Month: January 2022

VACANCY CAUSES A STORM – LABOUR NOT HAPPY

Due to the resignation of councillor James Leaver (Labour), a vacancy occurred in the Park Hill Ward. Under the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act 1939, the KUDC did not need to conduct a by-election as is usually the case.

After advertising the vacancy, they received two applicants. Herbert Martin Woodhams of Windy Harbour and Eric Bernard Smith of Warwick Road.

Mr Woodhams was proposed by Cllr Akerman and seconded by Cllr Tisdale. Mr Smith was proposed by Cllr Hiorns and seconded by Cllr Rollason.

At a council meeting on 18th August, the vacancy was voted upon by the the eleven present members. The vote went as follows:

Woodhams 7 Smith 4

Woodhams was declared the winner, and duly elected as a councillor in the Park Hill Ward. This would last for as long as the Temporary Provisions Act 1939 remains in force.

Home Office Get Involved

However, that was not the end of the matter. At a meeting on 15th September, the council were informed by the clerk that he had received a letter from the Home Office following a complaint from the Warwick and Leamington Divisional Labour Party. The Home Office was asking the KUDC for their observations upon a complaint in respect to the procedures adopted by the council at their meeting on 18th August when filling the vacancy.

The KUDC responded by submitting to the Home Office, certified extracts from their minutes plus newspaper adverts, together with a copy of the notice that advertised the vacancy on the Council House notice board.

Mr Leaver was first elected in 1931 and was the only Labour representative on the council. We can only assume that the Labour Party did not put forward a candidate for the vacancy because they didn’t know it existed. There was no doubt it was advertised correctly by the council. But surely, Mr Leaver himself, would have mentioned to someone at the divisional party (and locally), that he was resigning his seat in Kenilworth?

After the rumpus was over, Mr Woodhams continued as a councillor, so the Home Office were obviously satisfied with the KUDCs submission of evidence. Two-years-later, Mr Woodmans received a CBE for his work in the aircraft industry, while a director at Armstrong Whitworth.

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Griffiths	Independent	404
Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	385
Alexander Jeacock	Progressive-Liberal	372
George Tisdale	Independent	370
*Frederick Faxon	Independent	322
Albert Sullivan	Labour	226
Albert Whitehouse	Independent	217
William Riley	Labour	199
Caroline Adkins	Labour	167

Turnout 63.8%

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	880
Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	832
Alan Huckvale	Independent	806
Ernest Altree	Labour	184
Florence Langsdale	Labour	127
Benjamin Nicholls	Labour	122

Turnout 62.2%

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	775
*Frank Weetman	Independent	667
*Henry Watling	Independent	625
John Beadle	Labour	244
Carl Ashford	Labour	213
Violet Povey	Labour	175

Turnout 57.6%

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Ling	Ex-Service	948
Miles Smallwood	Independent	858
Hubert Howe	Independent	641
*Thomas Jackson	Labour	447
Bruce Tyson	Independent	292
Stephen Everall	Labour	278
Claude Simpson	Labour	259

Turnout 62.7%

*denotes retiring councillor

CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR LABOUR – TISDALE GONE

A ‘minor sensation’ occured at this election when two former chairman, Tisdale and Jackson, lost their seats. Faxon, another former member, who had served throughout the war, also lost his seat.

Abbey Ward, in which Tisdale was defeated, was the closest in the whole election. Indeed, three re-counts were required between him and Jeacock. But after all the re-counts had tallied-up, Tisdale finally conceded defeat and shook the hand of Jeacock. Only 34 votes seperated the first four candidates.

Overall polling was particularly strong and few people can remember such enthusiasm and interest in a Kenilworth election before. It seemed the war had changed peoples thinking. Polling was said to be brisk during the day and in the evening it was more reminiscent of a parliamentary election.

Polling took place at the Priory Road school and the declaration was made by the returning officer, Mr J. C. Whittaker at 12.45am. Many hundreds of people had gathering outside to hear the results.

Labour, who had won a landslide victory in the General Election the previous year were soundly beaten here in Kenilworth, not one of their 12 candidates came close. The town had asserted that they wanted individuals to run the town, not parties.

