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Received with thanks from Peter Heap.
Obituary Notice
One of Burnley’s best known citizens, ex-Councillor J.H.Heap who was Mayor of the Borough in 1934-5, died last night at his home, “Fairfield”, Reedley Drive, aged 81 years.
He had a serious illness a few years ago, but made a satisfactory recovery. His death followed an illness of only a few days. He had attended in matters of business until only a day or two ago.
Mr Heap, who served on the Council for 15 years as a Liberal representative of St Andrew’s Ward, retired from municipal activities in 1936 for health reasons. Mr Heap was a member of an old and well- known Burnley family. His father, Mr Edmund Heap, was a native of the town, and carried out an extensive business as a building contractor in partnership with his brother, Mr Thomas Heap. Mr Heap was educated at Grant’s School, Carlton Road, and after leaving that school he became a teacher at Salem Day School. Pressure of his father’s business resulted in Mr Heap severing connection with the teaching profession and becoming associated with the building and contractors’ concern, carried on at that time by his father and uncle. The firm had just completed the erection of the Union Offices in Nicholas Street, and had secured the contract for the construction of the Workhouse in Briercliffe Road. After relinquishing the position of teacher at Salem School Mr Heap was trained as a mason. Following the dissolution of the partnership between Messrs Edmund and Thomas Heap, Mr Heap was, in 1879, given charge of the work of erecting Seedhill Mill, Nelson for Messrs John Whittaker and Sons, cotton manufacturers. Subsequently, Mr Heap had control of the reconstruction of Pentridge Mill, which had been burnt down, and other premises the erection of which he superintended including Fulledge School, Calder Vale Mill, and the extension of Mr Thomas Mason’s mill at Colne, which included the adding of 15 yards to the chimney without any stoppage in the running of the mill.
Mr Heap also worked for his father in the erection of Bishop House Mill, and including many other public works, the Waterworks’ offices in Yorkshire Street, for the Burnley Corporation. In 1898 Mr Heap was superintending work at the Marsden Heights quarries when he had the misfortune to have his left arm severely crushed, and it was necessary to amputate the limb at the elbow.
Mr Heap had been a staunch liberal throughout his life, and had been closely and actively associated with the Burnley Liberal Association. He was a member of the Liberal 600, and had always been an enthusiastic worker on ward committees, especially that of St Andrew’s Ward. During the war he rendered splendid service on the Relief Committee; he organised a scheme for the supply of coke and wood throughout the Borough, and in the supply and distribution of provisions, particularly in the St Andrew’s district of the town, he was a most energetic and untiring worker.
Before his retirement in 1936 he proved himself a valuable member of the Council, and his business capacity and his earnestness safeguarded the best interests of the rate-payers. He was Chairman of the Markets Committee for several years, and the many improvements which had been carried out in the Market Hall, and the outside markets and abattoirs bore testimony to the excellent work of the department. For several years he had been vice-president of the Northern Markets Authorities Association. He was also a member of the Education, Finance, Housing, Watch Improvement, Public Assistance and Assessment Committees.
Mr Heap had been closely associated with the work of the Victoria Hospital ever since the laying of the foundation stone, and had rendered much valuable work in a quiet unostentatious manner. He had been a member of the Board of management for many years.
He was one of the pioneers of the work of the League of Social Service in Burnley. Along with the late Mr F Shoesmith and a few other zealous townspeople, he worked strenuously for the provision of the Mother’s Rest Home at Hawkstones, Blackshawhead.
Mr Heap was one of the oldest members of the Sion Baptist Church, Yorkshire Street, and held the office of door steward for many years.
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Mel
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