Born and Bred
A Yorkshire Family
Kenneth Claybrough
Kenneth's Story
Ken was born on the 23rd of November 1934 in Oulton, Rothwell. Like many in those days he was born at home with the help of the local midwife. Home at that time was at 9 Green Lea, just off North Lane in Oulton and he was christened on the 6th of January 1935 at St. John the Evangelist Church.
His parents were Albert Claybrough and Elsie Handforth. The Claybrough's and Handforth's were long established family names in the Rothwell area and could trace their families back through many generations.
A few years later, he together with his family, would move to Wards Yard in Carlton, a small village just over two miles away in order to be closer to his father's place of work at Nunn's Farm, opposite the Unicorn public house. This later became known as Oldroyd's Farm, though in 2022 it was sold off and turned into a new housing estate. Carlton has changed considerably since Ken's days as a small child.
When Ken was four he started at Carlton School, however, the start of the Second World War brought many changes to the lives of children in Britain. For some, the war was a time of fear and confusion that meant separation from families, the destruction of a home or even the loss of a parent. However, for others, these years were the most exciting and happiest time of their lives. Luckily for Ken, he didn't need to be evacuated and continued to live with his mother throughout the war in their family home.
Many children's education suffered during the war. One in five of the country's schools were damaged by bombing and many others were requisitioned by the government. Children were crammed into large classes and stationery and books were often in short supply. Young male teachers were called up to the forces and older teachers brought out of retirement to replace them. After the war a significant number of children failed to reach the required levels of literacy and numeracy.
This disruption to his education may have been the reason Ken failed to pass his 11+ exam, though it could also have been down to the fact he preferred play football and cricket to studying. Either way, as a result, he would remain there until he was 15, as in those days, if you didn't pass your 11+ exams and go on to Grammar school you stayed at your school until you were old enough to leave and get a job. Little did Ken know, when he was at Carlton school as a child, he would one day return and become the school's caretaker.
Upon leaving school, Ken went into the tailoring trade, like his mother, and obtained an apprenticeship as a "tailor's cutter" for a company known as Jack Appleyard's. The premises were located above Leeds market.
Upon completion of his apprenticeship Ken was called up to undertake his National Service. Technically, all able bodied men between the ages of 18 and 30 were eligible for National Service, however, students and apprentices could defer their call-up until their studies had been completed. Having completed his apprenticeship, it was now time for Ken to undertake his National Service.
Ken was enlisted in the Territorial Army on the 14th of March 1955 at Leeds. He was then sent to Aldershot in Hampshire, where he underwent six weeks of basic training during which time he and the other conscripts got used to military life, including weapons training and the seemingly endless polishing of kit and equipment.
Upon completing his basic training, he was posted to Catterick in North Yorkshire where he was assigned to the Army Catering Corps of the Territorial Army. It was here that he would undertake his specialised training, namely how to be an army cook.
Having finished his specialised training, Ken was posted to the Longtown Garrison, just north of Carlisle. This was a munitions and storage base run by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (ROAC). Ken would spend the rest of his time serving with the ACC (TA) based at Longtown.
His sporting ability was soon noticed by the Regiment's Commanding Officer and so Ken, for most of his time there, worked the early shift, cooking breakfast and lunch for the many soldiers stationed there. In the afternoons he would spend his time playing cricket for the Regimental team where he became one of their best players.
On the 18th of August 1958 following the completion of his National Service, Ken was discharged from the Army. Luckily for him, he had seen no action overseas as some National Service personnel did and he spent most of time, when not cooking, playing cricket for the Regiment, all in all, his time of National Service was better than most.
Upon his discharge, Ken returned to work as a tailor's cutter at Jack Appleyard's. He would stay there for a further two years before moving to Botterill Seanor & Co. Ltd., another tailoring company located this time in Atkinson Street, Hunslet, coincidently, where his mother was also now working. He would remain working there until 1981 when he was made redundant, shortly after which the firm closed down.
As previously mentioned, Ken was an enthusiastic and more than capable sportsman. From an early age Ken had a keen interest in sport particularly cricket and football and he was a more than useful player at both games and was to have a long association with Carlton Football Club and Carlton Cricket Team.
