---

The Public Benefit Boot Company

---

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES: Surnames E to H

Reuben Thomas EGGLETON
Born 1902 at Leicester, son of Thomas Henry EGGLETON, clerk and commercial traveller, and his wife, Elizabeth SAW. He worked all his business life in the shoe trade, initially with Norvic Shoe Co. He then spent three years in the USA gaining further experience in shoe manufacturing and retailing. He was appointed director and general manager of Benefit Footwear in 1929 and managing director in 1937, a post he held for at least a decade. In 1966 he retired from the boards of British Shoe Corporation and its subsidiary, Benefit Footwear, after 37 years' service with companies in the group. His first marriage to Kathleen BUCKLEY ended with a divorce in 1934 and several years later he married Dorothy Banham GALE. They had children Dorothy J EGGLETON 1937, Nigel T Gale EGGLETON 1939 and Judith E EGGLETON 1946. His son Nigel EGGLETON may have worked at the Benefit Footwear repair facility at Templar Street, Leeds. He died at Northampton in 1977 aged 74 and his wife Dorothy died at Leeds in 1989 aged 78.

Kate ELLIS
Born abt 1871 at Hull, Yorkshire, daughter of Johnson ELLIS, boot maker, and his wife Emma DEAN. In 1891 she worked as a boot dealer's assistant at the Gainsborough branch of the Public Benefit Boot Co managed by her brother-in-law Tom COULSON.

Nelson ELLIS
Born 1862 at Bramley, Yorkshire, son of Joseph ELLIS, manager of a shoe factory, and his wife Harriet STEAD. In 1885 at Bramley he married Sarah Ann ASHWORTH, daughter of Baptist minister Abraham ASHWORTH. Their children born at Bramley included Joseph Arthur A ELLIS 1886, Annie ELLIS 1889 and Harriet Isabel ELLIS 1889. He worked in the shoe trade firstly as a clicker then as a commercial traveller. In 1897 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 144 High Street, Stockton and died the following year aged 36 years.

Percy Alfred ELTON
Born 1884 at Kings Heath, Worcestershire, son of Charles Elton, licensed victualler, and his wife Eliza PALMER. He married Beatrice Helena DAFT in 1910 and their children included Muriel B ELTON 1912, Stanley ELTON 1915, Margaret H ELTON 1923 and Dorothy J ELTON 1924. In 1911 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 46-48 Pelham Street, Nottingham. He died at Birkenhead in 1948 aged 63.

Nancy ENGLISH
Mrs English worked as a shop assistant at the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at Regent Street, Blyth, Northumberland 1938-1941.

George Edward EVANS
Born 1874 at Brimington, Derbyshire, son of Matthew EVANS, blacksmith, and his wife Hannah. From 1891 until 1892 he worked as a shop assistant at the Public Benefit Boot Co store at Chesterfield, Derbyshire. In 1894 he married Louise Frances BALL and they had six surviving children including Harold EVANS 1895, Reginald EVANS 1896, George Matthew EVANS 1900, Maud Frances EVANS 1901, Zoe EVANS 1904 and Patty EVANS 1906. He later worked as a bricklayer’s labourer and a blacksmith’s striker and died in 1949 aged 74.

John Thomas FARRINGTON
Born 1862 at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, the son of Thomas FARRINGTON, a boot manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth TAYLOR. In 1885 he married Laura Clara HARRIS and they had one surviving son John Harold FARRINGTON 1886. In 1881 he was in the boot manufacturing business with his father but from at least 1898 to 1901 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co branch at 52 Strand Street, Douglas, Isle of Man. By 1911 he was managing premises in Sheffield.

William Ernest FEAR
Born 27 November 1895 at Weston Super Mare, Somerset, son of Charles FEAR, County Court Balliff, and his wife Frances (Fanny) Mary HOUSE. He worked in the company’s Weston Super Mare premises as a shop assistant and served in WWI. In 1922 at Newport, Monmouthshire, he married Edith M THOMAS and they had a daughter Frances L FEAR 1923.

Cornelius John FENTON
Born 1862 at Deptford, Kent, son of Richard FENTON, coach maker, and his wife Lucy STILLIARD. In 1888 at Wem, Shropshire, he married Hannah CARR and their children included Dorothy Ann FENTON 1890, Norah Lucy FENTON 1891, Hilda Mary FENTON 1893 and Leslie Carr FENTON 1895. He worked at various Public Benefit Boot Co branches when he was based at Stroud, Pendleton and Pride Hill, Shrewsbury. He died in 1938 aged 76.

Clara Ellen FINCH
Born 1887 at Worcester, daughter of James FINCH, button manufacturer, and his wife Mary Lucy MOGFORD. In 1911 she worked as a boot shop assistant in the company’s premises managed by her brother-in-law, Herbert James BOOL at 1 King Street, Swansea.

Clarence Burgoyne FINCH
Born 1893 at Worcester, son of James FINCH, button manufacturer, and his wife Mary Lucy MOGFORD. In 1911 he worked as a boot shop assistant at the Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Worcester. In WWI he served as a Lance Corporal with the 14^th Battalion Welsh Regiment and was killed in action in France on 10 July 1916 aged 22.

Ethel May FINCH
Born 1882 at Worcester, daughter of James FINCH, button manufacturer, and his wife Mary Lucy MOGFORD. In 1901 she worked as a boot shop assistant at the Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Worcester before marrying Herbert James BOOL who at the time managed the company’s branch at Swansea. She died in Hampshire in 1946 aged 63 and he died at Bristol in 1951 aged 73.

Herbert FIRTH
Born c1870 at Halifax, Yorkshire, son of William FIRTH, cotton warper, and his wife Elizabeth Ann NICHOL. On 26 June 1894 at Huddersfield he married Amelia GRAYSON. In 1911 he managed the company’s boot and shoe dealership at 15 Saville Street, Malton, Yorkshire.

Henry George William FISHER
Born 1879 at Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire, son of Henry FISHER, peddler of iron merchandise, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1903 at Christchurch, Hampshire, he married Edith Maud NICKLEN. They had a daughter Lilian Maud FISHER 1908. In 1911 he was managing the boot dealership at 88 Wimborne Road, Winton, Bournemouth. He died at Bournemouth 14 December 1930 aged 51 and his widow Edith died there 15 August 1932 aged 52.

