Skelhorn, Arthur 1908 - 2000

Arthur Skelhorn was born 1 June 1908 in Manchester. He was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester from 1918-1925. In 1926 he entered the family Grocery, Provision, Wine and Spirit Merchants which had been founded by his grandfather, James Kingdon, in the 1870s. He studied for his Grocer's Institute Exams during 1926-1930 and in 1930 qualified for membership, gaining Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Tour of English Food Producing Centres and Prominent Retailers.

In 1931 Arthur qualified in open competition for one of six travelling scholarships in the Canada and he also joined the Manchester, Salford & District Grocers' Association. In 1933 he won first prize in the Commonwealth of Australia open competition on 'How the British Grocer can assist the Australian Dairying Industry'. During that year he also gained a First Certificate of 'Competence in Retail Salesmanship'.

In 1936 he was appointed Secretary and a Director of the family business. During WWII he was in a reserved occupation due to a spinal injury caused by an accident in 1917. During this period he provided the Federation with a continuous flow of statistics for the Ministry of Food and he supplied hospitals, schools and works canteens with all essential requirements. He was a grocery trade representative on the Fruit and Vegetable Allocation Committee.

Arthur Skelhorn married Jane Elizabeth McVay in 1936.

Arthur Skelhorn inaugurated the 1st year classes for Grocery Trade employees at the College of Commerce in 1944 and in 1945 he established the 1st and 2nd year courses at the Central Evening School. During 1946 he added a final year to the course and in 1948 he extended again with a Management course. This involved Arthur teaching four evenings a week until 1963 when students at Hollings College were transferred to day release.

In 1945 as a member of the Grocers' Federation Post War Plans Committee Skelhorn acted as an initiator, trade advisor and lecturer to the first residential rehabilitation course for returning members of the Armed Forces.

Between 1949-1951 Skelhorn was President of Manchester, Salford and District Grocers' and Provisions Merchants Association. He became Chairman of the North West Area Committee Grocers' Institute in 1958 and organised the first National Seminar held at Hollings College for the Food and Fashion Trades.

In 1950 Arthur Skelhorn contributed a chapter on Calculations to The Modern Grocer and founded and chaired The Northern Grocers' Companionship for past and present students. Between July 1956 and December 1981 he made weekly contributions to the bacon pricing charts to two trade journals.

During 1959 Skelhorn became a Master Member of the Grocers' Institute. Between 1962-1963 he was President of the Northern Council of Grocers' Associations. He was Chairman of Northern Grocers' and Allied Trades Exhibition in 1969 and in 1970 for the International Food and Wine Fair.

In 1973 Skelhorn was elected honorary treasurer of the Northern Council and in 1977 given honorary life membership of the National Federation of Grocers' and Provision Merchants. In the same year he was also the North West representative on the Off Licence Division of the Food & Drink Federation.

In 1981 Skelhorn became honorary secretary of the Greater Manchester Food and Drink Association. In 1984 he initiated and effected the merger of Greater Manchester Association and the Northern Council of Grocers.

Skelhorn was awarded the MBE in 1986 for services as Treasurer of the Northern Council of the Grocers' Association.

The shop run by Arthur Skelhorn and his brother, James Kingdon Ltd, was closed in the 1960s.

Skelhorn died at the age of 91 in Manchester.