A tall poppy

Introduction

Victorian Bournemouth (81) explores the career and public standing of W. E. Rebbeck, prominent in the resort since its foundation. He had a long and successful career as an estate agent at Bournemouth. He also participated in the town’s administration under the Improvement Commission. The volunteers had him as their sergeant. Over the years, the press had many references to Mr Rebbeck, several of which refer to court cases. A tough individual who did not hesitate to defend himself during a confrontation, the court cases, taken together, may illustrate how people might use the law to attack a prominent, public citizen.

Victorian Bournemouth (81): W. E. Rebbeck (1)

Origin and family

According to his own account, William Rebbeck arrived at what would become Bournemouth in 1820. At that time, the site contained a few buildings constructed by the Tregonwells, for whom he worked. The 1841 census showed him there working as a gardener. Before long, however, he established his business as an estate agent. On this foundation, Rebbeck would launch a career that brought him substantial prominence during the first fifty years of the resort. He left a healthy estate. Rebbeck’s parents lived in Cranborne, origin of many early migrants to the resort. His father died early, no indication of his occupation apparent, making it difficult to gauge the family’s social position. By marriage, however, Rebbeck connected with a prosperous local family. Furthermore, two of his sons appeared to have married into the family of Robert Kerley, a local and influential businessman, much involved in Bournemouth’s public affairs then.

Public life

Rebbeck’s involvement with property connected him with both the tourism and construction businesses. Advertisements for his properties appeared often in the press. As a result, he would have had a network to collect rents. Once the Improvement Commission became organised, he worked on its behalf as the collector of rates. He experienced some difficulty with this having to deal with the constant problem of arrears. The Commissioners also sought his advice for issues about property assessments and rating. In time, he served as a Commissioner, one year acting as chairman. Another part of his public life consisted of his involvement in Freemasonry, including the transfer of Hengist Lodge from Christchurch to Bournemouth. He served as Warden. For many years, also, Rebbeck acted as clerk for St Peter’s Church, once receiving an award for his contribution. His named also featured over the years as a leading participant in public dinners.

Victorian Bournemouth (81): W. E. Rebbeck (2)

Man

Rebbeck retained his Cranborne contacts, travelling there in 1864 to help settle an acquaintance’s estate. When he returned, an unruly horse overturned his carriage. He suffered injury but insisted on continuing the journey. Even after suffering a relapse while travelling through Wimborne, requiring medical attention, he persisted with the trip. The incident highlights a resilience, even for a man in his sixties. On election day, 1865, a mob set upon him, causing injury. After recovery, a man he had accused of inciting the incident confronted him, threatening further physical damage. Rebbeck stood his ground, later taking him to court, winning the case. Some years later, when the Nuisance Inspector snooped on his property, he confronted him in no uncertain terms. Although Rebbeck lost the case brought against him by the Inspector, the Bench noted that were the plaintiff not an official they would have dismissed the case.  

Tall poppy

As a rent collector, some would not have found favour with Mr Rebbeck, when he arrived at their door. The extension of his work into rate collection perhaps would have caused him further trouble. Resentment at the rate bubbled beneath the surface during this period. His employment by the Commission as an advisor on the sensitive issue of rating values would not have endeared him to any detractors. Two other court cases involving Rebbeck raise the possibility that some engaged in active resistance. In the first, the Bench cautioned two men who had trampled on flowers belonging to Rebbeck’s property. The second case involved an obscure law against herding cattle through town after hours, for which he received a fine. The newspaper editor considered it a ‘trifling case’. Excessive policing zeal may have applied here but causing mischief for Mr Rebbeck may also have triggered the prosecution.

Victorian Bournemouth (81): W. E. Rebbeck (3)

Assessment

Many praised Mr Rebbeck. The press report of his road accident ended with this statement: ‘We understand a great deal of sympathy has been expressed for Mr Rebbeck.’ Furthermore, after his death, the press carried a fulsome account of Bournemouth’s ‘oldest inhabitant’. The incidents concerning his flowers, the physical attack on election day, and the ‘trifling’ prosecution for illegal herding do not seem to fit with this popular acclaim. Trampling of flowers might have occurred by mistake, but the other two seem directed by personal grievance or perhaps jealousy. Mr Rebbeck did not back down from confrontation, as the alleged mob director and the Nuisance Inspector discovered in their incidents. Tenants dunned for rent might find him intimidating, ‘being a heavy man’. His behaviour may have upset others. Through his enterprise and effort Mr Rebbeck had become a tall poppy and, thus, an easy target for troublemakers. 

Maturing politics

During Bournemouth’s early period, efforts went on establishing and growing the enterprise with all possible speed. The need for an Improvement Commission within two decades indicates the level of success. Independent development initiatives had resulted in a flawed diamond. Concentrated attention had to precede further beneficial exploitation. This might fluster some feathers. The coalescing of a social structure might cause bruising. In its second period, therefore, political behaviour might now colour what had hitherto operated as a commercial operation. The drainage controversy of the 1860s became a public battleground fought in meetings and the media, sharp lines drawn, and smears spread. After a while, elections to fill vacant seats on the Commission replaced the early self-sustaining oligarchy. Mr Rebbeck topped the poll by a distance in 1873. The court cases involving him, therefore, may have had a political rather than personal angle, part of a maturing society.

Takeaway

Victorian Bournemouth (81) has explored the professional and public career of W. E. Rebbeck, one of the resort’s leading citizens. Despite his personal popularity, he became involved in court cases from time to time. These may have had less to do with him and more to do with the development of Bournemouth’s community. Commercial success will have fostered social jealousies. Civic programmes will have encouraged political sniping. Such tall poppies as W. E. Rebbeck might stand in danger of the occasional scything.

References

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