Alf Bolding Snr

Alfred Forrester Bolding Snr

 

Alf Bolding Snr was born in 1866 in Bethnal Green, the son of Richard and Mary Bolding.  Richard was a German silversmith, German silver being the 19c name for nickel silver.  Alf is also referred to in one photograph as ‘Dick’, probably a reference back to his father.

 

Alf started with the Company in 1880 as an apprentice scalemaker, working in the basement of 6 & 7 West Smithfield.

 

In 1891 he married Amelia Sarah Dowden, and their first child, also christened Alfred Forrester Bolding, was born later that year.

 

Alf retired in 1933 after 53 years' service, and died in 1944.

 

His son Alf also worked for the Company for 55 years and when he himself retired in 1961, the BBC 6 o'clock news of Friday 28th July carried a news item about the 108 years of combined service of the two Boldings.