Edward Alfred FLEET
Born 1870 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, the son of Richard Palmer FLEET, printer’s compositor, and his wife Elizabeth Ann SLADE. He and his American-born wife Edith Ann COLES had the following children in Sutton, Surrey: Albert Edward R FLEET 1902, Esme Madeline E FLEET 1904, John Alexander FLEET 1906 and Harold Newberry FLEET 1908. He managed the company’s premises at 101 High Street, Sutton and later the premises at 407 Harrow Road, Paddington, London West. His wife Edith died in 1941 aged 66 – at the time he was listed as a retired boot salesman.

Frank FORD
Born 7 April1875 at 14 Lovell Street, Bristol, Gloucestershire, son of Henry FORD, a cooper originally from Witheridge, Devon, and his wife Mary Jane MAGGS, from Bristol. He married Florence BENDALL c1897 at Cardiff and their children included Elsie Gladys FORD 1899, Dorothy Phyllis FORD 1901, Leslie Cecil FORD 1904, Gilbert Bernard FORD 1907, Cyril Frank Ford 1912 and Irene Florence Ford 1914. In 1911 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 176 City Road, Roath, Cardiff and by 1914 he was managing the company’s branch at 21 Bridge Street, Spalding, Lincolnshire. His wife Florence died at Spalding in 1940 aged 65 and he died there in 1964 aged 89.

Sir Walter FORREST
Born 28 July 1870 at Yeadon, Yorkshire, the son of William Croft FORREST (later Sir William and seven times Mayor of Pudsey, Yorkshire), and his wife Ellen SMITH. Walter became a partner in his father’s textile manufacturing business and in 1890 at Bradford he married Kate STILLINGS. They had one son, Harold Stillings FORREST born in 1893. His first wife died in 1913 aged 47 and he married secondly in 1915 at Sheffield to Mary MacDUFF. He served on Pudsey Town Council 1900-1919 and was mayor 1909-1912. He was a British Liberal, later Liberal National politician. He developed business interests in a number of companies, including investment trusts and insurance as well as heavy industry. He was chairman of Lennards Limited and was knighted for political and public service in 1935. He died 18 July 1939 aged 68 and is buried in Pudsey with his father and second wife.

Ernest Victor FORSE
Born 1870 at Marylebone, London, son of Frank John FORSE, seal engraver, and his wife Sarah Matilda GOLDFINCH. He married Australian-born Catherine RYAN in 1901 and their children born at Hornsey, Middlesex, included Victor Francis FORSE 1902 and Hilda FORSE 1907. He initially worked as a boot salesman in Battersea in the 1890’s and in 1911 managed the company’s premises at 58 High Street, Hornsey. He died in 1939 aged 69.

Frederick FRANKLIN
Born 1866 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, son of Richard FRANKLIN, baker and grocer, and his wife Eunice HARKER. At the age of 15 Frederick was an assistant in one of the Public Benefit Boot Co shops in Hull and he went on to manage company premises in Hull and Grimsby. In 1888 he married Alice DRINKALL and they had three daughters. Frederick died in 1938 aged 72.

George Edward FRANKLIN
Born 1849 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, son of Richard FRANKLIN, baker and grocer, and his wife Eunice HARKER. In 1872 at Grimsby he married Elizabeth HUNN. George first worked in his father’s grocery business but soon joined his brother William Henry FRANKLIN in the very early days of the Public Benefit Boot Co. He was subsequently based at Derby from where he managed the company’s branches in the region. He resided at a large mansion ‘The Field’ on Osmaston Road, Derby. A talented organist, antique collector and horse breeder, he entered Derby Town Council in 1898. He was a major shareholder and served on the board of the Public Benefit Boot Co. He died in 1913 aged 64.

Henry (Harry) FRANKLIN
Born 1877 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, son of William FRANKLIN, shopkeeper and baker, and his wife Ellen BROWN. He was a nephew of Richard FRANKLIN and in 1900 at Peterborough he married Louisa Alice DONE. Harry worked initially at Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Hull and he later managed the company’s branch at 38 Market Place, Gainsborough for almost 40 years. His wife Louisa died in Gainsborough in 1918 aged 41 and he married secondly to Betsy Elizabeth BENSON. He died at Gainsborough in 1943 aged 66 and his widow Betsy died there in 1968 aged 83.

Louisa FRANKLIN
Born 1862 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, daughter of Richard FRANKLIN, baker and grocer, and his wife Eunice HARKER. In the early 1880s she assisted her brothers and father at the Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Hull. In 1891 she married Edward DOLAN.

Richard FRANKLIN
Born 1823 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, son of John FRANKLIN, baker, and his wife Elizabeth RUDKIN. He married Eunice HARKER in 1846 at Crowland and they had 15 children of whom 10 survived to adulthood. He worked most of his life as a grocer and baker but later assisted his sons as Public Benefit Boot Co evolved. Richard died in 1889 aged 65 – at that time he managed the company’s premises at Grantham.

William Henry FRANKLIN
Born 1848 at Elton, Huntingdonshire, son of Richard FRANKLIN, baker and grocer, and his wife Eunice HARKER. He married Ellen SARBUTT in 1883 at London, and they had three children:  Ethel May FRANKLIN 1884, William Henry FRANKLIN 1886 and Hilda Constance FRANKLIN 1890. In 1875 William opened the first Public Benefit Boot Shop in Hull and he was one of the main driving forces behind the growth of the business into a nationwide network of stores, repair shops and factories. He was a major shareholder, served on the board of the Public Benefit Boot Co and died in 1907 aged 59.

George Marmaduke FREAR
Born 1895 at Hartlepool, Co Durham, son of Marmaduke FREAR, a railway porter, and his wife Mary Jane SIMPSON. At the age of 19 he enlisted and served in France with the 10th Battalion Liverpool Scottish Regiment. He was wounded in action in August 1916 and returned to duty some months later. He married Rebecca ARBUCKLE in 1922 at Hartlepool and their children included Arnold M FREAR 1924, Joan FREAR 1926 and Beryl FREAR 1933. During the 1930's and 1940's he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co branch at Regent Street, Blyth, Northumberland. He rode a bicycle to work and half a century later his former employees still fondly remembered him. His wife Rebecca died in 1976 aged 78 and he died in 1981 aged 85.

