Rushden Research Group: Hebert Packwood

Herbert Edward Packwood

Bert was born at 33 Queen St, Rushden in 1906 to Elias and Maria Packwood and had an older brother Bill. He attended Alfred St School from the age of 3 to 14. He had a cousin Miss Lily Sharpe who was a teacher in the town and his uncle was William Packwood the builder. On leaving school in 1920 he joined his father by working at the CWS Boot and Shoe factory in Rectory Rd, where he was trained as a Closing Room Mechanic. This meant travelling to the Boot and Shoe School in Northampton by train. Bert was retained at the factory during the war as he was in an essential occupation as CWS produced Army Boots. He was involved in the local Home Guard and also the CWS Fire Fighting team. In 1952 he left the CWS and joined John White Footwear again as a Closing Room Mechanic. He was based in the Mechanics Shop in Park Place and worked in several of the John White Factories in the Town. He also helped in the setting up of the School that John White opened for new employees. He retired in 1971 but continued working on a part time basis for small companies in the town who made items out of leather which needed stitching ie, gloves. He died in 1989 leaving a widow Violet Emily and myself the only daughter.

Maureen Middleton (Packwood)
Wellingborough

Herbert Packwood on his retirement and the gifts he received

Bert was also a member of the Rushden Town Bowls Club and
was in the team that were winners of Manfield Cup in 1936

click here for Bert's memories of Engineering in the early 20th C