Major Robert Kennedy Hobson (known as Ken)
Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam
Hobson was born at 461 Falls Road, Belfast on 23rd November 1908 to John Hobson, Railway Claims Clerk and Mary Hobson nee Hamilton.
In 1911, Robert (2) was living in house 461 Falls Road, Belfast with his mother and 2 siblings; Honor (6) and John (4).
Following his education, Hobson joined the bank on 30th March 1927 at Head Office. This photo shows him as a Relief staff member attending Lisburn branch:
Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam
In 1941, Hobson volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and went to India to the Officers' Training School. he obtained a Commission in the Indian Army and attained the rank of Major. He commanded the first Air Support Company in the world, with a strength of 700, and subsequently was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE - Military Division)
On demobilisation, Hobson returned to the bank in 1946 and was posted to Lisburn Road branch as Accountant. Transfers followed to Shaftesbury Square (1954 - Teller then 1957 - Pro-Manager) and University Road (1962 - Manager).
He married Miss Pauline Pearl ??, a former official of the Bank of Ireland. They had 2 girls.
'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher features a Ken Hobson on pages 257 and 259 in an article on 'Ulster Bank at Leisure'. Hobson took part in a comedy routine with his colleague Sammy Walker.
Ken Hobson retired on 30th March 1972. Married to Pauline Pearl Hobson, she died in 1979. A boy had pre-deceased them in 1947 aged 3 days.
The Belfast City Council website records him dying on 17th February 1991 at 65 Springfield Road, Bangor at the age of 82. He was buried in Dundonald Cemetery 3 days later.
The Bank Staff Magazine published this obituary:
Bank staff magazine - photograph courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam
