Halifax Diary - October 5th
ARCADE ROYALE OPENS IN HALIFAX
Modern Shopping Arcade Welcomed by Townspeople
Saturday, 5th October 1912
Halifax welcomed a magnificent new addition to its commercial heart today with the grand opening of the Arcade Royale. The modern shopping arcade, situated in a prime location in the town centre, represents a significant investment in Halifax's retail future.
The opening ceremony was attended by civic dignitaries, local businessmen, and hundreds of curious townspeople eager to view the new facilities. The Mayor of Halifax, in his opening address, praised the vision and enterprise that had brought such a fine establishment to the town.
The Arcade Royale features a glass-roofed gallery allowing natural light to illuminate the shopping area - a modern innovation that has proven popular in larger cities. The arcade houses a variety of high-quality shops, including drapers, jewellers, confectioners, and tobacconists, all under one elegant roof.
The proprietors have spared no expense in the arcade's construction and fitting. Polished marble floors, ornate ironwork, and electric lighting throughout create an atmosphere of refined elegance. Shop windows display the latest fashions and goods from across Britain and beyond.
Local traders have expressed enthusiasm for the new arcade, noting that it will attract shoppers from across the district and enhance Halifax's reputation as a premier shopping destination. Several established Halifax businesses have taken premises in the arcade, alongside new ventures.
The Arcade Royale is open from 9am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, with late opening until 8pm on Fridays. The public is cordially invited to visit and explore this fine new addition to Halifax's commercial landscape.
HALIFAX'S OLDEST INHABITANT PASSES AWAY
John Morby Dies Aged 100 - A Life Spanning Two CenturiesA Life of LabourComing to HalifaxWorking Until 94A Remarkable CentenarianDreams FulfilledFamily and LegacyA Life Well Lived
Wednesday, 5th October 1938
Halifax mourns the passing of Mr John Morby of Church Terrace, Illingworth, who died peacefully yesterday at the remarkable age of 100 years and six months. He was Halifax borough's first centenarian in many years and had become a beloved figure in the community.
Mr Morby's life spanned an extraordinary period of history. Born at North Wootton near King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 1838 - the year of Queen Victoria's coronation - he witnessed the transformation of Britain from an agricultural nation to an industrial powerhouse. He saw the coming of the railways, the motor car, the aeroplane, and lived to experience flight himself at the age of 99.
John Morby began work at the tender age of eight, as was common in Victorian times. As an agricultural labourer in Norfolk, he learned the value of hard work and perseverance that would serve him throughout his long life.
At the age of 20, he married Rachel Lake, a Norfolk girl who already had a four-year-old daughter, Georgiana, whom John adopted as his own. Seeking better opportunities, he soon moved his young family to London, where he found work on one of the great engineering projects of the age - the construction of King's Cross underground station.
For more than 20 years, Morby worked on various construction projects in south-east London, gaining invaluable experience in drainage and road construction. His expertise would later prove of great benefit to Halifax.
In his middle years, John moved north, working first in Darlington and Leeds before settling in Halifax with his second wife, Mary. He made his home in Ovenden and quickly found employment helping to sink the first shaft on the Halifax High Level Railway at Keighley Road - another great engineering achievement in which he played his part.
His London experience proved invaluable when he joined the Illingworth Board as a roads foreman. His expertise in drainage made local roads more sound and freer from erosion. He later worked for Halifax Highways Department for approximately 40 years, becoming a familiar and respected figure.
What made John Morby truly remarkable was not merely his longevity, but his vitality. He did not retire until 1932, at the age of 94 - an almost unheard-of achievement. His colleagues presented him with an armchair on his retirement, though he would spend little time sitting in it.
His daily routine was rigorous. He rose at 5.30am, reported for duty an hour later, and retired for the night at 9pm. Even in retirement, he maintained this disciplined schedule, rising early and walking daily through Illingworth and Halifax.
On his hundredth birthday, April 9th, 1938 - just six months ago - Halifax celebrated its oldest inhabitant. Mr Morby remained remarkably fit. At 99, he could still read well without spectacles and walked almost daily, refusing to wear an overcoat even in cold weather.
His walks invariably took him to road works and building sites. If there were any road repairs or excavations in the vicinity, it was not long before Mr Morby arrived to observe the work. His conversation was full of stories of roads and road menders, drawing on his decades of experience.
Speaking to a Courier reporter on his 99th birthday, Mr Morby said: "I still feel the same as I did 20 years ago, except my knees get a little stiff when I have been sitting for a time."
At 99, John Morby had two remarkable ambitions. The first was to fly in an aeroplane with pioneer aviator Amy Johnson, whom he greatly admired. The second was to descend to the bottom of the sea and observe what he described as "illuminated" fish.
His first wish was granted when the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, moved by his story, contacted Mr Morby and offered him a flight in a five-seater airliner from Yeadon. He accepted with enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoyed the experience - a centenarian taking to the skies in an age when flight was still a wonder.
John Morby had at least eight children, of whom four were still living at the time of his death. His second wife, Mary, had predeceased him by some 20 years. He leaves behind a family and a community who remember him with great affection.
Mr Morby will be laid to rest at Illingworth Moor Cemetery on Friday, 7th October. The funeral service will be conducted at 2pm, and it is expected that many will attend to pay their respects to this remarkable man who lived a century and left his mark on Halifax's roads and in its people's hearts.
John Morby's life is a testament to the virtues of hard work, discipline, and an enduring curiosity about the world. From agricultural labourer to underground railway builder, from road foreman to centenarian aviator, he lived fully and contributed greatly to his adopted town.
He witnessed the reign of six monarchs - Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI - and saw Britain transform beyond recognition. Yet he remained grounded, interested in the simple, essential work of building and maintaining the roads that connect communities.
Halifax has lost a living link to the Victorian age, a man who embodied the best qualities of his generation - resilience, dedication, and an indomitable spirit. His memory will long be cherished.
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