William Tarr was a builder and decorator who lived at ‘Vimy’ Sompting Road in the 1920’s. In 1928 he tried his hand as an Estate Agent and advertised in the Worthing Gazette. Two of his adverts are reproduced below.

“Lancing is in Sussex
On our Southern shore
Down and Sea and River –
Who could ask for more?
Leave the dust of London,
Take the Lancing Road,
You’ll see “TARR” by the station,
And he’ll find you your abode.”

“TARR – has the best in houses and land.
He never will fret if you understand
he will do his best to ensure that you
will have a nice happy time
and plenty to do.
Land in Lancing is quite a treasure
If only you’ll come, you’ll get good measure.”

He seems to have disappeared soon afterwards, does anyone know what happened to him?

William John Tarr
Last month I asked if anyone knew what happened to Mr Tarr and received two replies.

Phil was told some years ago that William Tarr had gone to Scotland and was involved in a scandal to do with a Scottish Laird.

Evelyn emailed me to say that she had heard that he had taken possession of a piece of land and built a boundary wall in the hope that in time the land would be his. Then she had heard that William had gone mad and died.

This confirmed that a newspaper report I had come across in the Worthing Gazette, August 1928, was about the same William Tarr.

It appears that William had indeed gone to Scotland and he was found in a private burial ground at Gleneagles after having violated the grave of Richard Burdon Viscount Haldane. At his court appearance it was said that William was insane and he was committed to prison pending further inquiries. It was stated that William took a keen interest in the proceedings, some of which he seemed to treat as a joke.

Anne.