George Taylor the son of Herbert Taylor. Herbert was born c1878 in Bradford. Working as a boot maker he married Tamar Elsworth, 6 August 1906, at St Clements in Bradford.

George was born 9 October 1909 in Bradford. He worked in Saltaire Mills from 1922 until he joined the Army in 1941. He served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery.

George married Ivy Abrams in 1933. They lived at 38 Caroline Street in Saltaire.

George died in 1970; Ivy died in 1996.

 

Theakston, George
8 May 1916 - 4 December 1984

George Theakston was the son of George Theakston Snr. George Snr. was born 1891 in Bradford. He married Alice Maud Smith in 1915 in Bradford.

George was born 8 May 1916 in Bradford. For over 20 years his parents ran the tea rooms at the Japanese Gardens, Shipley Glen.

George served in WW2. He married Edna Marjorie Walker 20 July 1942.

Report from the Shipley Times 23 July: -

A pretty wedding took place at the Saltaire Road Methodist Church, Shipley on Saturday between Lance Corporal George Theakston, R. A. S.C. eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Theakston. 5 Prod Lane, Shipley Glen, and Miss Edna Marjorie Walker, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Walker. 21 Beatrice Street, Saltaire Road, Shipley.

 The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Parry Brooks, and Mr. Millie Theakston (uncle of the bridegroom) was at the organ.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress white lace over taffeta, with tulle veil and head-dress of gardenias. She carried a bouquet of red roses. The bridesmaids were Miss Irene Walker (sister of the bride). Miss Clara Theakston (sister of the bridegroom). Miss Mav Walker (sister of the bride) and Miss Marjorie Metcalfe (fiancé of Private Sidney Theakston. brother of the bridegroom), who is serving overseas. Miss Irene Walker wore a dress of pink deque with blue tulle headdress. The other bridesmaids each wore dress of blue deque with head-dress to match, and they each carried a bouquet of sweet peas. Mr. Norman Theakston (cousin of the bridegroom) was the best man and the groomsmen were Mr. W. Walker (brother of the bride) and Mr. Ronnie Wilkinson. Mr. Sidney Theakston (uncle of the bridegroom) and Mr. Leslie Hutton (cousin of the bride) acted as ushers. After the ceremony a reception was held at the Shipley Musical Union.

The couple lived with Edna's parents until about 1948 when they moved to 44 Ada Street, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Report from the Shipley Times 13 June 1951: -

GIRL ADMITS STEALING FROM HOUSE

 A 12-year-old girl admitted breaking and entering a house in Ada Street, Saltaire, occupied by Mrs. Marjorie Theakston. and stealing three ration books, a pocket watch and other property, value £18 2s. 6d. The case was adjourned for a week to await reports by the probation officer, and school officer.

Insp. H. Winstanley, prosecuting, said Mrs. Theakston left her home on Saturday afternoon, April 21 She closed, but did not lock, the doors. She did not notice anything wrong until Monday, April 23, when she missed various articles and complained the police. A neighbour had seen the girl go into the house. When questioned, the girl admitted going in. Insp. Winstanley said most of the property had been recovered.

George died 4 December 1984, Edna 21 March 1992.

 

Richard Thompson was the son of George Thompson. George was born c1889 in Scarborough. He married Mary Alice Moore 29 March 1908 in Scarbough.

Richard, the second of three sons, was born 21 January 1911 in Scarborough.

George served in WW1 with the Army Service Corps. When he was discharged in 1919 his family were living at 26 Caroline Street in Saltaire. They moved to 10 Ada Street around 1923 and by 1928 they were at 64 George Street.

Richard married Queenie May Leonard in 1933. In 1939 they were living at 16 Queens Road, Shipley with Richard working as a card jobber. By 1942 they were living at 35 Albert Avenue, Shipley.

Report from Shipley Times 5 August 1942 as follows: -

Driver Richard Thompson, Royal Artilllary, married, of 35 Albert Avenue, Shipley, is reported missing in the Middle East.
A former amateur walker, Driver Thompson was a member of the Bradford Walking Club and Mannigham All Rounders.
Before being called up he was employed at Salts (Saltaire) Ltd.

Richard survived the war and was still living at 35 Albert Avenue in 1962. They had a son, Philip David, who died 25 February 1947 aged just one month. Queenie died in 1983 and Richard died 8 March 1987.

 

Lettice Derbyshire was the daughter of Samuel Derbyshire. Samuel was born 27 May 1898 in Shipley. He married Nellie Lee, 7 February 1920 at Christchurch Windhill.

