Robert (Bob) and Don Hiller

Don was married in St Leonard’s church in 1950. Reception at the Jane Shore in Shoreditch High Street.

He inherited half the business from his dad and bought out his aunt’s half to become the sole owner. Apparently it was a dodgy affair. When the aunt’s solicitors came to value the place at Squirries St Bob filled it with burnt wrecks and broken barrows to lower the value, the valuers seemingly unaware that there were hundreds of stalls rented out on the streets.

Sometime in the 70s he also bought out J Jones of Exmouth Market, Islington when Charlie Jones passed away. Along with the business Bob got Charlie’s brother Ted into the bargain. Ted was a long serving and very loyal employee of Bob’s until he passed away (sometime around 82 if I recall correctly).

Bob never liked to waste a penny and lived like a hermit in Walthamstow with his partner Ann who came from the family (Priestley I think) which owned the bakers in Bethnal Green Rd opposite Barnet Grove. I remember him telling us that he had just saved a packet by buying material to make his own curtains rather than buying ready-mades and that they then had enough material left over for Ann to make a dress for herself. Then, as sincerely as you could imagine, he said it was fine as long as she didn’t stand by the window!

He also owned a house at Mersea Island in Essex and would sometimes boast that his Sunday dinner hadn’t cost a penny as he and Ann had picked seaweed (kelp) and mushrooms for free along the beach.

Another time he lost his keys only to come into work about three weeks later to tell us that he was pulling the jumper he was wearing that day from the back of the sofa when his keys popped out at the same time!

He never owned a TV or comb in the time that I knew him and I don’t know if he had any kids. I’d be surprised if he did as often said that he was investing a lot of money in a certain rubber company to make sure he didn’t have any.

But that said, Bob was a generous employer. Every winter he bought us new overcoats for working outdoors which were very expensive and paid us cash bonuses. I remember him hiring a car for Ted when he was taking a week off as Ted usually drove one of the firm’s small trucks. He even helped one of his other workers buy their first house.

Sincerely, RIP Bob.

Vince

I’ve been trying to find out more about the original Hillers. Searching through Census records (from 1861) and Post Office London Directories (from the 1860s onwards), here’s what I found:

In 1881, there was a William G. Hiller, wheelwright, in Globe Road. He appears to have been the son of a William Hiller, cabinet maker.

In the 1882 London business directory, there was a William Hiller, barrow maker, in Ely Place, Digby Street.

In 1891, William G. Hiller was living with his family at 67 James Street. His son Alfred J. was also a wheelwright.

In 1901, William G. was still there, and his younger son Albert P. was now a wheelwright too, at the same address. Albert’s brother, Alfred J., appears to have moved out, to raise his own family at an address in Argyle Road.

So, from the all the records I’ve seen, it seems that the Hiller Brothers were Albert and Alfred.

If anyone reading this has anything to add to the above information, please let me know.