Rich Man Died for Staft

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 115, 16 May 1941, Page 2

Rich Man Died for Staft

They called George H. Lawrence th< “Razor King of Sheffield.’’ He begai his working life a 3 a lather-boy in i barber’s shop at 2/- a week, saw tb< possibilities in the mass production o: razors and made a fortune.

During the severe Nazi air attack on Sheffield lately he gave his life to help his work people. His body was recovered from a ruined building. He was only 52. Millionaire George Lawrence was safe and comfortable in his mansion at Hathersage, Derbyshire, when the at- , tack began. He stood with his sister be- , side the window and saw the flashes of I exploding bombs in the city in which ; he had made his fortune. He thought | of the men and girls in his factory in the danger zone. He said: ‘‘The fel-| lows and girls are facing the danger. I’ve got to be with them.” He got out his car, had it filled with j food and drinks, and set off through the barrage and the falling bombs. | On the road a friend stopped him and pleaded with him to return home. “My place is at the factory,’ 1 he said—and drove on. He delivered his load. He laughed and joked with the men and girls in the factory. But he never got home again. He was killed during the raid through a direct hit on a building ’near to him. “It was as he would have wished,” his sister said later. “Ho was a good man. He lived a life of kindness. We shall have that to remember him by.” Sheffield has more

than that by which to reniember and thank George Lawrence. He gave generously to hospitals and charities, provided open spaces, and a swimming bath. His kindness cost him thousands of pounds. He was a believer in AngloFrench friendship, gave 500,000 francs to the French Government early last year, and was thanked by Daladier.