William FRISBY
Born c1850 at Frisby on the Wreake, Leicestershire, son of Joseph FRISBY, farm servant, and his wife Lucy DUFFIN. He married Sophia POULTER in 1878 and their children included John Arthur FRISBY 1879, Lilly Agnes FRISBY 1880, William Joseph FRISBY 1882 and Frederick George FRISBY 1889. His wife Sophia died in 1899 and he secondly married Alice Sarah WILSON in 1900 and their children included Horace FRISBY 1902 and Muriel Florence FRISBY 1905. William worked initially as a domestic butler and then as a boot salesman. From at least 1891 until 1911 he managed a boot dealership on South Street, Dorchester, thought to be part of the Public Benefit Boot Co group. He died at Dorchester 13 December 1924 aged 74. His son Joseph founded the firm Joseph Frisby Ltd that operated a chain of footwear stores.

Alfred FRY
Born 1844 at Butleigh, Somerset, son of Charles FRY, saddler and harness maker, and his wife Charlotte KNIGHT. In 1871 he married Elizabeth CHARD and their children included Annie May FRY 1872, Charles Norman FRY 1874, Amy Helena FRY 1876, Constance Kate FRY 1879, Ernest Alfred FRY 1880, Edith Mary FRY 1881 and Gertrude Maud FRY 1883. He trained as a boot maker and in 1891 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at Fore Street, Chard, Somerset. He died at Bath in 1924 aged 79.

George Percy FRY
Born 1882 at Southampton, Hampshire, son of George James FRY, outfitter’s porter, and his wife Louisa DREW. He married Florence Maud GROVEN in 1907 and their children included Leonard George FRY 1909 and Edith Florence FRY 1911. He managed the company’s premises at 4-5 Bridge Street, Southampton. He married secondly in 1923 to Winifred Ivy THOMPSON and he died 12 February 1934 aged 51.

Ernest GALSWORTHY
Born 1893 at Bideford, Devon, son of Alfred GALSWORTHY, house painter, and his wife Elizabeth Ann ROOKE. In 1911 he worked as a boot shop assistant in Bideford. He died in 1975 aged 81.

Edwin Stanley GANGE
Born 1871 at Bristol, son of Rev Edwin Gorsuch GANGE, Baptist Minister and Pastor of the Broadmead Chapel, Bristol, for 24 years, and his first wife Ann HACKETT. He married Alice Maud DENNING in 1895 at Bristol and they had two sons, William Stanley GANGE 1896 and Gerald Henry GANGE 1900. He was a merchant, JP, Member of Parliament for Bristol North 1922–1923. He was a director of Lennards Real Property Co Ltd, Bristol and died 29 February 1944 aged 73.

Albert Lewis GIBBS
Born 1869 at Cardiff, Glamorganshire, son of Thomas GIBB, a stoker originally from Berrynarbour, Devon, and his wife Sarah Ann FOLLAND. He married Maude Annie WILLIAMS in 1895 and their children included Trevor Mortimer GIBBS 1896, Ena Constance GIBBS 1898, Ada Folland GIBBS 1899, Clifford James GIBBS 1900, Frank GIBBS 1901, Albert Percy GIBBS 1904 and Elsie Maud GIBBS 1907. His wife Maude died in 1908 and he married secondly the following year to Rosalie ELLISON. He was a initially a boot and shoe shopkeeper in Aberavon, Glamorganshire and from 1901 until at least 1911 managed the company’s premises at Market Street, Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire. He died in 1923 aged 53.

Harry GILL
Born 1872 at Derby, son of Peter GILL, labourer, and his wife Selina HOLMES. In 1901 he managed the company’s boot shop at 48 Stapleton Road, Bristol, and in 1911 he managed the premises at 102 High Road, Chiswick, Middlesex. In 1914 he was a Lennards Ltd shareholder. He died in 1932 aged 60 and his widow Amy died in 1952 aged 77.

John Ferguson GILLISON
Born 1855 at Birmingham, he married Sarah Jane WALKER in 1879 and their children included John Ferguson GILLISON 1880, Norman Weir GILLISON 1882 and Elizabeth Jane GILLISON 1886. John was a salesman and the family lived variously in Lancashire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. He was a shareholder in the Public Benefit Boot Co.

Joseph Wallis GODDARD
Born 16 February 1852 at Leicester, son of Joseph GODDARD, pharmaceutical chemist, and his wife Eliza. As a chemist and county analyst in the 1830's, Joseph Goddard senior was often called upon to assay fine silver owned by England's wealthy families. Following the discovery of electroplating, silver-plated serving-ware became affordable to the average English home. The initial exuberance of those who bought new silverware, however, quickly turned to disappointment. The commonly used mercurial silver polish ate away the thin-layered silver-plate. In 1839 Goddard perfected a polish that would safely remove tarnish from even the thinnest plated silver and the fame of Goddard's non-mercurial plate powder quickly spread. In 1885 his products won six gold medals for excellence at the American Exposition. For decades Goddard's products have been used to maintain priceless treasures and antiques in renowned museums, state houses, hotels and private estates throughout the world. Joseph Wallis GODDARD, who trained initially as an architect, designed a new factory to produce his father’s non-mercurial plate powder. He subsequently joined his father in the business, working as a manufacturing chemist. In 1878 at Leicester Joseph Wallis GODDARD married Ellen Jane VICCARS and their children included Dorothy GODDARD 1879, Margaret GODDARD 1880, Annie GODDARD 1882, Joseph Holland GODDARD 1883, Janet Mary GODDARD 1884, Eric Edwin GODDARD 1885, Charles Viccars GODDARD 1888, Harold Warner GODDARD 1890, Janey B GODDARD 1896 and Emily Rosamond GODDARD 1896. He was a shareholder in Lennards Brothers of Leicester, and served on the boards of the Public Benefit Boot Co of Leeds and Lennards Ltd of Bristol. He died 9 April 1927 aged 75.

Elkan GOLDMAN
Born 1855 in Russia, he and his wife Zara joined other Jewish immigrants in Leeds in the 1870s. Their children included Jacob (Jack) GOLDMAN 1877, Leah (Cissy) GOLDMAN 1882, Israel (Manning) GOLDMAN 1883, Maurice GOLDMAN 1886, Abraham GOLDMAN 1888 and Alexander GOLDMAN 1889. His only son-in-law Herbert KLEIN drowned when the Titanic sank in 1912. A Public Benefit Boot Co shareholder, Elkan initially made slippers but then he and other family members moved into shoe and boot manufacturing and in 1927 were operating from premises at 22-24 lady Lane, Leeds. He died at Leeds on 23 October 1935 aged 80.

