John (DARNEY) George LOCKS

'John George (Darney) LOCKS 4' Picture Notes This picture, 'John George Locks 1911', was taken in 1911. Picture Notes This picture, 'John George and Prince', was taken in Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone. Picture Notes Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone and he is sitting on a wrought iron chair, which was one of a pair from The Lodge. This picture, 'John George LOCKS', was taken on July 7th, 1926 and sourced from Cyril E Locks and Gladys Irene Varney Wedding 7/7/1926. Picture Notes 'Blanche with J G Locks' Picture Notes Blanche BALL with J G Locks 'John George (Darney) LOCKS' Picture Notes 'John George (Darney) LOCKS' Picture Notes This picture, 'Summer 1947', was taken in 1947 in Gainsborough Lodge, Leytonstone. Picture Notes This picture, 'JG Locks at desk', was taken in Bramfield House, Cross Bush Road, Felpham, West Sussex and sourced from Cyril Locks. Picture Notes John George Locks at his desk at Bramfield House, Felpham. 'John George (Darney) Locks' Picture Notes 'Newspaper Office' Picture Notes The offices of the local newspapers owned by Mr. J G Locks from about 1890 until he formed a limited Liability Company with himself and his four sons as Directors in the late 1920's. The chief newspapers were the Leytonstone Express and Independent with localised editions for the neighbouring towns, from West Ham and Forest Gate to Woodford. In later years, with Cyril Locks as Editor and all the original Directors actively working on the papers, the group was extended, with the formation of additional Limited Liability Companies, to include the Woodford Times and the Chigwell Times, Walthamstow Post, Chingford Express, Billericay Times and Wickford Times. A mid-week paper, The Eastern Mercury, was also published from these offices. Leyton Borough Council compulsorily acquired these offices for road widening and afterwards leased the site to F W Woolworth. From new offices built on the site of the Gaiety Cinema in Church Lane, Leytonstone, also owned by Mr. J G Locks and managed for some years in the 1920's by Leonard Locks, the newspaper group grew to include The Laindon Recorder, The Basildon Times and the Southend-on-Sea Times in Essex and the Middlesex Independent, the Marylebone Mercury, Paddington Mercury, Kensingtom Post, Willesden Citizen and the Chelsea Post. Cyril Locks retired as Editor in 1955, Leonard died in 1963 and Monnie (George Melbourne) died in 1964. Clifford was the only remaining director. He was joined on the board by Raymond Rowett, Roger Locks and Paul Locks. The Companies went into voluntary Liquidation a few years later and the copyright of all the papers was sold. Photo at top is the cinema ("The Gaiety") where Clifford Locks used to play the drums in the silent movies and sell ice creams in the interval. 'Kensington post' Picture Notes The offices of the Kensington Post at Exhibition Road, Kensington. The Kensington Post was one of the weekly newspapers owned by Middlesex and West London Newspapers Ltd., one of the Locks family companies. Mr. J.G. Locks was chairman and Cyril E. Locks was director and Editor-in-chief. The other directors were Mt G.M. Locks, Mr. J.L. Locks and Mr C.M. Locks. the newspapers published by this company were in addition to the Kensington Post, the Marylebone Mercury, Willesden Citizen, Middlesex Independent and the Paddington Mercury. For a few years the company also published the Surrey Weekly Press at Guildford. 'Express and Independent Newspaper office' Picture Notes

John, known as DARNEY, was born on January 20th, 1864.¹ 

• Birth Notes

  For the Notebook, see photo under brother Frank Rice Locks

DARNEY's father was Thomas George LOCKS and his mother was Suzannah Elizabeth DAWSON.  His paternal grandparents were Thomas William LOCKS and Ann (Annie?) RICE; his maternal grandparents were William DAWSON and Sarah HALES. He had six brothers and five sisters, named Thomas, Walter, Alfred, Frank, Frederick Charles, Harold, Annie, Emily Mary, Fanny Elizabeth, Ada Elizabeth and Maud.  He was the third oldest of the twelve children.  He died at the age of 86 on January 24th, 1950.

• General Notes

  From an email from Ian Locks:
  "Two of the sons left Boston to make their fortunes.  JG to work for the Toms family, who owned a printing operation in Leytonstone and a wonderful little newspaper know as the East Wind (I have the original bound copy of the earliest editions from 1876 when the paper was founded.)
  
  JG was a smart lad and married the boss’s daughter and so developed the East Wind into the Leytonstone Expreess and Independent.
  
  The four sons, Monny, Leonard, Cyril and Clifford made their main contribution between the wars when they bought up local papers in London (Kensington Post, Marylebone Mercury (where I started as a reporter/photographer in 1958), Paddington Mercury, Willesden Citizen and Middlesex Independent) and the Times/Recorder series in East Essex – Southend, Laindon, Basildon, Wickford etc.  The Express and Independent meanwhile had extended from Leyton to Epping along the Central Line.
  
  The four sons, plus Lilly, their elder sister, all had plenty of progeny so the firm become overloaded with us – and we sold out when there was a property boom in 1972.  Clogs to Clogs in three generations!
  
  The other brother (name on Stephen’s excellent website) founded the Ilford Pictorial  that became the Greater London and Essex Newspapers (GLEN) and lasted quite a lot longer than we did.  The “blood” never seemed to be particularly good between the two dynasties.  I never quite knew why and think I only ever met the Ilford relatives once.  Strange that!
  
  If you dig back further I am told that a generation back from the “Boston fishery Locks’s” you get to a fish and chip shop in the Mile End Road…..but that’s only what I have been told and I like the story! "
  
  

Details of DARNEY's family with Florence (Dooney) Jessie TOMS