T.E.D. Hibbert: portrait in the Buckley Town Council Offices "

Buckley Town Council Offices, Mold Road, Buckley

1945

This is the portrait referred to in 7.5, article by the Flintshire Leader. Follow hotspots for Hibbert, Thomas Edward Daniel, J.P.

THOMAS EDWARD DANIEL HIBBERT.

A very long standing member of Flintshire and later Clwyd County Councils

and a County Alderman.

A long standing member of Buckley Urban District Council, Chairman of the

Council in 1931 and of several Committees meanwhile.

Member of the Liberal Party.

(In the earlier years, Chairmanships on the Urban Council went in a three-year cycle between the political parties.)

Justice of the Peace for many years.

High Sheriff of Flintshire in 1956/57.

During W.W. II, Mr Hibbert was a prominent member of the Prisoners-of-War Committee and later of the Old Age Pensioners Committee, its successor.

One of his favourite sayings - "I'm not a Buckley man, but I did the next best thing - I married a Buckley woman!" I think he originated from Penyffordd. He has one son, Thomas Kenneth Hibbert, who lives locally. Ken was a prisoner-of-war during W.W.II and later became Headmaster of Hawarden Grammar School.

Mr. Hibbert was owner and operator of the Albert Hall in Mold Road. I understand that he built the Hall with materials reclaimed from the demolition of Sandycroft Munitions Factory following W.W.I. At street level the Hall had two shops, a barber and a sweet & tobacconist's with the paybox between them up 2/3 steps, and a billiard hall, entered beside the sweet shop, forming the bottom of the Hall, with 12 tables. The Hall was entered from the paybox by stairs, gents to the left, ladies to the right. The dance-floor was surrounded by chairs and a balcony above them, with a refreshment bar, was up a further flight of stairs. There was a small stage - just enough for a small dance-band. It was a very popular local meeting place. Whist drives and dances were held frequently as were some of the "posher" events (e.g. the Cricket Club Annual Ball).

A few years ago, the Hall became the H.Q. of Bistre Workingmens' Social Club and is now a Children's Play Centre.

Mr. Hibbert had a market garden at the (then) end of Bistre Avenue from which he sold flowers, bedding plants, etc. He was succeeded in this business by Mr. Bob Roberts of Mill Lane who had to retire through ill health, and the ground now holds the high odd numbers of Fraser Drive and the newer houses in Bistre Avenue.

Mr. Hibbert also built two shops in Lane End on the corner of Army Lane. They became 53a and 53b Chester Road; 53a was the shop of Mr George Peters, Chemist, later to be taken over by Mr James Bentley; 53b was Mr Hibbert's own florist shop. Both are now combined as living accommodation.

In the mid-1950s, Mr Hjbbert built himself a house known as Weston Lodge on the opposite side of Tabernacle Street from his then home, "Kenmore". From the late 1930s, Mr Hibbert had a Builder's Merchants business with premises behind the Albert Hall approached from Bistre Avenue. Some time later, he named the business "O. Hugh Davies, Builders Merchants, Ltd". (see Hot Spot - Davies, O. Hugh for more)

In the 1950s, a row of cottages between the Albert Hall and Bistre Avenue came on the market and were bought and demolished by Mr Cyril Wheeldon. The site was acquired by Mr Hibbert, who built the present "Hibbert's Corner", with a large shop and the Masonic Hall above. Firstly, Mr Hibbert used the shop as his builders' merchant premises, then changed it to a furniture warehouse. On retirement, Mr Hibbert handed over the business to Mr Joe Bebbington, one of his faithful employees. The "Corner" is now several small businesses.

Written January 2005.

Author: Hayes, John Eric, 1918 - 2010

T.E.D. Hibbert: portrait in the Buckley Town Council Offices "

Buckley Town Council Offices, Mold Road, Buckley

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