Lettice was born 3 January 1924 in Shipley. She was a picker at Saltaire Mills in 1941 when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Lettice married Albert Charles Tidbury in 1943. They emigrated to Canada in February 1959.

Lettice died in 1998 in Alberta, Canada.

  

Philip Ernest Tinsley was the son of Ernest Herbert Tinsley. Ernest was born, 17 January 1897, in Nottingham. He married Blanche Miriam Carson, 8 February 1920, at Bowdon Congregational Church, Altringham, Lancashire. She was born, 8 September 1895, in Longton, Staffordshire. They had three children.

Philip was born in 1925 in Shipley. His father worked as a florist, fruitier & greengrocer at 65 Bingley Road, Saltaire. From 1924 until 1963 his shop was at 61 Bingley Road (ref “Penny For Going,” by Roger Clarke).

By 1939 the family were at “Glenholme,” Baildon. In 1945 they were at 151 Bradford Road, Shipley.

Report in the Shipley Times 6 April 1929: -

TRAPPED IN BURNING HOUSE.
EXCITING SCENES AT SALTAIRE.
WOMEN & CHILDREN’S ORDEAL.
SHIPLEY POLICEMAN’S PROMPTITUDE.

Alone in a burning building at Saltaire on Sunday (31 March), four women and three young children suffered a terrifying ordeal before they were rescued.

Police Constable John Smith was on duty near the Saltaire tramshed about 4.30 a.m. when he heard screams for help and found that the shop of Ernest H. Tinsley, greengrocer, of Gordon Terrace, Saltaire, was on fire.

Mr. Tinsley was away from home, being at present a patient in the Saltaire Hospital, where is receiving treatment for ear trouble, and in the burning house were trapped his wife, Mrs. Carson, her mother; Mrs. Sawyer, friend of the family; Miss Jessie Smith, maidservant; and Mr. and Mrs. Tinsley’s three children— Michael (aged 8 years), Phillip (aged 4 years), and nine months’ old baby. Both Mrs. Sawyer and Mrs. Carson are over 70 years of age.

The fire was raging around the foot of the staircase leading from the shop to the living quarters above, thus cutting off the means of escape.

New Telephone Causes Delay.

P.C. Smith shouted to the men in the tram sheds to obtain a ladder, and himself rushed to a near-by telephone callbox to inform the Shipley Fire Brigade.

Recently a new type of telephone callbox has been installed at Shipley, necessitating the insertion of two pennies before the exchange can be called. The constable did not happen have the necessary coins in his pocket at the time, and some little delay was occasioned before he could procure these from the workmen at the tram sheds. Having summoned the brigade, P.C. Smith rushed back to the burning building, smashed in the shop door, and climbed through in a plucky effort to reach the terrified occupants. He was beaten back, however, by the flames.

In the meantime a ladder had been procured, and although too short to reach the window of the room where the occupants were imprisoned, it was reared against the wall. P.C. Smith and Mr. Tom Terry, a cleaner employed at. the tramshed, mounted the ladder, and the three children were handed down to them, and brought to safety.

It was, however, impossible to rescue the women in similar manner, but immediately afterwards an engine from the fire station in charge Chief Officer Calvert arrived. The engine was the brigade’s tender, which is equipped with telescopic ladder, and oxygen apparatus. The ladder was quickly raised to the window, and Mr. Calvert climbed and carried the four women, who were still in their night attire, to safety.

By this time a second complement firemen had arrived, and, with two hydrants in action, the brigade soon had the blaze in hand.

It is not known how the fire, which was discovered when Miss Smith was awakened by a crackling noise, originated, but an unofficial estimate placed the damage at over £300.

Mr. Calvert said that the women had greatly assisted the brigade by their coolness and courage. “They were exceedingly plucky,” said, and kept very still as they were carried down the ladder.”

The women and children had a narrow escape from being burnt to death, and it was chiefly through the promptitude and gallant conduct of P.C. Smith and Chief Officer Calvert that they were ultimately all brought to safety, none the worse for their terrifying experience.

Report in the Shipley Times 7 November 1931: -

“FIFTH” NIGHT EXCITEMENT.

A bonfire in the cellar of shop In Gordon Terrace created excitement in Saltaire on Thursday (5 November) evening and resulted in the traffic being held up.

A crowd of people gathered round the shop of Mr. E. H. Tinsley, Gordon Terrace, which fronts on to the main road. Clouds of smoke were coming from the cellar windows, but the proprietor’s wife, hanging curtains in the window above the shop appeared unperturbed. She opened the window and told the crowd not to be alarmed, as the children were having a bonfire in the cellar.

