Frank Lewin: [Heath 1892–1893]

Frank was born in Hull, the fourth child of Septimus and Elizabeth Lewin. His father was a wine and spirit merchant. In 1881 the family moved to Halifax, Septimus becoming the landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub (renamed Lewin’s in later years) in Bull Green.

Frank initially attended Upholland Grammar School in Lancashire as a boarder, moving to Heath from 1892 to 1893 and then to Halifax Technical College. In 1896 he was indentured for five years as an apprentice technical draughtsman, combining this with his studies at the Technical College. In 1899 he was awarded the National Medal for Success in Art, awarded by the Department of Science and Art.

On completion of his apprenticeship, Frank enlisted as a trooper in The Duke of Lancaster’s battalion Imperial Yeomanry and served during the second Boer War, being awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal. Returning to Halifax, Frank set up practice as a draughtsman and Patent Agent and went into partnership in the firm of Barron & Lewin.

In 1906 he married Ida Williams, with whom he had two children, Elsie and Roy. Both children died in infancy, and their mother died in 1912 at the age of 27 following a long illness.

The following year, Frank met and married Elizabeth Winkfield. They had four sons, Ronald (1914), Eric (1917), John (1919) and Peter (1931), all of whom attended Heath. During the First World War Frank served in France with the West Riding Regiment, reaching the rank of temporary Major, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Frank enlisted in the Home Guard but resigned in 1940 to take care of Eric’s motor business when he joined the RAF. Latterly Frank ran the Patents Office for David Brown Industries Ltd in Huddersfield.

David Lewin [Heath 1968–1971]