New houses for Maltby

July 18, 2013 — Nikellom
Herbert Mollekin

Herbert Mollekin

My great uncle, Herbert Mollekin, was a prolific house/estate builder and below is a newspaper article regarding the completion of a new batch of houses in Maltby.

THE ADVERTISER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1926

NEW HOUSES FOR MALTBY.

ALD. E. DUNN CONGRATULATES CONTRACTOR ON FINE WORK.

WHEN HOUSES COST £135.

At a cost of £17,781 17s., thirty-six houses have been built by the Maltby Urban District Council, and they were officially handed over to the Council on Wednesday by Mr. H. Mollekin, the contractor.

maltby-model-village

Maltby Model Village

The Council have now completed 112 houses, 76 of which were commenced some years ago by the Rotherham Rural District Council, but which were completed by the Maltby Urban District Council. Twelve of the 36 new houses, which are built on either side of a new road called Rolleston Avenue, are of the “non-parlour” type. The architect was Mr. Morgan R. Jones, engineer and surveyor to the Maltby U.D.C. The keys of the houses will be handed over to the tenants on Monday.

After an inspection of the houses on Wednesday by members of the Council, headed by County Alderman E. Dunn, Councillor H. Shaw (vice-chairman of the Maltby U.D.C.), and Councillor H. Ross (chairman of the Housing Committee), a luncheon was provided by Mr. H. Mollekin at the Queen’s Hotel, Maltby.

Proposing the health of Mr. Mollekin, Ald. Dunn thanked him for providing the luncheon, and congratulated him on the erection of the very fine houses they had just inspected. He was sure that no member of the Council who had just inspected the houses could have any ground for complaint. He (Ald. Dunn) had seen many housing sites, and he thought he could claim to be a pioneer with regard to Maltby housing. He thought that the severing of Maltby from the Rotherham Rural District Council had been amply justified. He hoped that the tenants who were going to occupy the houses would be house proud and would take advantage of the land at the rear or the houses. He saw no reason why this housing site should not become one of the most picturesque of its kind in the country.

Mr. Mollekin had been responsible for the building of about 1500 houses in Maltby, and the miners in the district were very grateful to him for the splendid houses he had erected for them.

The vice-chairman of the Council (Mr. H. Shaw) endorsed all Ald. Dunn had said. The Maltby Council, he thought could fairly claim to have set a good example to many other local authorities.

Mr. Mollekin, replying, said he had been living in Maltby for 21 years. He recalled the time when big houses were built and sold for £135, and the contractor had to make the roads as well. Nowadays, the bricks alone cost that amount.

Speaking of the relations which should be maintained between employer and employee, Mr. Mollekin said, “If there is any distinction between employer and employee, we shall never get on well with labour in this country.”

He refused to believe that the British workman had altered since the Great War.

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Theft Of A Coat

January 7, 2012 — Nikellom

Rotherham Water Works

The newspaper article below pertains to my third great grandfather, Luke Berry:-

THE ROTHERHAM AND SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT – TUESDAY OCTOBER 7 1873 – STEALING A COAT

James Greenwood, a tramp from Leeds, was charged with stealing a coat, belonging to Mr. Luke Berry, of the Rotherham Waterworks. It appeared that on the 30th Sept., at about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, Mr. Berry’s daughter saw the prisoner coming from her father’s house, which adjoins the waterworks. She missed a coat which had been hanging up in the lobby of the house, and gave information to the police. The prisoner was shortly afterwards arrested by Police-constable Herbert, and he made some false statements as to his place of abode in Leeds. – He was now sent for trial at the sessions.

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Coronation Festivities In Maltby

November 4, 2011 — Nikellom
melton-vasey-herbert-mollekin-jockey

Herbert Mollekin (centre)

Below are a couple of newspaper articles regarding 1911 Coronation festivities arranged by Herbert Mollekin in Maltby, South Yorkshire. My grandfather, John Gilbert Mollekin, could remember this occasion. John would only have been aged thirteen but remembered everybody being dressed in dinner suits and there being plenty of champagne flowing.

