| AdminHistory | George Robert Vine, or G. R. Vine as he was often known, was born in Bermondsey, London on 10 Aug 1861, son of George Robert Vine or G. R. Vine senior (1825 - 1893), a noted Sheffield geologist who was one of the founders of the Sheffield Microscopical Society. At the time of the 1871 census, the Vine family lived at 187 Dun Street, Carbrook with G. R. Vine senior working as a 'stay and crinoline manufacturer'. At the time of the 1881 census the family lived at 112 Attercliffe Common.
George Robert Vine junior began work as a teacher c. 1885 at the Carbrook and Darnall Schools and later attended Glasgow Free Normal College and Glasgow University. He then undertook a Batchelor of Science degree through the University of London and then became a class teacher at the Sheffield Central Schools. He was subsequently appointed headmaster of Hunter's Bar Council School before becoming headteacher of Huntsman's Garden's Mixed School, Attercliffe, in Jan 1906. He retired in Apr 1923 after 38 years' service the Sheffield education authority.
Vine had a particular specialism in mathematics was an instructor to teachers in this subject. He taught evening classes in practical and pure mathematics through the University of Sheffield. Like his father, he also had a keen interest in geology.
For 38 years, G. R. Vine was actively associated with the Attercliffe Baptist Church and undertook duties of Sunday School teacher, leader and secretary of the P.S.A., church secretary and deacon. He later became a member of the Cemetery Road Baptist Church, serving as church secretary there for four years as well as assisting in preaching duties.
Vine also researched and published historical works on Attercliffe, including: 'Attercliffe: Past and Present' (1914) and 'The Story of Old Attercliffe' (1936).
G. R. Vine married Alice Saxelby (born 18 Aug 1866) in Sheffield in 1888. The couple had two children who both pre-deceased their parents: Edith (c. 1889 - 1899) and Robert Saxelby Vine (1891 - 1916). At the time of the 1891 census the family lived at 50 Leigh Street, Attercliffe.
At the time of the 1911 census, the Vine family lived at 52 Town Street, Tinsley, Sheffield. Like his father, Robert Saxelby Vine also trained as a teacher. Robert Saxelby Vine married Elsie Palmer in Chesterfield in 1915. During the First World War, Vine's son 2nd Lieutenant Robert Saxelby Vine was killed in action at the Somme on 14 Oct 1916 (aged 25). His widow Elsie remained close to her parents-in-law and continued to correspond with them regularly and affectionately. Elsie Vine (nee Palmer) (1889 - 1959) re-married a widower Albert Simpkin (1869 - 1961) in 1933 and they lived at 32 Steade Road, Sheffield.
During the latter part of his teaching career, Vine resided at 27 Broomhall Place, Sheffield. After his retirement in 1923, Vine relocated to 'Inglewood', 40 Main Avenue, Totley. During his retirement, Vine continued to do lectures and conduct preaching duties for various baptist / congregational churches around Sheffield (including Attercliffe Baptist Church, Attercliffe Zion Congregational Church, Carbrook Wesleyan Reform Church Cemetery Road Baptist Church, Darnall Congregational Church, Glossop Road Baptist Church, Hillsborough Baptist Church, Portmahon Baptist Church, amongst others).
Source: articles on Vine's retirement in 'Sheffield Independent, 20 Apr 1923 (p. 6) and 'Sheffield Daily Telegraph', 27 Apr 1923 (p. 5) |