The Shipley Fire Brigade were soon on the spot, and firemen went below, only to find that a fire had been made in the grate and the smoke was filling the cellar.

Report in the Shipley Times 28 March 1945: -

News has been received by Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Tinsley, of 151 Bradford Road, Shipley, that their youngest son, Private Philip Ernest Tinsley, has been killed in Burma

He was 19 years of age. and was educated at the Saltaire Road School, and before joining-up in February 1944, worked in his father's shop. Private Tinsley had been abroad since last August.

Philip was in the 2 nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderer’s. He was buried in Taukkyan War cemetery in Rangoon, Burma. (Now Yangon, Myanmar).

 

Leonard Harry Tyas was the son of Andrew Tyas. Andrew, was born 4 August 1888 in Skelmanthorpe near Huddersfield. He married Florence Maud Smith 30 November 1912 at St. Peter’s, Shipley.

Leonard was born in 1914. From before 1920 to 1929 he lived with his family at 38 Thompson Street, Shipley. From 1931 to 1934 they were at 4 Jane Street, Saltaire. In 1935 they were at 31 Hall Royd, Shipley.

Leonard married Olive Stainthorpe in 1936. They had a daughter, Rita, born in 1937. They lived at 6 Low Hill, Baildon.

Leonard served his country in WW2. He was killed 14 December 1945 whilst working at Saltaire Mills.

Report in the Shipley Times 19 December 1945: -

The story of how a wool warehouseman employed at Salts (Saltaire) Mills Ltd., met his death by being knocked down by a falling bale, on Friday (14 December), was described at an inquest held at Shipley Town Hall Tuesday (18 December), before the District Coroner (Mr. E W. Norris), regarding the death of Leonard Harry (31), wool warehouseman, of 6 Low Hill, Baildon.

Mr. J. R, Phillips, solicitor, Bradford, represented the firm of Salts (Saltaire) Ltd., and Mr. L. A. Robinson, H.M. Inspector Factories was also present.

Olive Tyas (widow), of 6 Low Hill, Baildon, said her husband had good health, eyesight and hearing. He left home at 6.10 a.m., last Friday to his work, and was apparently his usual health.

Francis Emery Smith, foreman woolsorter, 2 Myrtle Place, Saltaire, said that on Friday morning, last, he was supervising the taking of some bales of wool from the warehouse by the deceased and four other workmen. About 10.40 a.m. they were rolling bales. Two men stood at the top of the pile, rolled down bales, and the three other men removed the bales the bottom. The bales measured approximately from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches and weighed about 300 pounds.

One bale had already been rolled down, and Tyas was dealing will that particular bale at the bottom. He had got into a stooping position ready to roll the bale away when a man at the top saw a bale moving at the side and shouted, 'Look out.'

The falling bale struck on the back of the neck, and he fell on the side of his face on to the concrete floor and the falling bale rolled off him. There were no signs of life; death was instantaneous.

Replying to the Coroner, witness said there was no machinery in that part of the mill. The cause of the fall was vibration.

In reply to Mr. Phillips witness said that deceased had been employed at the mill for about four or five years before the war, and he had been in the Services six years, and had restarted work about 12 days before the accident. He was an experienced wool warehouseman.

Norman Bailey, wool sorter, 37 Vicarage Road, Windhill, said that on Friday he was working on the top of a bale. He had just rolled a bale down and was waiting for Tyas to remove it away. He noticed that the top bale at the side was moving, and he shouted, “Look out.” Deceased was bent over to roll the bale away. The falling bale struck deceased on the back of the neck and the deceased had not time to get out of the way.

Replying to the Coroner, witness said they were removing the bales in the way in which it was customary to move them.

Arthur Lambert, the first aid room attendant, 72 Victoria Road, Saltaire, said that about 10.45 a.m. on Friday he was called to see the deceased in the wool warehouse, and he found him lying dead on a “scray.”

Police Constable Rushworth said that he accompanied the ambulance to Saltaire Mills on Friday, and had the body removed to the mortuary. Witness said he made an inspection of the wool warehouse and subsequently prepared a sketch plan (produced).

A verdict of “accidental death” was returned.

On behalf of the directors and the employees Mr. Phillips expressed regret with the widow and added that after successfully surmounting the danger of six years war, it was unfortunate that after twelve days of restarting work he should come to such an untimely end.