Mr William Batty, a 78-year-old founder of William Batty and Son Ltd the Burton Latimer leather dressers, (situated in Church Street) will be buried in Burton Latimer cemetery tomorrow following a funeral service in St Mary’s Church.

Mr Batty lived at Brooklyn, Higham Road, Burton Latimer, where he died on Sunday. A Grantham man, his career in the leather business began when he joined a Grantham firm after leaving school at the age of 13.

He worked his way to the position of sales manager before the firm closed down, and then moved to work at Wellingborough and Rushden.

He began his own firm with his son, Mr Leslie M Batty who is now managing director, in 1924 and was with it when it became a limited company in 1935.

ACTIVE

Mr Batty, who lost his wife, Emmaline, in 1944 several years after he had retired from business, took an active part in the life of his adopted town.

A former councillor, he joined many clubs and societies. As president of the St John Ambulance Brigade and founder member and president of Burton Latimer Bowling Club, he was well known to many people. He was also interested in gardening and angling.

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