John William GOLDSACK
Born 1881 at Dover, Kent, son of John GOLDSACK, gardener, and his wife Susan Mary Ann GREEN. He married Eva Janet ELPHICK in 1904 and they had a daughter Eva Daisy GOLDSACK 1907. In 1901 he worked as a boot shop assistant in Willesden and by 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 331 Old Kent Road, London. His wife Eva died in 1963 aged 80 and he died in 1965 aged 83.

John GOODCHILD
Born 1875 at Burnley, Lancashire, the son of William GOODCHILD and his wife Mary DUERDEN, both confectioners. In 1897 at Hull, East Yorkshire, he married Susannah TOWNSEND and they had a daughter Mary TOWNSEND 1908. In 1891 he worked as an assistant in the Public Benefit Boot Co premises on St James Street, Burnley and he managed that branch from at least 1901 to 1911. His cousin Florence WILKINSON also worked as a shop assistant at the Burnley branch around the turn of the century. He died at St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire on 11 Nov 1932 aged 57 and his widow Susannah died there in 1959 aged 83.

George GOODHAND
Born 1845 at Bonby, Lincolnshire, son of Elijah GOODHAND, shepherd, and his wife Mary. George worked variously as a carter on a farm, a preacher and a stone quarryman before getting involved with the boot trade. He married Eliza BEACOCK of Bonby in 1870 and they had a son Charles Henry GOODHAND in 1879. Following the death of Eliza at the age of 41, George married secondly to Mary Jane DRINKALL in 1892 and their children included Harold GOODHAND 1894, Ernest GOODHAND 1897, Elsie GOODHAND 1900 and Fred GOODHAND 1903. George managed the boot and shoe shop situated on High Street, Barton on Humber from 1891 to 1913.

William H GOODLAND
Born 1911 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, son of Charles John Goodland, commission agent, and his wife Adelaide Hamblett UNDERWOOD. He was appointed a director of Lennards Limited in 1969.

William John GOODMAN
Born 1872 at Great Bridge, Staffordshire, son of Bartholomew Henry Goodman, railway fireman, and his wife Mary Ann CUND. He married Kate TILLEY in 1899 and their children included William John GOODMAN 1903 and George Henry GOODMAN 1904. He worked in Nottingham as a shopman and boot trade manager and for several decades he managed the company’s premises in Grantham, Lincolnshire. He died in at Grantham 6 August 1935 aged 62 at which time his son William was a boot shop manager

Lucy GOODWIN
Born abt 1839 at Datchet, Buckinghamshire, daughter of Thomas GOODWIN, manager of a gas manufactory, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1859 she married Francis Bloye RICHES, a medical assistant, and in 1961 they had twins Francis Goodwin Bloye RICHES and Emily Ada Lucy RICHES, followed by Leonard Thomas RICHES 1862, Cyril RICHES 1869 and Francis Goodwin RICHES 1873. Her husband Francis died in 1874 aged 38 and in 1876 Lucy married Robert Peter TOW, a bootmaker. They had two children Bernard Christopher TOW 1877 and Helena Maud TOW 1878. Her second husband Robert died at Windsor, Berkshire, in 1882 aged 47. From at least 1891 until 1901 she was the proprietor of the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 142-143 Peascod Street, Windsor. In 1901 her son Leonard Thomas RICHES was manager of the business She died in 1915 aged 76.

Olive GOSPELL
Born 1917 in Northumberland, daughter of Thomas Henry GOSPELL, boot maker, and his wife Isabella Agnes JACKSON. She commenced work in 1934 aged 17 at the Public Benefit Boot Co branch at the seaside town of Whitley Bay where the staff consisted of two female sales assistants, a manager and an errand boy. During the difficult war years Olive took over management of the branch. After the war her future husband James SMEATHAM took over management of the Whitley Bay branch and they married in 1952. Olive continued to manage or work in various branches including Newcastle, Gosforth, North Shields, Bedlington, Redcar and Carlisle. James died at Carlisle in 1973 aged 58. Olive retired from Benefit Footwear in Carlisle the following year and in 1974 married her brother-in-law John S SMEATHAM.

Christopher Colborne GRAHAM
Born 1857 at Lambeth, Surrey, son of Christopher North GRAHAM, wholesale grocer, and his wife Isabella McANDREW. In 1883 at Hull he married Mary Johnstone BREMMER of Glasgow and their children born in Hull included Christopher Norman GRAHAM 1884, Hugh Colborne GRAHAM 1888 and Mary Bremmer GRAHAM 1890. He worked as an analytical chemist and in 1891 was secretary to a paint company. In 1897 he was appointed a director on the first board of the Public Benefit Boot Co and he was a director of the Scarborough Hospital. His brother Norman Child GRAHAM, an artist and sculptor based in Guildford in the 1890s, was also a Public Benefit Boot Co shareholder. His wife Mary died at Scarborough in 1910 aged 48 and he died there in 1943 aged 86.

George GRAHAM
Born 1869 at Carlisle, Cumberland, son of William GRAHAM, boot manufacturer, and his wife Dinah Chambers HENDERSON. He married Margaret Ann CORBY in 1894 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and their children included Ella Elsie GRAHAM 1895 and Rothes Olga GRAHAM 1898. He followed his father and his brothers William GRAHAM and John GRAHAM into the boot trade. In 1891 he was a boot salesman in Newcastle and after spending some years at Middlesborough, by 1901 he managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 19 High Row, Darlington.

William GRANT
Born c1867 at Burlescombe, Devon, he married Selina Elizabeth KEYES in 1903 at Bristol. In 1911 he managed the boot and shoe depot at 2-3 Green Market, Penzance, Cornwall.

Donald George GRAY
Worked at a boot and shoe repair apprentice for Benefit Footwear Ltd in 1956.

Harry and Norman GREEN
They worked at the Benefit Footwear repair facility at Templar Street, Leeds.

