WEEK 42

Harry Higgins

Harry Higgins, born in Denaby Main, is my fourth cousin, twice removed and son of Harry Higgins and Annie Gomersal.

Harry had an unfortunate start to life, with his mother dying just four months after his birth, but below is a newspaper article detailing his remarkable achievements.

NEWMARKET JOURNAL, Thursday, Jan. 7, 1965.

M.B.E. FOR MR. HARRY HIGGINS

Reward for a life-long service to the building industry was given to Mr. Harry Higgins when he became a Member the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the new Year Honours.

Mr. Higgins, of 44 Holland Park, Cheveley, said that the award came “completely out of the blue.”

Mr. Higgins is general foreman of Mowlem (Building) Ltd., having worked his way through various jobs in the building industry.

Coronation

Born in Doncaster in 1911, Mr. Higgins became an apprentice joiner in 1928, and with site experience and study at technical colleges, was made a foreman joiner in 1937.

After becoming a general foreman in 1952, he was responsible, on behalf of his firm, for the seating arrangements for the 1953 Coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Among the other projects he has been in charge of are: the restoration of Yarmouth parish church; restoration work on a hall in Derbyshire, and work on Lloyd’s new building in the City of London.

Probably his most famous work was that on the restoration of 10 Downing Street, London. This three-year job involved about 600 men, and cost about £3million.

His job has taken him to various parts and it was the work of Ratlee and Kent Ltd. one of the firm’s subsidiaries that brought him to Newmarket.

Here he is in charge of the construction of the new sales paddock for Tattersall’s employing 23 men and also the Roman Catholic Church on Exeter Road, employing 15 men.

Special thanks are owed to Peter Higgins and his sister, June, for supplying the above newspaper article.