Catalogue description Documentary Photography Archive: PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO PERCY KENYON

Butterworth, Mr, fl 1997, of Bury, Lancashire

The collection relates to Percy Kenyon (29/7/1911 - 19/5/1996). Percy was the youngest son of John Kenyon (b. 15/10/69) and Esther, née Lever (b. 13/8/1871). Percy had a brother, Wilfred (1896 - 1992) and a sister, Edith (b. 16/1/1910). Edith may have died when young. On Percy's birth certificate his father's occupation is given as Electric Motorman.

In 1935 Percy married Alice Mancock. They had two children, Barrie and Neil. In December 1940 he was called up to serve in World War II. His trade on enlistment is given as printer and paper merchant. He served in the Royal Engineers and for most of the time was stationned in Italy spending some time in Bari on the east coast. Percy Kenyon served in a clerical capacity in the administrative sector and is said to have enjoyed his army service. He was demobbed on 18 January 1946 and went back to live in the family home at 102 Jubilee Road, Middleton. The marriage, however, did not work and Alice left with the children.

In 1963 while on holiday Percy Kenyon met Grace Butterworth (b. 10/1907). Grace Butterworth, then working as a school dinner lady, was the donor's mother. At that time Precy lived in Middleton and worked as a storekeeper for the Gas Board where he had started in 1947 after a variety of short-lived jobs. Percy divorced Alice in 1964 and married Grace in December 1965. After he married Grace they lived initially in Middleton and then moved to Radcliffe where Grace was born and bred. Percy moved from British Gas at Oldham to work at Breightmet. He retired from the Gas Board in November 1974. Grace died in 1983. Within nine months of Grace's death, Percy married his third wife, Nora. Nora died five years later.