Frank William Bolton (1939-2019)
Frank Bolton was educated at Spittlegate Boys (Stonebridge) and King’s School.
He first worked for the Inland Revenue in Grantham before being transferred to Beltchley. He qualified as an accountant and worked variously in Aveling-Barford’s cost office, John Lee and then underwear makers Welland Manufacturers, of Dysart Road.
There he met David Burnett and together they decided to form their own business – making brassiers.
They began Shadowline Foundations in an old building on Harlaxton Road, in 1965 and were so busy within six years they had moved to the former maltings on Commercial Road with 22,000sq ft and set up a second factory in Gainsborough.
They also developed two other underwear and swimwear factories.
Frank retired in 1999 and sold up.
Away from work, his passion was for rugby union.
It began at King’s School but as they only played in the Autumn term, he played as a 14-year-old with Kesteven RFC’s 3rd XV.
He played for the club for 30 years – a total of approximately 500 games.
He was captain in the 1964/65 season, secretary for several years in the 1960s and deputy president to founder Derek Smith for 22 years.
He died following a road accident in January 2019.
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