Obituary: Arthur George Holland

Arthur George Holland - 30th August 1926 - 5th February 2022

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Arthur Holland on 5th February 2022.

Arthur George Holland was born on 30th August 1926 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. His upbringing was influenced by the Salvation Army and as he grew older, he was proud to play in the cornet section of their Rotherham band. He was also a member of the St John’s Ambulance brigade from boyhood.

Arthur commenced training as a nurse but with the intervention of war, he did his duty and joined the army where his basic training as a nurse was acknowledged. As a result, he was assigned to The Royal Army Medical Corps. Subsequently, he joined several regiments, one of which was the Cameroon Highlanders where he was made an honorary kilt wearer. An honour he accepted with pride and which continued throughout his life. The army took him to many places including the Far East, Java, Singapore, Burma and India. He witnessed may atrocities but also made many friends along the way, not only colleagues but also the native people especially in India.

Arthur enjoyed recounting his personal experience in the army to visitors. It clearly was a special time in his life. His Burma Star took pride of place at home.

After the war Arthur took any job he could find to provide for his family, including Parkgate Iron and Steel works and the coking plant at Canklow Colliery. This didn’t particularly suit Arthur but an opportunity arose for him to obtain a position of medical room attendant, which saw him treating miners underground and where necessary administering morphine. He also joined the Order of the Moose, an organisation that raised money for charities and proudly took his turn as President of the Rawmarsh Lodge.

It was from there that Arthur branched out into chiropody later becoming a state registered chiropodist, in fact one of the first chiropodists in the UK to train to administer anaesthesia. He worked for the NHS and in private practice.

He was a member of Sheffield branch and attended branch meetings. He particularly enjoyed the Institute’s annual general meetings and the dinner dances.

Arthur was utterly devoted to his wife, Eunice, his daughter Elaine and his grandsons, Graham and Stuart. He was a loving uncle to his nieces and nephew. He loved family life and family holidays especially Christmas. Arthur remained sociable all his life despite in recent years losing his sight and much of his hearing. Regardless of these health challenges Arthur remained independent and as active as possible. He learnt Braille and computer skills and continued to tend his garden as much as he could.

Rest in Peace Arthur. A true Gentleman with arguably the most interesting life of anyone I have met. You will be missed by all.

Condolences to Elaine, Graham and Stuart.

Stephen Willey

Ex Chairman, Board of Ethics IOCP and Sheffield Branch