Obituary for Harry Hubbard, Clement Windows Group

This obituary was first published in Glass Times, and is also available on their website here.

Harry Hubbard, Clement Windows Group

At the age of 15, Harry joined Clement Brothers Haslemere as an apprentice leaded light window maker, joining a business that manufactured bespoke steel windows and doors.

He became part of an experienced team that consisted of Ted Vinall and Clifford Carter, both of whom had been with Clement for many years. Despite the age difference the combination of Clifford, Ted and Harry proved to be a great success.

Harry and Ted shared a love of music, and this meant there was always the weekend’s gig or something music related to talk about. It was a happy place to work as Ted was well known locally for his jokes and anecdotes.

As Clifford and Ted moved on to part time working and eventually retirement, Harry was the natural choice to succeed. He took over the responsibility of managing all production and often got involved in site work too if there were complex commissions which included stained glass or bespoke leaded light patterns.

Harry relished this more senior position and the increased responsibility that came with it and by the mid to late 1970s Harry had built a reputation for excellence in the leaded light industry.

Double glazing was in its infancy but Harry knew there was a potential demand for double glazed leaded lights.

It was at this time that Harry decided to move on from Clement and form his own business, Cross Country Lights, which initially concentrated on the supply only or supply and fit of genuine leaded lights.

The initial premises was a large garden shed loaned to him by a Haslemere resident who would later become a partner in the business.

From these humble beginnings and with limited resources, Harry built a sound company that thrived almost immediately with Clement being one of its very first customers.

With the freedom of being his own boss, Harry had the time to pursue his ambition to develop a simulated leaded light double glass unit.

Later in life, Harry managed a glass business in Sussex before returning to Clement Steel Windows where he ran, amongst many others, two major steel window projects, 248 Marylebone Road, London and The Exchange, Ilford.

A period of taxi driving followed this, then Harry spent the last few years working at Clement Windows Group on the installations side of the business.

Steve “Harry” Hubbard was born in 1954 and lived in and around Haslemere, Surrey. Harry sadly passed away in November of this year. He leaves wife, Mary, son, James and daughter, Lilly.