大象传媒

This contribution was made by Mrs. Jacquie McCartney, daughter of Alfred Flint-Hartle.

Born in Tideswell, Derbyshire and the eldest son in a family of one girl and three boys. He was brought up in Peak Dale, Derbyshire where his father was a quarry manager. Educated at Lady Manners school, he excelled academically also playing rugby and participating in athletics, winning several cups in running events.

On leaving school he went to Manchester to work and train in advertising. He decided however he would rather work for himself. He opened a small green grocers in Peak Dale. Later, with his fathers help he purchased a shop on Dale Road, Buxton which he ran with his brother Tom, another greengrocer, as 鈥楬artle Bros.鈥�

In 1934 he married Gladys Mary Smith, the only child of George and Gertrude. George Richard Smith had purchased 10 and 11 Scarsdale Place, Buxton, after returning from France after the 1914-1918 First World War, where he was badly gassed ruining his heart and lungs. He was a master baker and recovered enough to open his own bakery and shop at number 10, renting out number 11. He was also a committee member of the British Legion and a Special Policeman during the Second World War. He died aged 64 in 1947.

When Britain went to war in 1939 Alfred originated a scheme in Buxton to train local Defence Volunteers, to be called Auxillary Defense Corps, open to men of 16 years and over. So when the call to arms came they would not be lacking in training and physical fitness.

As the war progressed he decided he would have to fight for his country and leave his wife to run the shop. By this time they had a four year old daughter and their eldest son was born on 3rd January 1940. Alf said it would be planes and tanks that would win the war and he really wanted to be a pilot but at age 30 he was just over the age limit for pilot training so he decided to drive a tank. He served in the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment with the 8th Army. He fought Rommel in North Africa and the Middle East, driving the officer commanding the tank action which led to the routing of Rommel鈥檚 forces in Egypt. He also drove the leading tank into Tripoli.

After miraculously surviving the war he came home to resume civilian life and take up the reins of the shop once more. With the country still suffering from the rationing of food, clothes etc. and struggling to get back on it鈥檚 feet Alfred thought he may be able to help by becoming a Town Councillor. He ran for office first as an Independent and then as a Conservative candidate. He was duly elected and served as a councillor and then as an Alderman until his retirement to Jersey in 1966.

See also a5534868 and a5535001

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