The
death on Friday of Knottingley Industrialist Mr. John Jackson ended a
career of novel-breadth and colour. For what Simon Crowther was to Bankdam,
John Jackson was to Jackson Bros. (Knottingley) Ltd. But Mr. Jackson went
further, for in addition to guiding with a sure hand an ever-expanding
business, he became the towns’ civic leader.
For
65 years, fighting every three-yearly election, he served with distinction
on Knottingley Urban Council - eleven times as its chairman. He was
appointed a magistrate in 1932 and became chairman of the West Riding
Bench at Pontefract; and in many other spheres, including education,
hospitals, employment and church, he gave unstinting service.
He
had a favourite saying; "There’s always a sure cure for worry. It’s
called hard work."
John
Jackson and his brother Tom were at work when they were 13, apprenticed to
the glass-manufacturing firm of Bagley & Co Ltd., to be taken over by
Jackson’s 60 years later, after which the ‘old man’ retired - on
paper.
In
fact, he still went to his office every day, in his new role of President
of the company, and that despite total blindness. His sight began to fail
as long ago as 1936 and for many years before he left the Council. In the
early 1900s the Knottingley works was the first in the country to install
a Press and Blow machine. The invention of an American, it was ahead of
its time and failed after a year.
Next
the brothers tried out one of the new gas, cross-fired regenerative tanks
estimating an initial investment of £500 but ultimately holding a bill
for £2,000.
Faced
with bankruptcy, but convinced they were right, the brothers pressed ahead
- and they were right.
In
1912 the firm became a private limited company; installed more American
machinery in 1921; and then after the war, completed plans for an entirely
automatic plant estimated at a cost of £200,000, but which, when finally
installed in 1954, had cost half a million.
In
1959, the firm amalgamated with J.W. Sutcliffe and Son, one of the most
experienced glass merchandising companies in London, and in 1962 came the
take over of Bagley & Co Ltd., and the Crystal Glass Co, John Jackson
had indeed come a long way...
A
funeral service was held privately at Ropewalk Methodist Church,
Knottingley, on Tuesday, before burial at Knottingley Cemetery.
