Arthur George Ellis

Son of John Ellis and Alice Roughton, father of Stephen John Ellis, Roger Benson Ellis and Alan Arthur Ellis and husband of Dorothy Hawkings

Arthur was born on 9^th July 1911 at 3 Talbot Street, Cradley, Halesowen. His father was a Grocer’s Manager at the time of Arthur’s birth.

Arthur attended Sherborne Road Junior School and ………..

Joining Cadbury’s factory in Bournville, Birmingham on leaving School at 16, he went to night school over 5 years to study for his A.M.I.Mech.E. 

He met Dorothy at Bournville, where she also worked, in April 1930 at a singing competition in Bournville Village Hall – Dorothy won and Arthur lost! Soon afterwards he was sent by the company to Canada and on his return became engaged to Dorothy at Offenham in February 1936. 

Arthur married Dorothy at St Paul’s Church, Moseley on September 12^th 1936. Arthur’s brother, Howard, was Best Man and the bridesmaids were

Grace, Dorothy’s sister

June, Dorothy’s sister

Ethel, Arthur’s sister

Marjorie, Dorothy’s cousin

Their first house together was at 12 Alborn Crescent, Kings Norton, where their first son:

Stephen John Ellis was born on 6^th June 1937.

In 1937, Arthur was asked by his company to go to work at Cadbury’s factory in Tasmania, Australia.  The family went by boat and remained in Tasmania until April 1939, when they sailed from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand and on to Dunedin, to 29 Forbery Crescent (renamed Margest Crescent in 1947) to work at the Cadbury factory

Roger Benson Ellis their second son, was born in Dunedin on 21^st June 1942

In 1943, Arthur joined the Royal New Zealand Airforce as a Private, working on aero engines, and the family moved to Nelson in mid 1943.  They lived there in various rented houses in Nelson, including a caravan for 6 weeks, until they finally moved into Acton, Golf Road, Tahuna, Nelson. 

Their third son:

Alan Arthur Ellis was born at a nursing home in Nelson on 13^th February 1945. He married Lesley Susan Taylor and they had two children

Richard Simon Elllis who married Clare Nicole Elaine Gaskell

Duncan Ellis

Arthur rose to the rank of Sergeant before he was demobilised in September 1945.  Arthur returned to Dunedin to start work back at Cadbury’s in October 1945.  Dorothy and the boys stayed in their home at Golf Road, Nelson.

During the third week of March 1947, a farewell party was held in Dunedin, followed by a three week tour of New Zealand to bid farewell to many friends, prior to the family returning to the UK from Auckland on 16^th April 1947.  They arrived at Tilbury, London on 23^rd May 1947 and on returning to Birmingham had a welcome party at 31 Priory Road. In September, Arthur acquired a Ford Prefect from London

On returning to work at Cadbury’s Bourneville Factory, Arthur became responsible for the company’s overseas factories and visitors from overseas were regularly entertained at the family home.  In 1957 he became Engineering Buyer.

Arthur and Dorothy celebrated their Silver Wedding at The George Hotel in Solihull on 20^th September 1961

They moved from Birmingham to Dunedin, Astley Bruf, near Stourport in 1971.

Arthur retired in 1974 and became a Non Executive Director of his son, Steven’s, company, Viking Packaging and later Alan’s company, Falcon Packaging

Arthur was always a man of great principle, treating his sons differently but never favouring one over another.  He was wise with a good sense of humour, although his grandchildren were heard to say “Don’t ask Granddad to tell you or he will 

Arthur died at his home in Astley on 14th October 1995