John Hodges was born in Dobcross to Jim and Beatrice Hodges on the 3rd of April 1938; his sister Patricia and brother Bill completed the family. They soon moved to Slackcote, and John’s early schooling was at the village school, Christ Church, Denshaw. Walking to school he recalled that he waved to the prisoners of war, from the Glenn mill camp, who had been clearing snow in Denshaw village – they waved back, but he wasn’t allowed to ride with them. His playground was the fields and the river in the valley.
A West Riding scholarship took him to the Hulme Grammar School, Oldham, under the formidable head H.B. Shaw. He joined the school cadets, in Shaw’s words ‘the cream of the school’ and always said the rifle was bigger than he was. Not overly academic, John was intelligent, conscientious, and diligent in his efforts and won a Form prize book Masterman Ready by Captain Marryat.
John & Kath Wells married at Leesfield Church in May 1963 and a daughter Andrea, soon followed.
He first worked for accountants F.G. Schofield at Brook Street, near Mumps Bridge and during this time he studied at evening college in Manchester to qualify, in 1961, as a Chartered Secretary. He then went to work for British Vita in Middleton and was there nearly 30 years, taking early retirement in 1996. He was privileged and lucky to be able to say he only ever had one day off work. He had a love of keeping paper records and applied his skills at home by scrutinising his yearly household transactions with a detailed analysis of everything.
The time after he retired was well spent.
He belonged to a walking group and regularly walked the hills. He was also a founder member of Oldham Medlock Vale Round Table where he made friendships which lasted over 50 years ago. He loved Theatre, Musicals, Gilbert & Sullivan and was patron of Saddleworth Musical Society for many years.
He loved Saddleworth history and attended evening classes sponsored by the Workers’ Educational Association and Saddleworth Historical Society. He was a keen member of the three-year project to transcribe the Saddleworth seventeenth-century probate records and a regular attender at lectures, on Society trips to historical destinations and on historical walks around Saddleworth. A member for many years he was a strong supporter of the Society.
Also, a strong supporter of Saddleworth Museum, in recent years John has been a trustee chairing the Trustees and Management Committees. He played a key role in the transformation of the Museum achieved by receiving a major Heritage Lottery Fund Grant in 2014.
He died peacefully at home on 10th January 2025. John was a gentleman, quiet, polite very slow to anger and with a great sense of humour. His presence will be missed by his many friends and the organisations to which he gave so much.