Williams family bridge to past

Mayor Thomas Boswall Williams' great, great grandson Jacob Dredge (left), great granddaughter Fiona Dredge, Marie and Alex Williams (a grandson of the former mayor), great grand-daughter Bridget Williams and great, great grandson Ben Henderson.PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER

While all the pomp and pageantry was being played out at yesterday's centennial, the Williams family from Feilding was standing quietly among the audience with a special sense of pride.

They were there as direct descendants of Thomas Boswall Williams, Wanganui's mayor who opened the Dublin St Bridge 100 years ago.

The patriarch, Alex Williams, is the grandson of mayor Williams and he said he read about the celebrations in the Chronicle.

With Mr Williams and his wife Marie were daughters Fiona and Bridget who are great granddaughters of Thomas Williams, along with their sons Jacob and Ben, who are great, great grandsons.

Mr Williams said they were always aware of the family connection and the centennial was an event they weren't going to miss.

But he wanted to put one record straight.

While yesterday's re-enactment featured some "boisterous" barracking from some suffragettes in the audience, and some equally strident put-downs from the official party, he said his grandfather was in fact a strong supporter of women getting the vote.

"He actively supported the vote for women," Mr Williams said.