As well as a keen footballer, Ken also enjoyed playing cricket and he was an accomplished player. It wasn't long before he was in the First Team and in 1961 he was a member of the Carlton team that beat Lofthouse in a thrilling Hepworth Cup final played at Headingley.
Two years later Carlton made the cup final again and this time Pudsey Britannia were the opposition. Pudsey were bowled out cheaply and Ken had the satisfaction of hitting the winning runs in an eight wicket victory.
In the late 60's and 70's Carlton had an outstanding Second Team - a team that carried all before it. They won numerous cups and league titles and Ken was a key player. He had a sound technique and was a batsman that opposing bowlers found hard to get out. In 1969 Ken had a particularly good season and easily topped the batting averages.
Throughout his life Ken involved himself totally in Carlton Cricket Club and when the groundsman's job became vacant in 1974 it came as no surprise to anyone when Ken took the role on. It was a role he would undertake with enthusiasm and dedication for more than 20 years.
Ken was a very popular figure around the club, as well as being a long serving committee member, he also held the position of Chairman for a short period and was an honorary life member.
Ken was dedicated to both cricket and football clubs, so much so, that in later years it would often be joked that he organised his life around his work for the clubs, but that was not so, for all that he loved his time up there at his beloved football and cricket clubs, he loved his family even more and would do anything for them.
He was also a founder member of the Northfield Avenue Football Club in 1953, which later moved to Carlton, West Yorkshire when the club was re-named Carlton Athletic. In 2001 Ken was honoured by the Leeds and District Football Association and presented with a certificate and plaque in recognition of his work in football. The inscription written on it could have applied equally to cricket. It simply read:
Leeds and District Footbal Association
Presented to
Ken Claybrough
For Outstanding Service
January 2001
In 1981 Ken lost his job as a Tailor's Cutter at Botterill Seanor & Co. when the firm closed down, brought on in part by the so called 'Winter of Discontent' and fall of the Labour Government in 1979. He had worked there for over twenty years and been in the tailoring trade since he left school at 15, apart from the time he had served performing his National Service.
Ken was to remain out of work throughout most of 1981 and, like so many others, was forced to 'sign on' in order to receive unemployment benefit. Although times were hard for him and his family, he never felt sorry for himself and just got on with life, when not looking for work he could be found helping out at his beloved Cricket Club.
In March 1982, Ken eventually found another job, luckily this was right on his doorstep when he landed the role of School Caretaker at Carlton Primary School, the same school he had attended as a child.
Ken was to spend the rest of his working life at Carlton School, where he quickly became a much loved and popular member of the school community. Not only was Ken now back in work again, the close proximity of the school to his home and both the Cricket and Football clubs, meant that, when there was not much him to do at the school, he could always pop up to the cricket and football grounds and do a bit of work there.
Being so close to home, also made it easier on him when he had to open up and close down the school on nights when various community groups, such as the Cubs/Scouts, Brass Band or Derby and Joan club used the main hall for their various gatherings. All in all it was the ideal job for him.
Ken began to have problems with his knees and hips from about the mid 90's onwards. He would always joke it was due to walking down Fleetwith Pike, in the Lake District, whilst on holiday one year with my parents. However, the more plausible reason, was his long time sporting activities. First playing football and then cricket. As previously mentioned Ken loved his sport and played for many years, all this put pressure on his joints.
In 1999 Ken retired from his role as School Caretaker, mobility problems meant that he was finding it harder and harder to do his work. The school put on a big party for him one evening, inviting friends, family and colleagues, the local brass band even made an appearance. All this no doubt made Ken realise how well he was thought of in the local community and how many people's lives he had impacted over the years.
Having finally packed in work, he continued to work in his garden and allotment where he spent many happy hours growing a variety of vegetables and fruit, he also continued to help out at the cricket and football clubs that had been such a big part of his life.
Sadly, in the early hours of the 4th of April 2015, Ken died peacefully at home with his wife Pat beside him.
On the 17th of April a memorial service was held for him at the Methodist Church in Rothwell. The fact that the church was packed out showed just how popular a figure Ken was and how much people liked him. Following the cremation Pat and his daughter, Janet, scattered his ashes over his beloved Football pitch.