Mexborough and Swinton Times December 29, 1906

Our Public Men

John Brocklesby

Few men have played so large a part in the development of Conisboro’ in recent years as Mr John Brocklesby, of Brooke Square, who has just been recommended for the office of Justice of the Peace, the confirmation of which is daily expected. It would be difficult to get a man in whose hands the scales of justice would be so safe.

Born in Holton, Lincolnshire in 1858, Mr Brocklesby comes of an old Methodist stock. His father was an extensive farmer, and the first foundation stones in the making of the boy whose interests fate has decreed should be centred in the rapidly increasing, if straggling town of Conisboro’ were laid at the local seminaries.

Apprenticed as a Grocer

in the year 1873, when he was as yet but her boy, he made his first venture out upon the world, be sent to serve his apprenticeship to the grocery business in Hull. After having completed his apprenticeship of five years, he still remain with his employers whom he served faithfully for another similar period.

After a decade at home we went to Sheffield, where he continued to work in the same business until 1887. In the year 1889 he was married at Sheffield.

In 1887 the turning point in his life came, for it was then he first became associated with Conisborough, and started a business on his own account.

Mr Brock of his opportunity came in this wise. Mrs Booth Bros, an elder grocer establishment at Brook Square – which the subject of this sketch is now being the possession for the past 19 years – and decide to sell, and the young grocer purchased from them and immediately set up business in the little town, which are then but a population of between 4,000 and 5,000. Today that population has more than doubled.

It was during that period of acute commercial depression which made itself so palpable throughout the country, that Mr Brocklesby only new premises at Conisbrough. But with that steady go-ahead spirit with which he was and down, coupled with excellent training which he had received, he tackled the work he had set himself to do, in a remarkably short space of time and establish the excellent family trade, which he still so successfully continues. A large number of Mr Brocklesby’s customers are made up of country folks, principally farmers.