John Tyrrell GREEN
Born 1848 at Oxford, son of Richard GREEN, coffeehouse keeper, and his wife Jane Elizabeth GREEN. He and his first wife Sarah Ann had the following children: Charles Percy GREEN 1873, Lizzie Maud W GREEN 1875, Minnie Jane GREEN 1877, Maggie Ethel GREEN 1879 and Ernest John GREEN 1881. He married secondly to Mary Ann KNIGHTS in 1893. Over many years John managed boot shops in Oxford, Rochdale, Gateshead and in 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 7 Parsons Street, Banbury, Oxford.

George GREENSLADE
Born 1867 at Bristol, Gloucestershhire, he married Sarah Ann GOSS in 1889. He managed the company’s retail outlet at Bedminster, Bristol, in 1891 and a few years later he managed the company’s premises at 19 Stall Street, Bath, Somerset.

Florrie GREGG
Born 1890 at North Shields, County Durham, daughter of Henry GREGG, caterer, and his wife Betsy WATSON. She worked at Public Benefit Boot Co premises at Whitley Bay and Bedlington, Northumberland . In 1911 she married Arthur Norman PARK and their children included William H GREGG 1913, Arthur N GREGG 1917, Henry L GREGG 1922 and John GREGG 1924. She died in 1964 aged 74 and her husband Arthur died in 1977 aged 90.

Arthur Watts GRINLEY
Born 1857 at Woolwich, son of Arthur William GRINLEY, shoe manufacturer, and his wife Mary Ann DAVISON. In 1911 at the age of 53 he was unmarried and managed the company’s premises at 5 Powis Street, Woolwich. He died at Hove, Sussex, in 1931 aged 73.

William GUEST
Born c1866 at Menthorpe, Yorkshire. His widowed mother Margaret GUEST, managed the company’s boot shop at 10-11 Finkle Street, Selby, Yorkshire in 1891 and he assisted with the business. By 1911 he had married and was managing the boot dealership previously run by his mother..

Joseph HAIGH
Born 1866 at Leeds, he married Emily BOOTH of Leeds in 1889. Around that time he was the resident manager of the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 22 Toll Gavel, Beverley, Yorkshire. Ten years later he and his wife Emily lived at South Shields.

Anna Marie HAINSWORTH
Born c1870 at Shipley, Yorkshire, daughter of Alfred HAINSWORTH, boot-maker, and his wife Annie Maria BUTTERWORTH. From 1891 until 1901 she worked as a boot shop assistant at the Driffield premises managed for many years by her uncle and aunt, William and Mary BUTERFIELD.

John William HALE
Born 1872 at West Bromwich, Staffordshire where in 1896 he married Elizabeth BLIZZARD. Their surviving children included Gladys S May HALE 1896, Ivy Elizabeth HALE 1900, John William HALE 1905 and Gilbert HALE 1909. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 55 Church Street, Bilston, Staffordshire. He died at West Bromwich in 1930 aged 58.

Frederick Henry HALSE
Born 1878 at Exeter, son of Charley HALSE, a warder at Her Majesty’s Prison, Exeter, and his wife Ellen SELLEY. By the turn of the century he worked as a boot shop assistant at Exeter where he married Jane ALLEN in 1904. They had a son Albert Frederick HALSE 1906. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 82 Fore Street, Redruth, Cornwall, and 1913-19 he managed the Lennards Ltd branch at 212 High Street, Exeter. He died at Exeter in 1952 aged 73 and his wife Jane died there in 1961 aged 83.

Walter HAMPSON
Born 1876 at Leicester, son of Ebenezer HAMPSON, elastic web weaver, and his wife Mary Hannah NEALE. He married Ethel May BEAVER in 1902 and they had a son Noel Walter HAMPSON 1905. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 19-20 High Street, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He died at Kings Lynn 5 August 1929 aged 53 and his widow Ethel died 2 February 1933 aged 54.

Herbert HARDING
Born c1879 at Wallsend on Tyne, Northumberland, he married Minnie STEVENSON in 1903 and their children included Herbert HARDING 1904, George Edwin HARDING 1907 and John HARDING 1908. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 45 High Street, Wallsend on Tyne.

Edith Ann HARKER
Born 1869 at Stevington, Bedfordshire, daughter of Samuel HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Jane BURTON. At the age of 22 she was, with her brother and sisters, assisting in her father’s Public Benefit Boot Co shop in Coventry. In 1893 at Coventry she married Jonathan BRAY, bank actuary. He died at Coventry in 1943 aged 78 and she died there in 1963 aged 94.

Elizabeth HARKER
Born 1870 at Peterborough, daughter of Jabez HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Mary Ann ADAMS. For at least a decade Elizabeth worked as a boot and shoe saleswoman in her father’s Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Nottingham. She did not marry and died in Kent in 1955 aged 85.

Frederick John HARKER
Born 1867 at Stevington, Bedfordshire, son of Samuel HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Jane BURTON. In 1897 at Warwick he married Maria COLLEDGE and their children born in Coventry were George Frederick Herrenden HARKER 1898 and Muriel May HARKER 1902. He worked at the Public Benefit Boot Co dealership established by his father in Smithfield Street, Coventry and died in 1952 at Loughborough aged 85.

Gertrude Ruth HARKER
Born 1879 at Bedford, daughter of Samuel HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Jane BURTON. At the age of 12 she was, with her brother Frederick and sisters Edith and Miriam, assisting in her father’s large Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Smithfield Street, Coventry. At the turn of the century she was living with her parents at ‘Avonhurst’, Waverley Road, Kenilworth, and in 1903 she married Walter Edward NOBLE, an accountant. He died in 1938 aged 73 and she died in 1947 aged 68.

Jabez HARKER
Born 1840 at Crowland, Lincolnshire, son of William Herrenden HARKER, tailor, and his third wife, Susannah PARKER of Thorney, Cambridgeshire. In 1864 at Peterborough Jabez married Mary Ann ADAMS of Maxey and they had five children. He first worked as a grocer and tea dealer in Peterborough but by the 1880s he had joined forces with the Franklins (with whom he had family connections). For some decades he managed the large Public Benefit Boot Co premises in the Albert Buildings, Derby Road, Nottingham and in 1897 served on the first board of directors of the company. He died in London in 1912 aged 71.

