Charles William Hayward

Sir Charles William Hayward, CBE KStJ (3 September 1892 – 3 February 1983) was an English businessman, investor, and philanthropist.

Early life Born in 1892, Charles Hayward was the second child of John Hayward, a cycle manufacturer, and his wife Martha Mary Williams. After the early death of his father in 1894, Hayward and his sister Marion Daisy were brought up by their maternal grandmother Sarah Ann Williams (née Patten), a locksmith 'employer at home', at Church Lane, Wolverhampton. In 1908, Sarah Ann Williams (née Patten) remarried, becoming the second wife of Joseph Stevens, the father of Harry, Joe Stevens Jr., Jack, and George Stevens, who in 1909 founded A. J. Stevens & Co.

Career Hayward began his career as an engineering apprentice, setting up his own business at the age of 19. He initially manufactured engineering patterns before moving into the emerging sidecar industry. Hayward's customers included AJS, which bought his company in 1920 but retained him as Managing Director.

Hayward died on Jethou on 3 February 1983, aged 90, and was buried in St John's churchyard, Wolverhampton. Knight of the Order of St John, January 1973 Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, 1973 Knight Bachelor, 1974 New Year Honours, and knighted by HM the Queen at Buckingham Palace, 5 February 1974