Sidney Gillett was born at Dundry on 13th March 1897. As a young man he moved to Barrow Gurney, where he became apprenticed to William Carter R.S.S. (Registered Shoeing Smith) During the 1914-18 war he served as a shoeing smith, returning to William Carter after the war to complete his apprenticeship.
He qualified as a farrier in 1922 whilst working at Tockington, Gloucestershire. In 1923 he started his own business at Martins Lane, in the village of Hanham.
As well as shoeing horses he specialised in making chain harrows and became known as the 'Chain Harrow King'.
In the mid-1930's he opened a second shop at Upper Weston, Bath. The outbreak of war in 1939 forced him to close both his shops and he spent the war years making ploughs for a firm in Gloucester. During his last twenty years he made many wrought iron roses, some of which were fixed to gates and may still be found locally.
In the late 1920's he moved to 6 High Street, Hanham, where the Gillett all steel swings and see-saws were made.
He had also been a bellringer at St. Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol and was steeplekeeper for many years after the war, attending unfailingly on Sundays and for practises. For many years he would cycle into Bristol every Sunday morning to top call changes on the Ellacombe Apparatus at St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol.
He died suddenly in his 80th year and on the day of his funeral a half muffled quarter peal of Grandship Caters rang out from St. Mary Redcliffe.
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