Miriam HARKER
Born 1873 at Bedford, daughter of Samuel HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Jane BURTON. At the age of 18 she was, with her brother and sisters, assisting in her father’s Public Benefit Boot Co shop in Coventry. In 1898 at Kenilworth she married Frank HEWSON, stationer and leather goods dealer and their children born in Coventry were Miriam Winsome HEWSON 1899, Christine Ruth HEWSON 1904, Frances Margaret HEWSON 1905 and Frank Samuel HEWSON 1911. Her husband Frank died at Coventry in 1938 aged 66 and she died in 1955 aged 82.

Nellie HARKER
Born 1874 at Peterborough, daughter of Jabez HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Mary Ann ADAMS. Between 1891 and 1901 Nellie worked as a cashier in her father’s Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Nottingham. She did not marry and died in Kent in 1944 aged 69.

Samuel HARKER
Born 1828 at Crowland, Lincolnshire, son of William Herrenden HARKER, tailor and draper, and his second wife Mary GROUND. Samuel married Jane BURTON in 1861 at Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire and their children included: Mary Sophia HARKER 1863, William Burton HARKER 1864, Frederick John HARKER 1867, Edith Ann HARKER 1869, Miriam HARKER 1873 and Gertrude Ruth HARKER 1879. Samuel had strong family connections with the founders of The Public Benefit Boot Co and many of his family members were involved with the company in various capacities. He worked in drapery and lace manufacturing in Bedford before establishing a large boot dealership in Smithfield Street, Coventry. He died at Coventry in 1907 aged 79 and his widow Jane died there in 1930 aged 95.

Susannah HARKER
Born 1865 at Nottingham, daughter of Jabez HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Mary Ann ADAMS. In 1889 at Nottingham she married John Henry Taylor, a boot and shoe salesman. Following his death in 1907 at the age of 42, she took over management of the Public Benefit Boot Co branch that he had managed at 21 Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire. In the 1920’s and 1930’s she lived in retirement at the Tower Cliff Hotel in Bournemouth, Hampshire.

William Herrenden HARKER
Born 1868 at Peterborough, son of Jabez HARKER, boot dealer, and his wife Mary Ann ADAMS. He married Eleanor DERNALEY in 1894 at Barton on Irwell, Lancashire. He had connections with the Rendable Shoe Co and managed Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Bolton, Chester and Urmston. He died at Bournemouth in 1953 aged 85.

Arthur HARNESS
Born 1876 at Hull, Yorkshire, son of George HARNESS, police constable, cab proprietor and theatre hall keeper, and his wife Elizabeth CHAPPEL. In 1911 at Hull he married Alice Mary HOYLE and their children included Emily HARNESS 1913 and George HARNESS 1915. He worked firstly as a boot shop assistant and 1911-16 managed the Public Benefit Boot Co shop at 152-154 Hessle Road, Hull. His sister Ada also worked as a boot shop assistant 1901-11. During WWI he served as a gunner with the Royal Regiment of Artillery in France. His wife Alice died at Hull in 1955 aged 71 and he died there in 1960 aged 84.

John James HARTOPP
Born 1856 at Leicester, eldest son of Thomas HARTOPP, stocking maker, and his wife Elizabeth GROOCOCK. He started in the Leicester boot and shoe trade as a warehouseman. He married Maude Mary SHARPE in 1903 at which time he was a director of the Leicester boot manufacturing business Walker Kempson & Stevens Ltd. He was a shareholder in both the Public Benefit Boot Co of Leeds and Lennards Ltd of Bristol. He died in 1927 aged 71.

John Stephen HATCH
Born 1890 at Bridgemary, Hampshire, son of Henry HATCH, coachman, and his wife, Mary Ann FIELDER. In 1911 he worked as a boot shop assistant at the company’s Portsmouth premises. He enlisted at Fareham, Hampshire and served as a Sergeant in the 14th Service Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. He was killed in action at the Somme, France, on 3 September 1916 aged 26.

Thomas HATTON
Born 1876 at Manchester, son of James HATTON and his wife Ellen. He married Emily GRIFFITHS 1899 at Leicesterand their children included Phyllis Emily HATTON 1900, Frederick Thomas HATTON c1903 and Samuel HATTON c1906. Along with his brother-in-law Samuel BRIERS, Thomas was involved in boot and shoe manufacturing. He was a director of Lennard Bros Limited in Leicester 1903-09.

Edward Thomas HAUGHTON
Born 1841 at Leeds, son of Thomas HAUGHTON, grocer, and his wife Ann. He married Sarah Ellen SUNTER in 1863 and their children included Alice HAUGHTON 1864, Arthur Hockley HAUGHTON 1868, Maud HAUGHTON 1870, Florence HAUGHTON 1872, Frederick HAUGHTON 1875 and Jessie HAUGHTON 1877. He was a salesman in a Leeds woollen warehouse before moving into the boot trade. Both he and his son Frederick were salesmen for the Public Benefit Boot Co and in 1891 Edward managed the company premises at 189-197 Roundhay Road, Potter Newton, Leeds. He was a Public Benefit Boot Co shareholder and died in Leeds in 1903 aged 61.

Samuel George HAWKINS
Born 1873 at Maldon, Essex, son of Samuel HAWKINS, mariner, and his wife Elizabeth Ann PEARMAIN. In 1899 at Southampton he married Annie DUFTY. At the age of 17 he worked as a shop assistant in Taunton and by the age of 25 he worked as a salesman in the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 4 & 5 Bridge Street, Southampton.

Margaret HAY
Born 1930 at Wetherby, Yorkshire, daughter of Thomas HAY and his wife Maud M DARLEY.  She commenced working at the age of 14 at the Public Benefit Boot Co repair facility at Templar Street, Leeds. When this closed in 1961 she, along with other workers moved to the Queen Victoria Street repair facility where she continued until the factory closed in July 1988.

Henry John HAYES
Born c1874 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, he and his wife Tesse lived at Guildford, Surrey where they had a daughter Tesse Violet HAYES 1908. Henry worked as a boot shop assistant at the company’s premises at 6 Market Street, Guildford.

George HAYTER
Born 1875 at Salisbury, Wiltshire, he married Ada Eva BAZELL in 1900 at Southampton. Their children included Harold George HAYTER 1900, Vera Dorothy HAYTER 1903, Hilda Eva HAYTER 1904 and Leslie Bazell HAYTER 1908. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 88 Fisherton Street, Salisbury.

