Joseph Holmes
Joseph Holmes (c1869-1925), managing director of the Welsh Tinplate and Metal Stamping Co
1925 Obituary [1]
JOSEPH HOLMES died at his residence at Penyfai, Llanelly, South Wales, on May 9, 1925, at the age of fifty-six.
Mr. Holmes held the position of managing director of the Welsh Tinplate and Metal Stamping Co., and of the Pemberton Tinplate Works, Llanelly, while amongst other industrial interests he was a director of the Glynbeudy Tinplate Co., Ltd., Brynamman, and a director of the Llanelly and District Farmers' Direct Milk Supply Co., Ltd.
An enthusiastic sportsman, Mr. Holmes was keenly interested in agriculture and horticulture, and had acted as president of both the Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society and of the Llanelly Horticultural Society. He was also chairman of the Carmarthenshire Shire Horse Society. He was a well-known breeder and exhibitor of hunters, dogs, and poultry, and was a member of the Shropshire Sheep Breeders' Association. He was the president of the Llanelly Chamber of Commerce, and but for ill health he would have been selected as the High Sheriff of the county this year, he being the first of three gentlemen nominated for the position.
The story of Mr. Holmes' rise to a position amongst the foremost of the industrial leaders of the country reads like one of the romances of industry. Born at Stourport of humble parentage, he commenced his career as an office boy, and by dint of personal effort and sheer merit he worked his way forward to become one of the outstanding commercial men of South Wales. Early in life the gifted lad turned in search of another occupation where there would be more scope for his ability and talent. He became a clerk in Birmingham, and thence went down to Cardiff. It was from the metropolis of Wales that he came to Llanelly in 1893 to a position at the Welsh Tinplate and Metal Stamping Co. At that time there were only a few people employed at these works.
During the thirty years which Mr. Holmes was connected with the works these grew apace and to-day the firm employs over 1000 people, being one of the largest of its kind in the British Isles. During the war Mr. Holmes was an active member of the Board of Management of the Llanelly National Shell Factory, his services in this capacity being without fee or reward. This factory became one of the leading factories under the control of the Ministry of Munitions.
Mr. Holmes was an Original Member of the Institute of Metals.