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Contributing to the history of Penang were the father and son team of Alfred DeWindt and Henry Alfred.
Alfred DeWindt Neubronner (6.5 on the Family Tree)
 Alfred, the son of Thomas, was born in Malacca on 26 March 1844. He quickly rose through the ranks of the British government administration to become Consul of Siam and Agent for the Perak Government. His obituary best describes his ahcievements.
Photo: Thanks to Jackie Ogle
Penang Gazette & Straits Chronicle 26 Oct 1915 Pg 4
Obituary Mr. Alfred De Windt Neubronner.
We deeply regret to record the death of Mr. Alfred DeWindt Neubronner, the father of H. A. Neubronner, which took place at his residence, No. 3, Perak Road, early this morning.
Mr. Neubronner, who was born on the 26 March 1844, was a descendent of a noble German family, which had the right to assume the prefix of Von, and settled in Malacca about four generations ago. He commenced life as Chief Clerk to the Resident Councilor of Malacca, and after some years was transferred to a similar capacity in Penang. He left that office to become Consul for Siam and Agent for the Perak Government. His services were so valued by the Siamese Government that he was at first given the rank of Phra by the late King of Siam and subsequently of Phya Dwip Siamkitch, the highest rank that can be attained by a civilian foreigner. He could speak the Siamese language and was an authority on subjects connected with the Kingdom of the White Elephant. He was also Chief Coroner of this Settlement, which position he held for 25 years.
About a month ago he retired from his position as Consul-General having served the Siamese Government for upwards of 38 years, ceasing to be the Agent of the Perak Government about 5 years ago. Until very recently he was a member of committee of the Penang Free School and the Mahommedan and Hindu Endowment Board. In olden days, he was frequently employed as interpreter by the Straits Government during the Naning War, the Sungei Ujong disturbances and accompanied the members of the Siamese nobility on various occasions to England.
Mr. Neubronner, who was greatly liked by those who came in contact with him, was, in his younger days a very keen sportsman, and a good snipe shot, and was fond of marine fishing, in conjunction with Mr. E. W. Presgrave, Mr. Joe Mathiew of Butterworth, and the late Mr. Malcolm Anthony. His wife was a French lady who had been previously married to a Mr. De Souza and who died in England in 1912.
Mr. Neubronner leaves a son, Mr. H. A. Neubronner, who is the Vice-Consul for Siam and five daughters Mrs. H. W. A. Deterding, Mrs. J. Laird (now in London), Mrs. F. O. Halifax (Stockholm), Mrs. Oechale (Peru) and Miss Hilda Neubronner.
The funeral takes place at the Western Road Cemetery at 5 oclock this afternoon, the cortege leaving his residence, No. 3, Perak Road at 4.30.
Catherine Louise Deterding nee Neubronner (Kate) (6.5.3 on the Family Tree)
(Photo courtesy of Terri Collins will be inserted in due course)
Kate, the 3rd daughter of Henry Alfred was born in Malacca on 6 May 1872 but moved to Penang with the rest of her siblings when her father was posted there. While three of her siblings were sent to London for their education, she remained in Penang and in 1894, married a Dutchman - Henri Wilhelm August Deterding. Little did she know that Henri would rise to be one of the richest men in the world governing the oil empire he pioneered and built as Royal Dutch Shell. The couple moved to England where they had three children. Kate was to eventually move to Kelling Hall in Holt, Norfolk. Anecdotal history relates that Kate wanted to worship closer to home and in 1908,
Kelling Hall (courtesy of Shirley Carnt Deterding)
she financed the building of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sheringham a short distance from Kelling Hall. She died on May 10 1916 and is only one of two persond buried next to the original church which now forms an annex to the church which was extended in 1934/36.
Terri Collins (nee Bullock) from Leamington Spa and her siblings did some research on Kate in preparation for the St. Joseph's centenary celebrations in July 2008 and have enlightened me on some little known information about Kate - quote:
"...Last July I wrote to and met a granddaughter of Catherine (Kate). My sister Janey Valsler and I visited her and her husband in August. She told me that Catherine had a great influence on Henri Deterding, and was a great support for him in his early years. At the time Henri married Catherine in 1894, the Royal Dutch company was struggling on the edge of liquidation and Sarah is certain that the marriage was a love match..."
"...Catherine's mother was a Roman Catholic and also her sister Hilda. Although we know that Catherine provided money in 1907 to buy the land for the church to be built on, Catherine was only received into the Catholic Church on 18 April 1916 three weeks before her death".
