Charles William Hayward

Sir Charles was the second child of John Hayward, a cycle manufacturer, and Martha (Mary) Hayward (née Williams). On the early death of his father in 1894, Sir Charles and his older sister Marion Daisy were raised by their maternal grandmother, Sarah Ann Williams (née Patten), a locksmith 'employer at home' at Church Lane, Wolverhampton. In 1908, Martha (Mary) Hayward (née Williams), Charles's birth mother, became the second wife of Joseph Stevens, the father of Harry, Joe junior, Jack and George Stevens who founded A. J. Stevens & Co (AJS) in 1909.

Hayward began his career as an engineering apprentice, setting up his own business at the age of 19. He initially manufactured engineering patterns before moving into the emerging sidecar industry. Hayward's customers included AJS who bought his company in 1920, but retained him as Managing Director.

In 1928 Hayward moved to London to pursue a new career as a stockbroker and industrialist. He founded Electric & General Industrial Trusts Ltd. which in turn led to the formation of the Firth Cleveland Group of Companies. This eventually had 23 factories in the UK as well as operations in the Netherlands, West Germany, South Africa and Australia. The Group was sold to GKN in 1970.

In 1961 Sir Charles set up the Hayward Foundation which donated millions of pounds to charity. It also financed the building of the Hayward Homes for the Elderly in Dunstall Road, Wolverhampton, where the Hayward family once lived.

Hayward was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1938 and was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970. He was further honoured with a knighthood in 1974.

Hayward married Hilda Arnold in 1915 and remained so until her death in 1971. The Hilda Hayward Swimming Pool was named in remembrance of her. The couple had one son, Jack Hayward, who was born in 1923.

In December 1972, Charles Hayward married his business partner, the former Company Secretary of Firth Cleveland, Elsie Darnell George. They purchased the Crown Tenancy of the island of Jethou near Guernsey, and lived there until Sir Charles's death.

[1]

• Wolverhampton Local History Society - A.J.S