Thomas Bertie HEDGE
Born 1876 at Longford, Ireland, son of Robert John A HEDGE, a police constable, and his wife Louisa PEARCE. He married Fanny Elizabeth DURK in 1900 at London and their children included Robert Ezra D HEDGE 1901, Stanley Francis HEDGE 1904 and Louis Archibald F HEDGE 1908. In 1901 Thomas worked as a boot shop assistant at Maidstone, Kent. From at least 1911 until 1914, when he was a shareholder of Lennards Ltd, he managed the company’s premises at 137-138 St Mary’s Street, Southampton, Hampshire. His wife Fanny died in 1955 at Southampton aged 79 and he died there the following year aged 80.

Alice HELLIWELL
Born c1862 at Bradford, daughter of Hobson HELLIWELL, worsted weaving foreman and later milk dealer, and his wife Hannah CROWTHER. Alice married George TILLOTSON, shoemaker, and their children included John Willie TILLOTSON 1883, Lily TILLOTSON 1886 and Addie TILLOTSON 1888. Following the death of her husband, Alice married Edward WILLIAMS, a police constable. Firstly as Mrs Alice TILLOTSON and later as Mrs Alice WILLIAMS, she managed the company’s boot dealership at 146 Langworthy Road, Salford, Lancashire, where her daughter Lily assisted in the business.

Wilfred HEMPSALL
Born 1879 at Newland, Lincolnshire, the son of Edward HEMSPALL, a joiner, and his wife Ann Glenn SWAIN. In 1901 at Nottingham he married Mary Grace Elizabeth CLARKE. They had twins John William HEMPSALL 1901 and Albert Edward HEMPSALL 1901, as well as a second set of twins that died as infants Cyril Wilfred HEMPSALL 1908 and Joseph Harold HEMPSALL 1908. He worked firstly as a shop assistant and then as manager of Public Benefit Boot Co premises in Nottingham. He died in 1951 aged 71 and his widow died in 1962 aged 83.

George Edwin HEYDON
Born 1865 at Hook Norton near Banbury, Oxfordshire, son of Joseph HEYDON, farm worker, and his wife Mary. He married Ada Ellen FISHER at Bedford in 1888 and their children included Laura May HEYDON 1891, Olive Ada E HEYDON 1892, Lily Annie HEYDON 1894, Elsie Maud HEYDON 1897 and Mabel Grace HEYDON 1901. George managed the Public Benefit Boot Co branch in the Market Place, Newark, until around 1895 when he took over the management of the company’s premises at 7 Parsons Street, Banbury.

Albert HICKINBOTTOM
Born 1882 at Brightside, Sheffield, he married Christina HAWKSLEY in 1908 and they had a son Albert HICKINBOTTOM in 1909 at Attercliffe, Sheffield. In 1911 Albert senior managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 231 Main Road, Darnall, Yorkshire. He died at Darnall 21 June 1918 aged 36.

Charles HILL
Shop assistant at the Doncaster premises of the Public Benefit Boot Co in 1896.

Harry HILLS
Born 1876 at Bromley, Kent, he married Rosa FITCH in 1906 and they had a son Leonard Fitch HILLS 1909. In 1911 Harry managed the company premises at 4 The Broadway, High Street, Bromley.

Stephen HILTON
Born 1845 at Leicester, he married Harriet GIBSON in 1867 and their children were Rosannah HILTON 1868, Mary Ann HILTON 1870, Joseph Arthur HILTON 1871, George Edward HILTON 1873, Harriett HILTON 1876, Stephen HILTON 1877 and Frederick James HILTON 1883. He was a boot and shoe factor and in 1892 was listed as the proprietor of the Public Benefit Boot Co branch on High Street, West Bromwich, Staffordshire. His sons were also involved in the family footwear business that traded under the name of S Hilton & Sons. He was a JP and was appointed Mayor of Leicester 1904-1905. He died 16 March 1914 aged 69 and his widow Harriet died 14 March 1916 aged 70.

Walter Arthur HOBBS
Born 1885 at Stroud, Gloucestershire, son of George William Hooper HOBBS, shoeing and jobbing smith, and his wife Alice Jane CLISSOLD. In 1909 at Bedford he married Alice LARKINS and their children born there included George W HOBBS 1910, John A HOBBS 1913 and Edward C HOBBS 1924. At the age of 16 he worked as a boot salesman in Rodborough, Gloucestershire and by 1911 he managed the company premises at 62 High Street, Bedford.

John HODDLE
Born c1878 at Olney, Buckinghamshire, son of William HODDLE, shoemaker, and his wife Jane BURROWS. He and his wife Annie had a daughter Elsie Newman HODDLE 1902. In 1911 he managed the company’s boot shop at 61 Spring Hill Road, Birmingham.

Thomas George HOLLINGS
Born 1873 at Enisworth, Hampshire, he married Annie Priscila HARVEY in 1894 at Westminster. Their surviving children included Clara Alice HOLLINGS 1899, Cicely Annie HOLLINGS 1904, Daisy HOLLINGS 1906 and Violet Marjorie HOLLINGS 1909. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 307 Mare Street, Hackney, London. He died at Hackney in 1923 aged 50.

Sir Henry Nicholas HOLMES
Born 1868 at Norwich, son of Joshua Henry HOLMES, inspector of weights and measures and collector of cattle market dues at the Norwich Markets, and his wife Emma SKIPPER. He married Gertrude Flora HUTCH in 1894 and their children included Gertrude Edith HOLMES 1895, Doris May HOLMES 1898 and Geoffrey Nicholas HOLMES 1900. He was apprenticed to the boot and shoe industry under Mr Bostock and in 1891 he formed a partnership with W E Edwards. The business started in a little back bedroom at the Edwards home. Henry did the ‘clicking’ while Edwards did the ‘making’ and his mother the machining. The business slowly took off and they started to take on workers making shoes. First in Pitt Street but after that place burnt down they moved to Pottergate and then again before settling in Esdelle Street, Norwich. The partnership was dissolved in 1902 but huge expansion took place under the name of Edwards & Holmes and by 1912 the firm employed one thousand people. Henry was a Lennards Ltd shareholder, magistrate, alderman and Lord Mayor of Norwich 1921-22 and again 1932-33. He died at Norwich 19 January 1940 aged 71. His son Geoffrey Nicholas HOLMES and grandson Peter HOLMES continued in the family shoe business.