ROTHERHAM ADVERTISER – SATURDAY 17TH JUNE 1911 – MALTBY

CORONATION FESTIVITIES, – Messrs. Mollekin and Co. builders and contractors, are going to entertain about 350 of their workmen, wives and sweethearts at Maltby. Sports, dancing, etc., will take place, and at five o’clock tea will be provided. A large marquee is to be erected to hold 500, and a special floor to be put in for dancing in the evening. There will also be a fireworks display. All the workmen from Moorthorpe, Grimethorpe, Frickley, Hemsworth and Maltby will be invited. A special train from South Elmsall will be run if found necessary.

Herbert Mollekin with chauffeur

THE ROTHERHAM ADVERTISER – SATURDAY 24TH JUNE 1911 – ANNUAL TREAT OF EMPLOYEES AT MALTBY

To celebrate the Coronation of the King 250 of the employees of Messrs. Mollekin, of Maltby, were entertained in truly handsome fashion on Thursday by Mr. Mollekin. The large field behind his residence afforded ample scope for sports. A large marquee was erected to accommodate the guests to a sumptuous dinner, and served for dancing to the strains of Messrs. Graley’s celebrated string band from the city of Leeds. Mr. Mollekin proposed the loyal toast, which was enthusiastically received by the company. The toast of their worthy host, proposed in felicitous terms by Mr. Norman Gibbs, and seconded by Mr. J. Woolhouse, was feelingly responded to by Mr. Mollekin, who thanked them all most heartily for their good wishes so happily expressed by his friends who were responsible for the toast.

Coronation lamp in Conisbrough

A pleasant interlude in the proceedings was the presentation to Mrs. Mollekin of a pretty and valuable gold pendant, and a silver cigarette case to Mr. Mollekin by Mr. C. Farrar on behalf of the employees. Mr. Farrar referred to the excellent spirit pervading the gathering, and said he was pleased to have an opportunity of meeting them under such auspicious circumstances, and on their behalf presenting to Mr. and Mrs. Mollekin those tokens of their esteem and regard. The gifts were duly acknowledged by the recipients. Prizes to the winners of the various events were distributed, and everything was done on a most lavish scale for, the enjoyment of the numerous guests, one of whom (Mons. P. N. Horeau) had travelled from Bordeaux in order to be present. Harmony prevailed throughout, and the cordial relations between the firm of Messrs. Mollekin and those who work for them was pleasingly evident in all that was said and done during the day.

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Jack Sails To America

November 4, 2011 — Nikellom

Jack aboard the Queen Mary

My grandfather, John (Jack) Gilbert Mollekin, wished to meet his granddaughter, Linda K. Kennedy, before he died.  Linda’s mother, Beryl, died just fours days after Linda was born.  John worked for an additional two years which enabled him to make two or three visits to America, each visit lasting for a number of months.  John even got married on one of these visits.  Below is a combination of three newspaper articles which describe the occasion of John meeting his granddaughter for the first time.

JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE, PRESS-CHRONICLE -WEDNESDAY MORNING, 26TH JUNE 1963

Jack Mollekin, 65, a retired railways employee from Yorkshire, England, arrived in New York Tuesday aboard the Queen Mary to begin the land leg of his journey to Tennessee. Mollekin is making the trip the trip to see his granddaughter, Linda K. Kennedy, 17, for the first time. Linda’s mother moved to Tennessee but died at childbirth and Mollekin resolved to see his granddaughter before he died. Linda now lives in Hampton, Tennessee.

HAMPTON LASS AWAITS VISIT FROM ENGLISH GRANDFATHER

NEW YORK (AP) – An Englishman arrived yesterday on the liner Queen Mary en route to Hampton, Tennessee, to see his 17-year old granddaughter for the first time.

