HUGH REGINALD HOLDSWORTH
 


Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, of 48 Heath Crescent, and Shaw Royd, Halifax
[1884-1957]

Hugh at George's Wedding, 1919 Hugh Holdsworth

[1884-1957] Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, the fourth child of Clement Holdsworth, was born 24 June 1884.

In 1905, Shaw Lodge Mills threw a large party for his 21st birthday, and presented him with a grandfather clock with two different chimes.
The clock is presently in the care of Rupert Holdsworth in New Zealand.

Hugh Reginald Holdsworth married Dorothy Anne Frances Bethune [Jul 14 (1894?) - Mar 27 198(4/9?)], daughter of Commdr. Henry L. Bethune R.N. of Penarth, on 16 Oct 1915 at St. Peter's Church, Sowerby.
Dorothy became president of the Halifax Division of the British Red Cross.

He served as Captain, 3rd Batt. Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1914-1919, and as a company commander in the Home Guard in WW2.
Resided at Shaw Royd, and Heath Crescent, and he was church warden at St. Peter's, Sowerby, where he is interred along with Phyllis Evelyn.

Father of Phyllis Evelyn [Jul 17 1916 - Jul 26 1916], Patricia Mary 1918, David B. 1922, Rupert Lindsay Bethune 1930 and Anne Doyne 1933.

Hugh was given 48 hours leave in order to get married to Dorothy. Immediately after which he returned to duty. At the wedding ceremony, Hugh had to borrow trousers from his cousin, a size too big, so held up by a large belt, as his were ruined in the trenches.
Their daughter Phyllis Evelyn was born in 1916, but died in infancy, suffering from Asian Flu.
Hugh was still serving in France, wounded, and was missing in action. He had a bullet lodged in his spine.
Eventually Hugh showed up, and left the army as an invalid.
Hugh became managing director of Mark Dawson's, woolen and worsted spinners in Bradford.

In 1928 Hugh moved to The Galtrees, Easingwold near York, a Victorian mansion, the centrepiece of the town. Here Anne Holdsworth was born, but Hugh lost all his wealth in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, when she was still a baby, so he had to sell it, and she does not recall the house well. There used to be a wall around the entire property, and large wrought-iron gates opening to a long driveway to the house. That was all torn down, so it is now very sterile and open, with all the trees gone.
On a visit to the house in the 1980's, Dorothy said "We seemed to have nearly all the local events in the garden - church fetes, Red Cross and many others."

Moved to Sowerby Bridge, then later to 48 Heath Crescent, Halifax, eventually retiring to Black Bull Cottage in Husthwaite.

Whilst living at 48 Heath Crescent in Halifax, where Anne Holdsworth grew up, the family attended St. Paul's Church, King Cross. When Hugh died in 1957 Anne's mother Dorothy had a beautiful rood carved there in his memory.

Churchwarden at St. Peter's Sowerby, and later of St. Paul's Halifax.
Keenly interested in music, and an accomplished singer and violinist, he gave many years of service to Halifax Choral Society, and was for some time the society's treasurer.

Hugh Reginald Holdsworth died suddenly at home at Black Bull Cottage, Husthwaite, in September 1957.


Wedding of George Bertram Holdsworth and Mabel Highley, Harrogate June 1919
Wedding of George Bertram Holdsworth and Mabel Highley, Harrogate, June 1919

Back Row, From the Right, 1: ?, 2: Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, 3: Dorothy Anne Frances (née Bethune), 4: Charles Selborne Walker,
5: Constance Gertude Holdsworth, 6: Col. Ted Huntress, 7: Kathleen Marian Walker (née Holdsworth.),
Front Row, From the Right, 1: Clement Holdsworth, 2: ? , 3: George B Holdsworth, 4: Mabel Highley


From the Photograph Album

Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, ca 1901 aged 17
Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, ca 1901 aged 17


Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, ca 1904
Hugh Reginald Holdsworth,

Taken whilst at University.
Looking aged ca. 20 would date this
ca 1904

No.3 Company, 3rd West Yorkshire Regiment
Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

(front row, end right)
No.3 Company, 3rd West Yorkshire Regiment
1915

Dina Maria Holdsworth and Hugh Reginald Holdsworth at the wedding of Peter Roberston, 1951
Dina Maria Holdsworth and Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

at the wedding of Peter and Elspeth Roberston
1951

Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, 1953
Hugh Holdsworth

Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth
1953

Rupert and Anne Holdsworth at Sandsend, ca. 1938
Rupert and Anne

Rupert Holdsworth and Anne Holdsworth
at Sandsend,
ca. 1938

Dorothy
Dorothy



Dorothy
Dorothy



Dorothy and Hugh Holdsworth
Dorothy and Hugh R Holdsworth


Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

Hugh R Holdsworth
Hugh R Holdsworth


Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

Hugh R Holdsworth
Hugh R Holdsworth
, and Dorothy

Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

Commdr. Henry L. Bethune R.N.
Commdr. Henry L. Bethune R.N.

Father of Dorothy

Paddy, David, Anne
Paddy, David, Anne


Paddy Laycock, David B Holdsworth

Deirdre, Pat, Gillian
Deirdre, Pat, Gillian



Robertsons in Largs
With the Robertsons in Largs

Peter M Robertson, Geoffrey Horrocks-Taylor
Pat Horrocks-Taylor, Elspeth Robertson

Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth, and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth. photo 2008
Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth
Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth
and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth

at St. Peter's Church, Sowerby, 2008

Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth, and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth. photo 2008
Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth
Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth
and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth

at St. Peter's Church, Sowerby, 2008

Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth, and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth. photo 2008
Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth
Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth
and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth

at St. Peter's Church, Sowerby, 2008

Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth, Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth, and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth. photo 2008
Gravestone of Hugh Reginald Holdsworth
Dorothy Anne Frances Holdsworth
and Phyllis Evelyn Holdsworth

at St. Peter's Church, Sowerby, 2008

Hugh Holdsworth at the Galtres, Easingwold
Capt. Hugh Holdsworth at the Galtres, Easingwold

undated

Lieut. Hugh Holdsworth marriage announcement, 1915
Lieut. Hugh Holdsworth

announcement of marriage to Dorothy
As it appeared in the Halifax Courier
1915

Lieut. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth death announcement, 4 Sep 1957
Capt. Hugh Reginald Holdsworth

Announcement of Death (click above for more)
4 Sep 1957

Press cutting - will of Capt. H.L. Bethune, 22 Aug 1939
Press cutting - will of Capt. H.L. Bethune

As it appeared in the Halifax Courier
22 Aug 1939

The Galtrees, Easingwold, ca 2008
The Galtrees, Easingwold


A Modern Picture of the Community Centre
which used to be Hugh's Victorian mansion.
The porch at the front is a leter addition.

© 2024 David W. Holdsworth  
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Middle Pasture, Halifax, HX3 0AG, UK
Tel: +44 1422 322500