"...When we met her grand daughter, she showed us around the garden of the house where Catherine lived and also told us that Catherine had 'second sight'..."
"...My mother, Eileen Bullock, and I went through the parish registers at St Joseph's last August. Catherine's baptism and death are recorded also the death of 'Hilda Neubronner of Kelling', Catherines sister. The entry states that Hilda died 1 May 1918, aged 41, and after a Requiem Mass at St Joseph's was buried at Brompton in London..."
Henry Alfred Neubronner (6.5.5 on the Family Tree)
 Alfred's son Henry Alfred was born in Malacca on 19 April 1871. As a young boy, he was sent to London for his education and eventually emerged as a Fellow of the Rolay Institute of British Architects in 1899. He returned to Penang to become one of the most renowned architects designing and building many of Penangs most historic bulidings such as the Kapitan Keling Mosque, The Hong Kong and Shanghi Bank and the Bank of the Netherlands Trading Society known later as ABN AMRO and even later as the South China Cafe.
Photo: Thanks to Glynnis Neubronner (6.5.5.4.2 on the Family Tree)
Some of his other works were:
1900-1905: Several dwelling houses for European & Chinese & Malay Nobility in Penang & Kedah.
1907: New Chinese School - on pile foundations Penang.
1908: New Cricket Pavilion for Penang Cricket Club.
 1908: Resident Manager's house - The Charted Bank of India, Australia & China - Penang.
1909: Reconstruction & alterations to Penang Golf Clubhouse.
1909: Resident Manager's house - The Mercantile Bank of India - Penang.
1910: Commemorative Monument for the Armenian Community - Penang.
1902-1911: Alterations and additions to the Eastern Oriental Hotel - Penang and The Grand Hotel - Ipoh.
Data: Thanks to Royal Institute of British Architects Records. London
Extract from Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya (1908) by Arnold Wright & H.A. Cartwright: Pg 751
"Mr. Henry Alfred Neubronner. Distinguished alike in his profession as an architect and in social and sporting circles, Mr. H. A. Neubronner is one of the most popular men in Penang today. He is the only son of Alfred Dewind Neubronner and was born in Malacca in 1872 (1871). He was educated at Alexandra Park College, North London and by a private tutor in the metropolis and at Lowestoft, and before he qualified for an Assistant Surveyorship at H. M. Office of works, London, he passed the qualifying examination as a Professional Associate of the Surveyors Institution and later, the Associate Examination of the Royal Institute of Architects. After practicing for some time in London, Mr. Neubronner came out to Penang, where he was attached to the Siamese Consulate. Later, in conjunction with Mr. Alan Wilson, he established the firm of Wilson & Neubronner architects and civil engineers. Most of the principal public buildings and private mansions in the settlement have been designed and their construction superintended by his firm. He is a member of the Royal Society Club, St. Jamess, London, and of all local clubs. Since his boyhood he has been a keen cricketer. When only nine years old he played for Alexandra Park College, and very quickly got into the first eleven of the school. He also played football for that Institution and later for the Clapham Rovers and Civil Service (Association). He gained his Middlesex County badge in 1897, and played right-forward in the English team against France at Paris in 1898. Since 1899, he played for Pinang both at football and cricket, and has taken part in practically all the inter-settlement and inter-State matches, captaining on two occasions, teams representing Pinang. Mr. Neubronner is also an excellent tennis player, having been runner-up for the championship of Pinang on three occasions. In golf, gymnastics, billiards and swimming matches, he has figured as a prizewinner, and has also met with success as a runner at athletic sports. At one time he was senior non-commissioned officer in the Pinang Volunteer Corps, and is now on the Reserve. In 1902, 1904 and 1906 he won the rifle championship, besides numerous other trophies; attended the Hythe School of Musketry, and passed out with distinction; and in 1905 reached the second stage in the competition for the Kings Prize at Bisley. As further showing the scope of Mr. Neubronners tastes, it may be added that he is a member of the Pinang Hunt Club, the Choral and Orchestral Society, and the Dramatic Society. He possesses an exceptionally good high baritone voice. As a member of the Pinang "Impressionists" he gained first honours in water-colours for his pictures "Desolation," "A Malay Settlement," and "Sunset Glow." Mr. Neubronner is Vice-Consul for Siam, and resides in Perak Road."
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