Robert Halley Henderson

(1913-1988)

Always called Rob. Born in Surrey and lived his early years at "Littlewood, Cranleigh, Surrey". Attended Cranleigh School (as a boarder), where he was good at sports, especially rugby and boxing. Joined his uncle, Henry Franklin Powell, as a trainee manager at City Factory, Londonderry, N.Ireland. When World War 2 came, he joined the army (Royal Artillery) and finished the war with the rank of major. Military training was in England and Scotland, then he was posted with his Battery to East Africa, where he spent the war years. Returned to shirt-making at City Factory, where he became manager. Mergers with English Sewing Cotton and then Tootals, where he became Production Director. Following boardroom disagreements, he resigned and emigrated to Naxxar, Malta, where he started a Stone Cutting and Polishing Business (Strata Designs Ltd). After about ten years, the political climate became rather anti-British, so he and his wife moved to Avoch, Scotland, where they started a similar business using Skye Marble as their main stone for fancy stone goods like clocks, barometers, ash trays, etc. Like his father, he suffered for years with arthritis and had both hip joints replaced.

Read Rob's Notes to his Grandchildren and a brief History of Shirtmaking.