The Saltaire Collection is sad to hear about the death of May Rhodes (1921-2024).
May (nee Walker) died peacefully in July, aged 103 years, after being cared for in Shipley Manor Care Home.
May was born in Shipley and later lived in Rhodes Street, Saltaire. As a child, May had attended Albert Road ‘Board School’ and was to meet her husband at a dance in Victoria Hall. May started work aged 14 years in Salts Mill and trained as a weaver.
Saltaire Collection are very grateful to May and her daughter for writing a detailed biography of her life. This biography provides many insights into work and social life in Saltaire and Shipley over the years.
We offer our condolences to May’s family and thank them for their generosity in donating this personal account to the Collection.