Shelley History - The People
John (Jack) Heron (1886 - 1977)
Born in Stoke on Trent on the 10th May 1886, he was christened John Heron, but became known as Jack. On the 1901 census he is shown as 14 years old and living in Liverpool Rd, Basford, Newcastle under Lyme, with his Mother and elder sister Mary. He is registered as working as a Potters Clerk.
On the 1911 census he is shown as 24 years old and living in Bedford St, Basford (the houses have since been demolished) with his mother. On the census form he is shown as a Potters Artist.
During WW1, he was in the Royal Horse Artillery and attained the rank of Captain.
Around 1919 he joined Shelley’s as Decorating Manager and continued to work at the factory until he retired.
In early 1921, Jack married Edith Lawton at Wolstanton, Newcastle under Lyme, and in 1922 their daughter Edith Jane was born. After Ray Reynolds had joined Shelley’s in 1949, there was a gradual process of Ray taking over the responsibility of Decorating Manager. Jack assisted Ray in getting to fully understand how the Shelley factory worked and from 1955 Ray took over full responsibility as Decorating Manager. Jack Heron continued to come into work after Ray had taken over and eventually retired in 1961. He died in March 1977.