He is Jack Mollekin, 65, a retired British Railways employee, of Yorkshire, England.

His daughter is Linda K. Kennedy, a student at Hampton High School.

Her mother-Mollekin’s daughter-died in childbirth in Johnson City, Tennessee. Her name was Beryl Marjory Mollekin. She was married to a member of the U.S. Air Force, Andrew (Jack) Kennedy in England in 1945.

Queen Mary

REMARRIED

She joined him at his East Tennessee home, after his return from overseas. Kennedy has since remarried.

Mollekin’s wife died 11 years ago without seeing her granddaughter. The grandfather resolved to see her before he died and saved his money until he could afford the trip.

‘I have seen hundreds of photos of my granddaughter,’ said Mollekin, a trim, smiling Englishman in an interview aboard the Queen Mary. ‘I have seen her grow up from a baby in pictures.’

He planned to board a (Trailways) bus at 9.30 p.m. EDT

ENGLISHMAN MEETS GRANDDAUGHTER FOR FIRST TIME

Eyes were suspiciously bright as a handsome, well – groomed grandfather arrived yesterday to see his granddaughter after travelling more than 3,000 miles by sea and land to realise a long-cherished dream.

The grandfather is Jack Mollekin, 65, from Yorkshire, England, who began his trip to Hampton, Tennessee on June 19. He arrived in New York City on the liner Queen Mary on June 25, took the first bus out, arriving at the local Bus Terminal at 12:40 p.m. yesterday.

Linda K. and Jack

And awaiting him in a state of extreme excitement was the lovely granddaughter, Linda Kay Kennedy, with who he has kept in close touch all through her 17 years.

A war time romance ended when Linda’s mother died in childbirth. She had joined her husband Andre “Jack” Kennedy here after his discharge from the Armed Forces, and in giving birth to the baby, Mrs. Beryl Marjory Mollekin Kennedy died in a Johnson City Hospital.

Mollekin, a retired British Railways employee, resolved many years ago to make the trip to America to visit his granddaughter. His wife died 11 years ago before the two of them had an opportunity to come to this country, but the grandfather’s resolve held firm.

“Seeing him is wonderful,” said Linda, whose beaming smile and happy expression told their own story. Mollekin said, “She looks like her mother.” and there is a striking resemblance to the grandfather.

The trim, well-dressed Englishman said that he had met many Americans on the Queen Mary and was impressed with their friendliness. He though the scenery between here and New York Cirt quite beautiful, but from Bristol on his excitement mounted until he could hardly await his arrival in Elizabethton.

Newspaper personnel and photographers from the entire area were on hand to witness the first meeting of a grandfather she had long to see. They were not disappointed since it was a human interest story of the ecstatic happiness of two persons, separated for all of Linda’s years by the Atlantic Ocean.

Linda’s father was a member of the U.S. Air Force when he met and married Marjory Mollekin, and he was on hand to welcome Mr. Mollekin. Kennedy has since remarried. And also present for the memorable occasion was Linda’s paternal grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy, who appeared quite happy to see that5 the dream of her granddaughter and the maternal grandfather had at last come true.

The two principals in the meeting recognized each other instantly, and Linda was enfolded in the arms of the grandfather she had longed to see. It was definitely a beaming grandfather who held her off to get a good look at Linda in person.

Mollekin expects to remain in this country until the latter part of August. He will no doubt take back to England with him a fond recollection of the warm welcome and hospitality accorded him here.

In an interview aboard the Queen Mary, the visitor told reporters that he had seen hundreds of photos f his granddaughter and said, “I have seen her grow from a baby in pictures.”

Meeting

KISSES AND SMILES MARK MEETING OF LINDA, GRANDDAD

ELIZABETHTON – “It’s just wonderful, seeing him at last,” said 17-year-old Linda Kennedy, of Hampton, as she planted a kiss on the cheek of her grandfather, newly arrived here from England.

