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“The Old Lady” of Glanmor, Frank’s Mother-in-Law, Mrs. Mary Dulcibella Thomas (née Eden) (1834 – 1909) with her second daughter Miss Dulcibel Thomas (1872-1951).

Mrs. Mary Dulcibella Thomas (née Eden) (1834 – 1909) with her second daughter Miss Dulcibel Thomas (1872-1951) outside the drawing room window at Glanmor House, Sketty, Swansea. (The Edens were trusted managers at Vivian and Sons Ltd. The site of Glanmor House is now Long Oaks Court near Myrtle Grove and Glanmor Park Road.) Mrs. Thomas was the second wife of Illtid Thomas (1812 – 89) and Isabel, their eldest daughter, was the first of their children to get married. Frank got on well with his sister-in-law Dulcie and she was a welcome guest on adventurous continental motoring trips.

Isabel Frances de Winton Thomas of Glanmor (1868 – 1955

Isabel Frances de Winton Thomas of Glanmor (1868 – 1955)

1.3 TIMELINE Time Labels Graphs Dividends Table 2 Jackson P245 Cute Print HIGHEST RES Corr.jpg

Timeline from 1890 onwards showing important events in Frank Gilbertson’s life and the variations in economic performance of W. Gilbertson & Co. Ltd.

The total percentage dividend payable on ordinary share capital (as compiled in Table 2 of Peter Jackson’s book [4, p. 245]) is plotted in blue for each financial year. No dividend was paid in 1903 and 1904 to allow profits to be re-invested in new plant, which repaid handsomely over the next few years. In contrast, after 1920 profits dwindled and there are no records of dividend payments after 1925. Frank’s increasing involvement with establishing the University College of Swansea is indicated below the time axis from 1916 onwards, with his two periods as President after the Foundation on 19th July 1920 shown by the solid red line.

Frank Gilbertson at Charterhouse School and Magdalen College, Oxford University

The left-hand portrait dates from when Frank was a pupil at Charterhouse aged about 15. The right-hand photograph was taken at Oxford University while he was an undergraduate at Magdalen College from 1891. He graduated during the summer of 1894 in Natural Science, specialising in Chemistry.

The Gilbertson Family at Glanrhyd House, Pontardawe (1895). Arthur Gilbertson (centre) surrounded by his 12 surviving children (and dogs), Frank stands on his father’s right.

(Left to Right) Standing Back Row: Colin (1877-1906), Frank (1873-1929), Arthur (1841-1912), Cecil (1876-1948), Howel (1874-1923). Seated Middle Row: Meg (Marguerite) (1885-1960), Harriet (1878-1918), Olive (1881-1946). Seated Front Row: George (1886- 1955), Phyllis (1890-1973), Sylvia (1888-1950), Charles (1884-1963), Winnie (Winifred) (1883-1964). Died in infancy: Lettice (1880-1885), John (1891). The sombre expressions of the children are understandable following the death of their mother the previous year: Ellen Gilbertson (née Lloyd) (1850-1894).