Farewell Mohan – Hunt Cup hero who built a new life in the Black Country
Mohan decided that teaching wasn’t for him and he became a metal polisher
OVER the years, the JW Hunt Cup has had many loyal and generous committee members, none more so than Manmohan Singh Maheru, who died on Sunday April 23.
Known affectionately as “Mohan”, he was on the committee of the football competition, whose entire proceeds go to the Beacon Centre for the Blind and Partially-sighted.
“He was a wonderful, kind and compassionate man and made a huge impact on his community,” said Lisa Cowley, the Beacon Centre’s chief executive officer.
“Mohan was proud to be a member of our committee and believed in the cause, and the Beacon Centre,” said Alex Hamil, the JW Hunt Cup president.
“He always said the committee were special people. He did not miss many meetings and was happy to pay for medals and sponsor many other things for us over the years.”
A proud Sikh, Mohan became a successful businessman, though he started work as a teacher when he first arrived in Britain. Born in 1941, he came to England in 1965.
A heavy quilt made of home-grown cotton was all his luggage. His long unshorn locks were trimmed. They had been nourished from birth by his mother rubbing mustard oil into his scalp. He was no longer a man with a top knot, beard and turban.
Mohan decided teaching was not for him and he became a metal polisher at Marshalls in Macrome Road, Claregate. He started his own business, the Merridale Polishing Company, and built it up, expanding its activities. Eventually he had a factory in Bilston and another in Wednesbury.
When first in Wolverhampton Mohan lived in Finchfield and later other areas of the city before settling in Ettingshall Park. Four years later he got a new neighbour, Mr Hamil, a stalwart of the JW Hunt Cup, whose committee members give their services free. Mr Hamil explained: “I moved in across the road from him 31 years ago. We became great friends and I got him to join the Hunt Cup a year later, and he had remained with us ever since.”
In 2012, Mohan became a published author with his book ‘Opportunity and Culture – Four decades in England.’ In the book Mohan said the letter he received informing him he would be allowed to work in England proved to be a turning point. He wrote: “It opened the door to a new life in a new country and enabled me to achieve a measure of success in business of which I am proud.”
Mohan, a widower, is survived by his son Bobby and daughter Manni. His other son, Amandip, known as “Dip”, a former head boy at Wolverhampton Grammar School, died in India aged 37 several years ago.