ALFRED HOLLANDS

DEATH OF MR. ALFRED HOLLANDS
A Newbury Personality. 

By the death of Mr. Alfred Hollands, of Bankside, Greenham Mills, Newbury has lost a personality well-known in the town to a former generation, but less known recently, having outlived most of his contemporaries. He died on Saturday at the age of 86.

Alfred Hollands, who was born in London on the south side of the Thames, took up the business of a miller and corn dealer. After serving his apprenticeship at a windmill in Norfolk, he came to Newbury at the age of 14.

With his brother Harry, who predeceased him in 1910 he acquired Donnington Mill. Here they installed what LA, was then the most modern flour-making plant. Their corn stores at Speenhamland were afterwards disposed of to Messrs. Martin and Chillingworth Ltd., motor engineers.

At a later date he purchased Greenham Mills, where the celebrated Newbury coat had been made. These he sold to the Urban Electric Supply Co. Ltd, and they became the first generating plant for the supply of electric light to the town.

He then erected the present modem mill by direct labour. He specialised in making a fine quality wheat meal flour and wheat meal, which was largely used in the making of biscuits. One of his largest customers were Messrs. Huntley and Palmer Ltd.

Alfred Hollands was a man of many parts. With Mr. James Stradling and Mr. Alfred Stradling, he was a prominent member of the Newbury Bicycle Club long before the introduction of the safety bicycle. The members used to ride in a uniform which included tight dark knickerbockers and pill-box hats. He won many bicycle races.

He was also a member of the Berkshire Yeomanry and carried off prizes for swordsmanship, rifle shooting and tent-pegging.

He was one of the earliest motorists in the town. His old Benz car still takes part in the Brighton run for "old crocks" on the anniversary of Emancipation Day.

He was a clever figure skater, a founder member of the Winchcornbe Club and expert dancer, who kept his dancing up to date He was a regular attendant at all the principal dances in the town until two years ago when he was 84 years of age.
Before the war Mr. Hollands went to live at Caterham, but his house was bombed and he returned to Newbury.

The funeral

The funeral took place on Tuesday at the Newtown-road Cemetery, the Rev. J.L. Dan-is officiating. The interment was in the family grave. The immediate mourners were Mr. Alfred Hollands (nephew), Mr. Tom Olson (son-in-law), and Mr. and Mrs. Huntley. Among those also present were Mr. and Mrs. Berkeley Wilson, Mr. R.A. Aldridge (representing Holland Bros, Greenham Mill, Mr. C.R. Noyce, Mr. T. Franklin (representing Hovis Mills), Mr. F.W. Fielder.

Newbury Weekly News 27 January 1949

Mrs P. p 163 p 30

Died 22 January 1949 aged 86

Also Dorothy Hollands died 7 April 1926 aged 34 and Ellen Wingrove died 29 December 1908 aged 82