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Biography
Born in Newcastle in 1860, Cecil Cheesington was raised in a respectable, middle-class family of cheesemakers. His elder brother, William, took a great interest in the family business, whilst Cecil himself was far less enthusiastic. From an early age, he developed a keen fascination with carpentry and mechanical engineering, often preferring tools and machinery to the affairs of the family trade. Upon completing grammar school, Cecil wished to continue his education and pursue a career as a maritime engineer. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, he was forced to abandon his studies and seek employment. Whilst William gradually took over the family business, Cecil found work at a local carpentry shop, repairing and building furniture, as well as learning the finer art of upholstery. As the years passed, Cecil grew increasingly distant from his family. In March 1882, following financial difficulties and a lack of available work, he decided to leave Newcastle and seek his fortune in Southampton. He briefly found employment at a local framing establishment, though this too came to an unfortunate end when the firm faced imminent bankruptcy. Left without work, Cecil struggled to make ends meet, occasionally resorting to stealing coal and other fuel to keep himself warm during the winter months. Fortunately, in April 1883, he secured a position as a dock office clerk at Southampton docks. The salary was respectable, and for a time, he found himself quite satisfied with his circumstances. However, the endless paperwork and administrative duties soon grew tiresome, and Cecil found himself longing for the practical work of his former profession. Through connections within the dockside management, he eventually secured employment with the White Star Line in 1885, joining the S.S. Belgic as a Junior Carpenter. He proved himself a capable and diligent workman, gradually earning a promotion to Senior Carpenter before being transferred to the Oceanic. Having spent much of his adult life at sea, Cecil never married, devoting himself instead to his work and the vessels upon which he served. In 1911, he was transferred to the R.M.S. Olympic, the pride of the White Star Line. His service proceeded without much incident until December of that year, when an unfortunate accident befell him. Whilst assisting several others in moving a damaged ice machine down to the carpentry workshop on G Deck, the machine slipped from their grasp, tumbling down the stairs and taking Cecil with it. The apparatus landed upon his left hand, crushing it and resulting in the loss of two fingers. He received immediate medical attention and, despite the severity of his injury, survived the ordeal. Though the accident left him permanently impaired, he persevered and continued his work as best he could. In December 1915, Cecil was transferred aboard the H.M.H.S. Britannic, where he continues to serve to this day. Now fifty-six years of age, he remains a rather experienced and dependable carpenter, having spent the greater portion of his life in the service of the White Star Line. Though his ambitions of becoming a maritime engineer never came to fruition, he has nonetheless found his place among the ships and machinery that captivated him from childhood.
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