Death of Mr Oliver Tailby

Report of the death of Mr O Tailby 1st May 1961 transcribed by Sally Crane

Mr.Oliver Tailby of the Yews, Kettering Road, Burton Latimer, who was prominent in the town’s shoe trade and was a former chairman of its Urban Council, died at his home yesterday, aged 76.  Born in Burton Latimer, Mr. Tailby lived in the town all his life.  He began work as an office boy at Whitney and Westley Ltd., the Burton Latimer shoe firm, spending a lifetime with the firm and becoming for some time its managing director until he went into semi-retirement.  He was still a director at the time of his death. (Click here for memories of Mr Tailby by Tony Palmer)  Mr. Tailby was also a director and secretary for some years of Kettering Cartons Ltd.

When Burton Latimer became an urban district in 1923 he was one of the members of the first urban council and remained a member without a break until he retired in 1949.  Through the whole of that time he was chairman of the financial committee and a school manager, and was twice council chairman.

Mr Oliver Tailby opening the Council Offices in 1942

Burton Latimer Urban District Council – August 1942

L to R Back: Dr J T Murphy (Medical Officer of Health), W C Meads, J W Patrick, L G Smalley (Clerk), G C Borman (Surveyor), R J Boxwell, E E Clipson, B W Phillips

L to R Seated: A V Morley, R J Mackintosh, R West (Vice-Chairman), Oliver Tailby (Chairman), A G Miller JP CC,
R B Pownall, A Barlow

He found time for a great deal of social work – as secretary of the Gala Committee, as a member of the Coal Charities Board and a member of Burton Latimer Blind Association committee.  He did a great deal of work for the blind and was responsible for raising substantial sums for the towns’ committee’s funds.  It was one of a number of a number of charities which he aided and it has been estimated that he was personally responsible for raising about £2,000 for such causes.

Mr. Tailby leaves a widow to whom he was married in 1916 but no family.  The funeral service is at Burton Latimer Parish Church on Thursday morning followed by cremation.(Click here for report of funeral)