My brother David had information from somewhere that Dad worked for a firm of solicitors, Colton and Franks, or Colton Franks, in Newark for about three years before he went to Mather.
He often referred to his early employment (apprenticeship?) at J. Mather & Co, Ironmongers, in Newark. The company furnished a reference dated 11 March 1904, stating that he had been in their employ for eight years. He would thus have commenced at the age of 17 in 1896, and left just before his 25th birthday. This was confirmed in a letter he wrote to me in 1959.
He was at this stage a dashing young man. We have no doubt that he was popular with the ladies.
He joined Cafferata, brick and plaster manufacturers, Newark, on 11 March 1904, aged 25, and retired in September 1948: a total of 44 years. David and I had the impression that he was, in the earlier years, a sales representative and he later worked as a clerk in the accounts office.