Augustus Ernest HOPKINS
Born 1881 at Dalston, London, he married Ellen HUTCHINS in 1905 and their children included John Ernest Henry HOPKINS, c1908 and Dorothy Ellen May HOPKINS 1910. In 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 101 High Street, Sutton, Surrey.

Percy HOWE
Born 1901 at Scarborough, Yorkshire, son of Walter HOWE, commission agent, and his wife Eva Elizabeth BOXELL. In 1925 at Bridlington he married Dorothy FEARNLEY and their children included Herbert G HOWE 1926 and Jill HOWE 1934. He managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at Bridlington in the 1930’s and in 1937 he took over management of the firm’s main Leeds shop in Kirkgate opposite the market hall. After serving time in the army he returned to the company and was made Inspector for the Yorkshire region.

William HOWKINS
Born 1851 at Markfield, Leicestershire, son of John HOWKINS, cordwainer, and his wife Martha MORRIS. The children of William and his wife Emma included Emma Elizabeth HOWKINS 1873, John HOWKINS 1874, William HOWKINS 1877, Herbert HOWKINS 1880, Alexander HOWKINS 1882 and Lucy Ellen HOWKINS 1885. Following the death of his first wife Emma in 1897, William married Cecelia KITCHEN in 1899 at Leicester. From the age of 10 William worked in the shoe trade and by his 30's he was a boot and shoe manufacturer. He was a shareholder in the Public Benefit Boot Co.

Albert HOYAL
Born 1879 at Bridgwater, Somerset, he married Eliza Jane MANCHIP in 1902 and their children included Leslie HOYAL 1905, Albert HOYAL 1904 and Blanche HOYAL 1907. He worked for some time at Southampton and by 1911 he managed the company’s premises at 8a Regent Street, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Arthur R HUDSON
Joined Benefit Footwear in March 1947 following three years of wartime service in the Royal Navy. In 1960 he took over management of the Benefit Central Repairs Factory in Templar Street, Vicar Lane, Leeds. In 1961 upon the merger with British Shoe Corporation, a new company was formed, BSC (Shoe Repairs) Ltd, an amalgamation of all the repair divisions of Benefit, Saxone, Freeman Hardy Willis, True Form, Dolcis & Manfield. The new company was responsible for servicing the entire 2,200 retail outlets that comprised the British Shoe Corporation. His initial responsibility at the formation of this new company was as Area Manager for the North of England and Ireland. In 1978 he was appointed Chief Executive and remained in that position until the disposal of the repair company in 1988, a decision to his mind and in the minds of many others, that triggered the ultimate decline of the British Shoe Corporation. In 1985 he became President of the National Association of Multiple Shoe Repairers (NAMSR). Upon his retirement from British Shoe Corporation in 1988, he was invited by the industry to take on the mantle of Chairman of the Shoe Repair Industry Training Organisation (SRITO). During his period of office 1988 to 1994 he worked in conjunction with the City & Guilds of London Institute and was responsible for the successful introduction of National Vocational Qualifications into the shoe repair industry in 1994. He served on the National Wages Council from 1976 until 1988 and following his retirement in 1994, he continued as an industry consultant until 1998.

Charles Henry HUDSON
Born 1855 at West Bromwich, son of George Allen HUDSON, stationer, and his wife Mary. He married Louisa Mary PARFETT in 1883 and they had a daughter Louise Katie HUDSON 1884. He worked initially as a pawnbroker's assistant but by 1891 he managed a London boot shop. In 1901 he managed the company’s premises at 246 North End Road, Fulham, London and 10 years later he managed the boot shop at 726 High Road, Leytonstone, Essex.

Henry John HUGHES
Born c1856 at Liverpool, son of John HUGHES and Margaret JACKSON. In 1871 and 1881 he was living with his widowed mother and he firstly worked as a shop boy and then as a porter in a Liverpool boot shop. He married Helena Maria PARKER in 1886 and their children included Florence Edith HUGHES 1887 and William Lawrence HUGHES 1889. He managed boot shops in Liverpool in the 1890s and early 1900s and 1905-11 he and his wife managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 120 Earle Road, Liverpool. He died in 1914 aged 58 and his widow Helena died in 1931 aged 84.

Herbert Sydney HUGO
Born 1877 at Redruth, Cornwall, son of John HUGO, porter, and his wife Mary Ann ANDREW. He worked firstly as a boot shop assistant in Redruth and in 1897 managed the Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 32 Fore Street, St Austell. He married Irene CURTIS in 1896 and they had a son Herbert Cecil D HUGO 1896. Herbert Sydney HUGO died in 1958 aged 81.

Benjamin HUNN
Born 1845 at Bourne, Lincolnshire, son of Job HUNN, hairdresser, and his wife Elizabeth RIPPIN. He married Eleanor HELLON in 1873 and their children included Edith HUNN 1874, Florence HUNN 1877 and Herbert William HUNN 1878. He initially conducted business as a chemist and wholesale druggist but with family links to the Franklins, by 1891 he had moved into the boot trade. He managed the substantial Public Benefit Boot Co premises at 42 Corporation Street, Birmingham. In 1897 he was appointed a director of the first Public Benefit Boot Co board and continued on the board until at least 1922. He was a prominent Freemason and held the highest office being appointed Grand Standard Bearer in the Grand Lodge of England in 1914. He died in 1928 aged 83.

Robert HYSLOP
Born 1859 at Leicester, to a Sottish father Robert HYSLOP, boot manufacturer, and his English wife Mary ADCOCK. In 1886 Robert Jr married Louisa Emma WOOD, daughter of Sir Edward Wood, JP. Their children included Mary HYSLOP 1886, Robert Edward HYSLOP 1889, Arnold George HYSLOP 1897, Ronald Wood HYSLOP 1900 and Annie Louisa HYSLOP 1908. He was a boot factor, neighbour, business associate and brother-in-law of Samuel LENNARD. His wife Louisa died in 1918 aged 51 and the following year he married Clara ORTON in Leicester. He was a shareholder in Lennards Brothers, and a director of Freeman, Hardy and Willis for many years. He died 26 November 1938 at Bournemouth aged 79.