Herbert Housley Obituary

Herbert Housley MBE
29.9.1925 – 21.4.2024
It is with some sadness that we announce the passing of Herbert,
a remarkable man who died peacefully on Sunday 21st April at the age of 98. He was married to Margaret for 67 years and missed her enormously after her death in 2014, we are consoled that they are now together once again.
Herbert had three great passions in life, the Sheffield cutlery industry,
the needs of those with learning disabilities and his family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.
Herbert was born at
24 Portland Street, in the heart of poverty-stricken, industrial Sheffield.
Along with his parents Herbert and Annie and brothers Charlie and Barry, the Housleys lived in a tiny back-to-back house with an outside lavatory across the back yard. Herbert would often recall being woken from his attic bedroom, which he shared with his two brothers, by the sound of the Bassets Liquorice Allsorts factory bell calling people to work and the clattering of hundreds of clogs on the cobblestones as the workers ran to clock in before the factory gates were shut.
Herbert left school at 14 with no qualifications and started learning the cutlery trade at Moseley's in Portland Works. He proudly served in the navy during WW2. One of his tasks was to bring back troops from the far east where his dear brother Charlie died building the notorious Burma railway. After the war he returned to his trade and began to run the family business, H Housley and Sons Ltd. which he built up from a Little Mester knife-grinding workshop to a large company with its own premises. He shared his expertise across the sea in Ireland becoming managing director of The Irish Cutlery Company and Newbridge Cutlery.
He was probably the oldest Freeman of the Sheffield Company of Cutlers and wrote a number of books making a significant contribution to Sheffield's industrial and social history determined to honour the skills of the craftspeople who put Sheffield on the international map and to preserve their heritage. Herbert's entrepreneurial skills and passionate personality were not limited to the cutlery sector. The birth of Tim with Down's Syndrome was to change his life and he began to champion the needs of all those with learning disabilities in the city. He pioneered the building of Norfolk Lodge, the Mencap Centre and founded a number of charities including The Bethany Trust and Work Ltd. He was a generous supporter of the work of Mencap and Burton Street right up to his death.
His tireless work earned him the
MBE in the Millennium Honours List.
After retirement he loved playing golf
at Lees Hall and became Captain in 1985. He took up photography progressing to FRIPS and was a keen traveller. He continued to build his charitable endeavours and has helped thousands of people all over the world who will never even know his name.
Herbert is an inspiration to all of us, that however humble our beginnings, we can all make a difference. Herbert has many titles; MD, CEO, Freeman,
Founder, Chairman, Trustee, Captain, Veteran, MBE. But Dad, Grandad,
Great-Grandad, Friend are our favourites. We celebrate with pride a long life well-lived and filled with love
which he shared with the world.
We are so grateful for you and will miss you more than words can ever say.
Herbert's life will be celebrated at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium 2.45pm May 23rd and afterwards at Lees Hall Golf Club. The family invite all who knew Herbert to join them but request no flowers. Any donations will be shared equally between the Burton Street Foundation and Sheffield Mencap. Funeral director: W. Simpson and Sons.