forward by Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. Having conceived a certain course to be the right one for him to follow, Major Maberly stuck to his position in spite of all opposition. He was always courteous, however, and those who could not see eye to eye with him could not help admiring his high sense of honour.

He was a soldier and gentleman throughout his life, and at his door a dishonourable action could never be laid. The help he gave to those in needy circumstances will never be fully known, for his policy was never to let his right hand know what his left hand did. He has now gone to his rest. He has earned his reward. May the earth lie lightly on him.