Jack Mollekin stepped from a Trailways bus at 12:40 p.m. here, where smiling and happy, he fulfilled his dream to see his granddaughter before he died.

The 65-year-old retired British railways employee from Yorkshire, England, travelled for one week over land and sea to meet his kin.

Linda said she and her grandfather have been corresponding through the years, and he has seen hundreds of pictures of here.

She has been looking forward to his arrival for the past month, after he wrote her he was coming. Linda’s father, Andrew B. Kennedy Jr., said that before Mollekin’s arrival yesterday, “She’s very excited.”

But grandfather Mollekin was also anxiously awaiting the great moment, as he said, “I’ve been excited ever since I left.”

Asked what his plans are and if he intended to stay awhile in Tennessee, he replied, “Well, I don’t know yet….my visa isn’t up until the end of August.”

Linda resides in Hampton with her grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy. Her mother, Mollekin’s daughter, died in childbirth in Elizabethton. She was Beryl Marjory Mollekin, who married Andrew Kennedy in 1945 when he was serving with the U.S. Air Force. Kennedy has since remarried.

The immaculately – groomed Englishman said he has been saving money to afford the trip. When his wife died 11 years ago, without ever seeing her granddaughter, Mollekin resolved he would see her.

He left Yorkshire on the liner Queen Mary and arrived in New York Tuesday.

Mollekin met lots of American aboard the liner, and said his trip was wonderful…..but the happiest moment of all was meeting Linda.

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Bungling Police

October 21, 2011 — Nikellom

Terry Loukes

The newspaper article below always amuses me. This incident concerns my third cousin, once removed who is called, Terry Loukes.

SHEFFIELD STAR – 27TH MARCH 2007 – BUNGLING POLICE RAID OAP’S HOUSE

BUNGLING police smashed down a disabled Sheffield pensioner’s door during a drugs raid… at the wrong house.

Widower Terry Loukes, aged 72, who suffers from spinal arthritis, was taking an afternoon nap when he realised someone was approaching his front door.

He got up to answer it but, just seconds later, the door came crashing in – missing him by inches.

Terry, a retired car showroom worker, of Haslehurst Road, Wybourn, says four policemen – all wearing full body armour and crash helmets – then pushed past him to search his house.

Terry said: ‘I was lying on my settee when I heard my intruder alarm go off. I have one in the garden because my shed was broken into recently. As soon as the alarm sounded I got up and noticed someone standing at the door.

‘I shouted, ‘Just a minute’, and told the person I was about to open the door. But he shouted, ‘Get back’, and it came crashing in.

‘Next thing there were four policemen in my house, up my stairs, in my front room and in my kitchen. There were more policemen standing in the garden.

‘The officer asked me if I lived here and I said, ‘Yes, for 35 years’.’

Officers told Terry they had a warrant to search the address but quickly realised they were in the wrong house.

‘I’ve never known anything like it,’ said Terry. ‘I mean, this doesn’t look like a drug dealer’s house – how many drug dealers have gnomes in their garden?’

Terry, who was in a state of shock, said he was comforted by an officer who made him a cup of coffee.

He added: ‘He couldn’t apologise enough and told me he’d come back next week with a bottle of whisky for me, but I don’t even drink.’

Terry who even has a South Yorkshire Police ‘No Cold Callers’ sign by his front door, is now finding it difficult to sleep and plans to see his GP. ‘I’m a bag of nerves,’ he said.

Inspector Andy Male, who heads up South Yorkshire Police’s Safer Neighbourhood team, personally called to see Terry within minutes of learning of the mistake.

He apologised, ensured the door was boarded up, and promised to have it replaced.

‘The warrant was executed at the wrong address,’ Insp Male confirmed today.

‘The mistake came about due to intelligence being incorrectly attributed.

‘Occasionally this happens and we are reviewing the process.

‘We are very sorry about the damage done to Mr Loukes’ door.’

This post was originally published on Mollekin Portalite on 10/10/2011.

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