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Alice Pearl Bullock

b. 1885, 9 September Kupunda SA   
d. 1923, 12 April

Parents Reverend Frank Bullock & Charlotte Hester

Married James Percival Richards 1912, 11 September - Clare, SA

Child James Alan Richards

Now at 85 years of age, I herewith leave my memories of my mother who died from cancer in 1922 when I was only 9 years old.

She was the eldest daughter of Rev. Frank and Lottie Bullock. She had three sisters, Vera, Ella and Leila with an only brother, Melville (Mel).

My mum – Alice Pearl – known as Pearl. While I was only nine when she died, that was old enough to have loved her dearly. Her cancer problem took toll of her last three years. Dad took her to Melbourne to see the best specialists in Australia. Today’s techniques were not available but the visit probably did extend her life.

She was an accomplished pianist; so much so, that the Conservator of Music at the Adelaide University stated that she was the finest accompanist in Adelaide. She composed a beautiful piece of music, a melody but unfortunately there is no record of it. Later both Vera and Lela played it at various functions as an encore but it was never finished She had great hopes of me following in her steps. I love good music but I certainly did not learn to play any musical instrument. Dad put me under an excellent teacher but I preferred to be outside kicking a football. Mum tried on three occasions to teach me the early piano lessons but each time she became ill and presently started all over again.

I went to play in the school ‘Drum and Fife Band’ so she bought me a good quality fife. I was playing this by ear and remember one evening just prior to her death, we were outside on the lawn and I played the band tunes to her. She seemed very happy.

Jim Richards

Alice Pearl Bullock's wedding to James Percival Richards

Alice Pearl Bullock
To my family by James Alan Richards

While you have knowledge of your ancestors on the Richards side of the family, this will provide you with some knowledge of my mother’s people.

She was born Alice Pearl Bullock. Her father, my grandfather was Rev. Frank Bullock, a Methodist Minister.

He was born in Bath, Somerset, England. His mother died while he was very young. His father remarried – not the right thing to do in those days. So he, his new wife and son Frank immigrated to South Australia, probably in the early 1850’s.

Also arrived another boy, presumably the new wife’s son. I understand he was spoken of as ‘Frank’s stepbrother’. I understand that he later moved to New Zealand.

On arrival in South Australia, they settled in Penwortham, a small village, near Clare. Frank would not have had any schooling except from an incident, which he recalled later in life.

He used to listen to the local schoolmaster, standing on a box at night at a window outside the schoolroom. One night he fell off the box and the teacher heard the clatter and came out to see the cause. Frank’s parents were spoken to and were persuaded that he should be taught. He had 2 years schooling and then back into the fields.

He had a thirst for knowledge and when he got the opportunity to train for the ministry he obtained and education that served him for life.

At the time when my mother died he was the minister at Henley Beach Methodist Church and I lived with my grandparents for the next eight months. I remember him well as a kind and tolerant man. He had quite a lot of carpentry tools and spent some leisure time making various things. To encourage me he converted a kerosene case into a tool case, which he filled with various tools and gave me. Some of which I still possessed until we reduced possessions to enter a retirement house.

His peers in the Methodist Ministry thought enough of him that in the mid 1920's, he was appointed as the President of The Methodist Conference in South Australia.

He married Charlotte Hester (known as Lottie) who was the daughter of another pioneer family who settled at Millicent in the South East of South Australia. We only know that they came from England, but have no knowledge of from what County. Grandma had five children four girls and one boy.

The oldest Alice Pearl, my mother, a very fine pianist. The Professor at the Adelaide University Conservatory once stated that she was the best accompanist in South Australia. (She composed a beautiful piece of music, a melody but unfortunately there is no record of it. That both Vera and Lela played it at various function as an encore but it was never finished - Aunt Vera concocted something)

Vera – married Bill Dempster – settled on a vineyard and fruit orchard near Nuriootpa. They had one daughter, Mary. Now Mary Archer and lives in Stirling, S.A.

 

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