Obituary for William George Hollis Family History Local History

DEATH OF COLONEL HOLLIS

We regret to record the decease of Mr William
George Hollis, formerly a shoe manufacturer in
Northampton, who died on Tuesday at the age of
75. Mr Hollis was a well-known resident of the
town, for he had been more or less before the pub-
lic for nearly half a century. When a young man,
and at the initiation of the Volunteer Movement,
he was an enthusiast, among the civilian soldiers,
and as long ago as 1860 was appointed captain
commandant of the Northampton No. 4 Company
of the Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteers. He
afterwards received various promotions in the
ranks of the Northamptonshire Volunteer Bat-
talion, and he was one of the Volunteers who
took part in the great review of civilian forces
by her late Majesty Queen Victoria, in Windsor
Park. He was a fine marksman, and was a mem-
ber of the Council of the Northamptonshire Rifle
Association in the sixties. He was hon. secretary
for some time of the Northamptonshire Working-
Men's Club, and, taking a great interest in cricket,
was elected vice-president of the Northampton-
shire Cricket Club in 1870. He was one of the
founders in 1879, and signed the articles of associa-
tion on May 5th of that year, of the Northampton
Boot, Shoe, Leather Trade and Creditors Associa-
tion of wholesale dealers, now known as the
Northamptonshire Shoe Manufacturer's Associa-
tion. He was on the first committee of that
body and did a great deal of useful work in con-
nection with the association until his retirement
from business a good many years ago. He took
but very little part in political or public life,
though he was a consistent Liberal. In 1885, after
the Town Council had asked for the appointment
of more magistrates and suggested a number of
names, he was nominated by the Lord Chancellor
for the Commission of the Peace of the Borough
with three other Liberals and four Conservatives.
As the Lord Chancellor had passed over the
names of all the Liberals nominated by the Town
Council, the whole four Liberals nominated, de-
clined to accept the honour. Very soon after-
wards a Liberal Government came into power,
and the recommendations of the Town Council
were carried out. Not many years ago, Mr.
Hollis, who was a well-known figure in the
streets of Northampton, riding on his tricycle be-
cause of the physical pain caused by walking, was
appointed auditor to the Northampton Gas Com-
pany, succeeding Mr. James Hughes, J.P. Mr.
Hollis leaves several children.

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