1911-1913, Sir John Holden, Mayor of Leigh

Sir John Holden was born in Bolton in 1862. He started work as a spinner in a cotton mill. John became a teacher in cotton spinning. He left this position to become the manager of Tunnicliffe and Hampson’s Firs Mill and eventually became the managing director. John built an additional mill at Firs. He then went onto build the Bedford Spinning Company Mill and the Mill Lane Spinning Mill.

In 1910 he was nominated as Conservative candidate for St Peter’s Ward, Leigh and in 1911 he was made Mayor. He was so popular that he had the distinction of being the first to occupy the position for two successive years. In 1911 John was invited to become chief magistrate.

In July 1913, during Leigh’s holiday week, John received their majesties King George V and Queen Mary during their visit to Leigh. Lord Derby presented John and his wife to the King and Queen.

In 1919 King George V awarded John with a baronetcy for public service. John later purchased a large and valuable estate at Astley Bridge.

He was a member of the old Church of England family and was a regular attendee and churchwarden at St Peter’s, Leigh.

He married a Miss Cawkwell who came from Hull and they had 3 sons and two daughters. All of his sons followed him into the cotton industry.

He was a staunch Conservative and his fellow Leigh Conservatives thought him as a very good Parliamentary candidate but ill-health prevented him from being put forward.

Sir John died on the 4 May 1926 and was interred in the family vault at Walmsley. Over 600 people attended the funeral.

Written by Evelyn Walls.

References

Biographical cuttings – Sir John Holden, Leigh Local Studies