Lyddon Charnock HOOKINS was born on 9 September 1887 at Berry Brow in Yorkshire to John Lyddon HOOKINS and his wife Sarah Charnock LUMB, Charnock being her maiden name prior to her previous marriage. Lyddon had 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters from his father's previous marriage and was baptised on 9 October 1887 at the Methodist Connexion Chapel in Berry Brow.
For his first Census in 1891 he was lodging with his mother and half sister Evelyne at The Terrace, Corff near Darlington whilst his father was in Kingston upon Hull, perhaps just beginning a new Methodist ministry, although he was thought to be in Newcastle upon Tyne at that point in his Methodist service.
By 1901 the family consisting of the two parents, Lyddon and two of his 4 half siblings, were at 54 Carrs Lane in Kingston upon Hull with a servant also in residence.
From 1903-7 Lyddon served an apprenticeship with Holman Brothers in Camborne, Cornwall whilst taking classes at the Camborne School of Mining. He continued at Birmingham University taking a 3 year course in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, gaining further experience as a draughtsman in the Steam Department of British Electric Engineering in Loughborough and the British Thomson-Houston Company in Rugby.
In 1911 Lyddon was described as a Mechanical Engineer and was living as a Lodger at 22 Central Road, Loughborough at the home of Metallurgist Ernest BATY.
He was a Sergeant in the Royal Engineers in the first World War and later a Quarter Master Sergeant Army No 49635, serving in France in 1915 for a period of 3 years.
On 28 July 1921 Lyddon married Grace Evelyn BAMPTON at the Providence Chapel in Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire with Lyddon's father officiating at the ceremony.
He became an Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1934 and by 1939 he and Grace were living at 20 Hampden Way in Rugby with Marion STUART, an 81 year old Widow and retired Railway Clerk. A servant was also in residence and Lyddon is described as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer & Steam Turbine Designer.
Lyddon Charnock HOOKINS
Lyddon died in Rugby on 25 January 1951, his address at the time of his death being The Old Forge, Thurlaston, where Grace continued to live until her death in 1972. His obituary indicated that he had been in the service of the English Electric Company for over 30 years and was Chief Technical Assistant in the Steam Turbine Department.
