Percival George Skinner
Born 1887 at Prahran, Victoria.
Married Ruby Amelia Lamb in 1913.
Died 1972 at Camberwell, Victoria.
Father of Clarence, Clive, Kenneth and Stuart.

Percival attended Windsor Public School which was in Upton Rd not very far from his parent's home at 29 Union St. In those days (1890's) public schools' taught children through to 8th Grade when they were about 13 years old.

Percival started work at the Commercial Bank of Australia in Collins St, Melbourne as a junior clerk in 1902 (aged 15yrs). In 1908 he went to New Zealand to visit his two brothers and stayed for about 2 years. He returned to Melbourne in 1910 and went back to the bank to work. In the late 1920's he became manager of the bank's Stationery Department which looked after supplying all branches Australia wide with their requirements of cheques, statements, pens, ink blotting paper etc. He held this position until early 1948 when ill health caused him to relinguish this position.

He retired in 1952 -- a couple of months short of 50 years service. In his younger days -- (teen years) -- he was a keen cricketer, spin bowler, and a reasonably good tennis player. Later in 1926 he became a keen lawn bowler playing pennant for City of Camberwell Bowling Club. While living in Windsor as a boy and young man he was a regular supporter of St Kilda Football Club (AFL) and later Camberwell Football Club.

Percival's family were staunch Methodists who attended Punt Rd Methodist Church and it was here that he met and courted Ruby Amelia Lamb who he married in 1913 at the church they both attended. They first lived in Raleigh St and then Chomloy St, before moving to 36 Radnor St Camberwell in 1925/26 where he lived for the rest of his life.

Percival and Ruby had 4 sons -- Clarence 1914 who died at 6 weeks -- Clive (1916-1998), Kenneth (1922-1923 18 months) and Stuart (1927).

The first 3 were born in Windsor/Prahran area and Stuart at Camberwell. Percival and Ruby continued their association with the Methodist Church at South Camberwll where Percival was a trustee of the church for 25-30 years.
Percival was a very keen gardener and photographer and in the early days used to develop and print his own photos.
In retirement Rheumatism/Arthritis slowed him down and in late 1971 he suffered a heart attack which put him in hospital where he subsequently died on 1/1/1972.

After quite a large funeral service at South Camberwell Methodist Church he was cremated at Springvale Crematorium.

Punt Road Methodist Church Cricket Team
(Percival -- Second from right back row)

Stuart, Clive and Percival -- 1944