Mr. Thomas Bastard, so well known for many years as lessee and manager of the City Baths, died on Monday afternoon, at the age of sixty-five. He came to the colony thirty years ago, and with the energy and readiness of resource characteristic of a true Londoner who has had to fight his own way in the world, took the first job that offered, and engaged himself as a public singer. He next set up as a bootmaker, with the assistance of some newly-made friends who recognised in him a reliable, industrious, business man. With bootmaking in the day time and singing at night, he got on pretty well, hut before many months he was tempted to try his fortune at the Victorian diggings, where he turned his vocal abilities to profitable account, and got a little gold by digging. Returning to Adelaide he accepted engagements to sing at the Black Horse Assembly-rooms on week nights, and at a country church on Sundays. Afterwards he became messenger at the Union Bank, where he remained for three years and a half, when he left it and took a similar position at the National Bank. In 1866 Mr. Bastard left this institution with a handsome testimonial from the directors, as he had taken a lease of the City Baths, with which he has been connected so many years. The community, especially the citizens of Adelaide, have been largely indebted to him for the way in which he has managed these baths, where many hundreds of boys have learned the useful and delightful art of natation. Mr. Bastard's daughters have also taught numbers of girls to swim, so that a large proportion of the young ladies of the city are now quite at home in deep water. Mr. Bastard was respected all through his career in the colony for his strict integrity, and liked for his great kindliness of disposition. His wife died a few years ago, but he leaves a large family of sons and daughters, most of them grown up. Two or three years ago the deceased published his autobiography, which, written in a homely style, was an interesting account of the life of one who from the humblest origin, amidst great difficulties and temptations, and without any marked abilities, held his own in the battle of life by the sheer force of an honest, manly, and resolute character.
Source: The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA) 11 September 1883, Page 2