1964
(506)
(CHAIRMAN AND COMPANY DIRECTOR)
Born in Leicester, on the 27th day of July 1896, the only surviving son of John William Kimberlin Educated at Blackfriars School, Hawkesyard and Laxton, and at the School of Commerce at the Leicester College of Technology.
He left School in 1913 and commenced work as Private Secretary to Alderman S. Patey at S. Patey, Son & Company, Wholesale Grocers, Leicester.
In 1915 he joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and served in the Army until 1919, when he rejoined the firm of S. Patey, Son & Company.
His parents were Drapers and Piece Goods Mercers and his father in law was a well. known Cardigan Jacket Manufacturer in the City of Leicester. In 1920 Alderman Kimberlin developed these businesses into a firm which could claim to be one of the first in the Leicester district to manufacture Ladies' Outerwear-Kimberlin, Brown & Co. Ltd. Alderman Kimberlin is the Chairman of this Company, Chairman of FlexiMastic (Roofs & Asphalts) Ltd., and is a director of Kay Lister (London) Ltd.
In 1920 he married Ivy Laurie Brown and has a son and daughter, both married, and there are four grand children.
During the 1939/45 War he served as Advisory Welfare Officer in the City of Leicester.
Alderman Kimberlin was first elected to the City Council on the 1st November 1947 as a representative for the Castle Ward. He was re elected to the City Council as a representative for the Aylestone Ward in May 1955, and was elected an Alderman on the 25th July 1961.
Alderman Kimberlin is Vice Chairman of the City Transport Committee. Over a number of years he has also taken a leading part in education and has specialised knowledge in the fields of art and technology. He is Vice Chairman of the Governors of the Colleges of Art and Technology and of the Colleges of Further Education, Founder Chairman of the Dress Consultative Committee of the School of Dress Design, a Manager and Governor of several City Schools and a member of the Court of the University of Leicester. He is also a past Chairman of the City Council's Further Education and Juvenile Employment Subcommittees.
Alderman Kimberlin is a Past President of the Leicester and County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Anglo Polish Society, and President of the Leicester Cricket Club.
He is a Founder, Member of the Catholic Employers' Association and has been a member of the Board of Management of the Drapers' Cottage Homes since 1940.
In 1958 Alderman Kimberlin was awarded the O.B.E., for services rendered in human relations in industry. He is a Past Chairman of the District Advisory Committee of the Regional Board of Industry, and a Past Chairman of the Leicestershire Trade Protection Society.
Of a well-known Leicestershire Catholic family, Alder, man Kimberlin was the Secretary of the Holy Cross Building Fund, Leicester, and was awarded the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by the Pope in 1958. When he was elected Lord Mayor of Leicester he became the first Catholic to be elected to the office since the Reformation. He has written several articles on human relations in industry, and is the author of several publications, including "The Return of’ Catholicism," "Catholic Education in Post Emancipation Leicester," "Designing Clothing," and "Dress in Education."
Within a few days of taking office, Alderman Kimberlin represented Leicester at the North Rhine~Westphalia
Linked Local Authorities Congress at Duisburg and was the guest of the City of Krefeld. He also visited Milan with a delegation from the Leicester and County Chamber of Commerce, the purpose of which was to further trade relations between Leicester and Italy.
During his year of office Alderman Kimberlin associated himself with the movement for unity within the Christian Church and took every opportunity to further this unity by personal example and leadership.
During his Mayoralty two national appeals were announced for memorials to two world statesmen-President John F.Kennedy of the United States of America, and Sir Winston Churchill. In respect of these appeals he inaugurated Appeal Funds in the City of Leicester which resulted in £2,561 Os. Od. being raised for the Kennedy Memorial Appeal, and £13,540 Os. Od. for the Winston Churchill Memorial Fund.
