He was born at Gorseinon in West Wales, the son of Leonard and Sarah.
His time in Somerset resulted in him marrying Gwynneth Mary Weeks on 7 Feb 1946 in Wells, where he would make his home after leaving the Army at the end of that year. They had three sons.
He ran a series of businesses in Wells. For a time he was a manufacturers agent driving across the south west. In 1961 he set up Thomas Webster and Sons Ltd as the import business he had started two years earlier was becoming large enough to require a limited company. His eldest son was only 13 at the time, but he was planning for the future when naming his company.
He spent many years serving Wells in a variety of capacities. His was Secretary of the Ratepayers Association and the local branch of the United Nations Association, and was a member of the Wells Parliament while it was in being. He was also active in the Wells Debating Society. For many years he was an independent councillor on Wells City Council, at times noted for his controversial views unconstrained by party membership. Eventually he would become Mayor of Wells in 1968. He gave his seat in 1976.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Somerset Scout Section | Scout Section Member | 1940 | 1943 |
Gorseinon Boys School
Cardiff Secondary School
Tommy came to Somerset in 1940, though one account says 1942.
Tommy Webster borrowed the Section motor-bike once. Not noticing the petrol tank was leaking his trousers were soaked in fuel and caught fire. Running into a cottage screaming for water, the owner made him go outside before dousing the flames. He was in hospital for a month with burns.
Tommy went on to join the Parachute Regiment and became a sergeant. He saw service in North Africa, Italy, France and Greece. He left the Army on 24 Nov 1945.
Mid Somerset Newspaper 18 Nov 1999
Donald Brown
WW2 Medal Card
Wells Journal 28 Mar 1958, 6 May 1960, 20 Jan 1961, 3 May 1963, 19 May 1973, 15 Apr 1976
Central Somerset Gazette 15 Feb 1946, 17 Jan 1969