- Cecil Finer Mallett entered his father's firm, Mallett and Company, when 16 years old, at the time of his father's death. He was a journalist, and proud of it, but he had the capability to tackle other areas, being a self-taught statistician and economist. He served in the First Great War as a Sergeant, working in Major Carter's outer office. Narrowly missed being killed when a shell hit a tent he had just quitted. Have cutting from newspaper of the time. Months before the end of war he was captured. He was awarded the Meritorious Medal.
His firm provided contract journalist services, mainly to the Bradford City Council, Traffic Inquiries, etc. The firm was expert in the wool trade, and published the Weekly Wool Chart, which had World circulation. During the Second War he was Assistant Secretary and Chief Statistician at the Wool Control, the firm being run by his partner. He returned to it in 1949, but also was in parallel the founding Director of the Wool Industry Bureau of Statistics. He was awarded the MBE in 1950.
From a Bradford newspaper after his death 2 May 1956:
Statistician of World Repute - Mr. C. F. Mallett, of Bradford, dies
Mr. Cecil Finer Mallett, head of Mallett and Co., Swan Arcade, Bradford,and joint editor of 'The Weekly Wool Chart,' died today at the age of 65.
His father, Mr. G. E. Mallett, left the chief reporter's chair at 'The Yorkshire Observer' to start the firm 55 years ago, and Mr. Cecil Mallett joined him at 16. He served with the 2nd Bradford Pals throughout the1914-18 war and was awarded the Military Medal.
Soon after the outbreak of the 1939-45 war he became secretary to the WoolControl and was later officer in charge of statistics. He also acted as secretary of the Concentration Association, which deals with the concentration of firms.
When the Wool Control wound up in 1949 and its work taken over by the Wool Textile Delegation, the Wool Industry Bureau of Statistics was formed, and continued under Mr. Mallett's direction
AWARDED M.B.E
He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1950 for his work at the Wool Contol. Mr. Mallett wrote shorthand at over 200 words a minute and was an exceptionally fast typist. He was a member of the official record corps of Bradford City Council for 50 years and took the official shorthand notes at scores of inquiries all over the country. He lived at 49, St Paul's Road,Bradford. One of his two sons, Mr. H. M. F. Mallett, is with Mallett and Co. [Member of the Order of the British Empire it is, the lowest one, higher is Officer of and higher still Commander of.-Ted add.]
TRIBUTES FROM FRIENDS
Ald. Walter Ward, chairman of the Wool Textile Delegation and a past president of the British Wool Federation, said today: 'Mr. Mallett gave great assistance to the Wool Textile Delegation in the creation of the Bureau of Statistics and we had the highest regard and respect for his character and for his ability as a statistician. The statistical data he
put out earned respect and admiration throughout the world.
'His place will be extremely difficult to fill and his many friends and the industry as a whole will regret his passing.
Mr. Ernest Brown, editor of the 'Wool Record,' added this tribute: 'Like other newspaper men who knew and admired Cecil Mallett, I was shocked to hear of his death. He was a remarkable journalist with a profound knowledge of the wool trade and a gift for writing clearly about its varied activities. These accomplishments, coupled with outstanding ability in statistical matters and amazing skill as a shorthand writer, were of great value to the Wool Control.
'He was a kindly, courteous man of generous nature, always ready to help a colleague in a practical way, and he will long be remembered with great affection and gratitude.'
I add one or two points. I was in Australia when he died, on a visit to the Woomera Rocket Range, with which I had some dealings. The term secretary is confusing, it means the Secretary of the Civil Service, the most senior post in a Department being Permanent Secretary, he was an Assistant Secretary, 3 steps below that. I became an Under Secretary, 1 step above my father.
He wrote the shorthand notes for the inquiry into the Thetis disaster, in the news recently when parallels were drawn to the Russian submarine accident. The Thetis was British and it sank in the Irish sea, before the war. The Davis escape apparatus did not work properly, and I think all but a few sailors died. Of course he typed his shorthand notes, I have never known anybody type so quickly. And he had a great sense of humour. I should add that Mallett & Co was my father, a partner (I nicknamed him the sleeping partner) and a lady secretary. Sorry to go on
about him, but I am very proud to have him for my father.
|
1891 - 1956 (65 years)
Note