Following this election, the KUDC acquired larger premisies in Southbank Road. Wilton House was eventually converted from a private residence into a functional council house.

KUDC Councillors

10 Independents (Smallwood, Howe, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Bostock, Huckvale, Smith, Whitehouse, Griffiths)

1 Progressive-Liberal (Jeacock)

1 Ex- Service (Ling)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)

Park Hill Ward

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Jackson	Independent	545
Frederick Dodds	Independent	511
Harry Andrew	Labour	314

Turnout 1370 (59.6%)

Electorate 2300

JACKSON RETURNS

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Major Ling in December last year.

Three candidates came forward, George Jackson, former councillor (and chairman) and now licensee of the Engine Public House in Mill End. Second candidate was Frederick William Dodds, who is also a licensee, at the Albion Tavern, Albion Street. The third hopeful was Harry Andrew who is an aircraft fitter, and vice-chairman of the local Labour party.

Following Mr Ling’s resignation rumours were flying about that the council were going to ‘Co-opt’ a member onto the committee instead of holding an election to fill the post. This was categorically denied by Mr Whittaker, Clerk of the KUDC. He said that co-option was out of the question, as this war-time expedient no longer applied.

Mr Jackson’s election comes after two years away from the council, having failed to be re-elected in the Park Hill in 1946, when he stood as a Labour candidate. At that time he had been on the council for 15 straight years. At his first meeting back he did not mince his words, telling the members they had; “Been asleep for a long time” and reforms were being held up because of it. He demanded action on a number of issues including the provision of a ‘halt-sign’ at the railway at Mill End to serve the industrial population. He also added that a better bus service in Windy Arbour was also needed.

KUDC Councillors

11 Independents (Smallwood, Howe, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Bostock, Huckvale, Smith, Whitehouse, Griffiths, Jackson)

1 Progressive-Liberal (Jeacock)

Clerk of the KUDC – Mr Whittaker

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Griffiths	Independent	582
*Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	475
*Alexander Jeacock	Independent	461
Harry Andrew	Labour	222
Leonard McDonald	Labour	185

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	954
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	857
*Alan Huckvale	Independent	810
Alice Andrew	Labour	242

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	829
*Frank Weetman	Independent	779
*Henry Watling	Independent	690
Thomas Ingram	Labour	236

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Thomas Jackson	Independent	929
*Miles Smallwood	Independent	747
*Hubert Howe	Conservative	702
Harold Gloster	Labour	394
Carl Ashford	Labour	263

*denotes retiring councillor

INDEPENDENTS RULE – LABOUR HAVE BAD DAY

It was an easy victory for the ‘Independents’ with all their eleven candidates being returned. The Labour party, however, had a bad day, all six of their candidates failed get anywhere near being elected.

Before the poll, Hubert Howe, who was elected as an Independent in 1946, said in his election address that he was going to stand as a Conservative. He added that as he was the Chairman of the Kenilworth Conservative Men’s Association, and if I stood as anything but a Conservative I would be letting down not only my friends in the local association but the Conservative cause as a whole. The question of politics even at a local level, cannot be ruled out entirely. The present government are gradually removing many powers of local authorities. This can be seen in the nationalisation of electricity, gas, transport, hospitals and probably water as well. Mr Howe’s statement did not effect his re-election in any way, as he was easily returned in Park Hill. But he was the only official tory on the KUDC.

KUDC Councillors

11 Independents (Griffiths, Whitehouse, Jeacock, Bostock, Smith, Huckvale, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Jackson, Smallwood)

1 Conservative (Howe)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of the Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sidney Flavel	Independent	510
Mrs C. Alford	Independent	401
Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	401
Howard Hooper	Independent	319
*Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	303
Florence Langdale	Labour	232
Cecil Johnson	Labour	196
Thomas Ingram	Labour	192

63% Turnout

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Wiliiam Bostock	Independent	978
*Alan Huckvale	Independent	883
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	873
Leonard McDonald	Labour	429
W. P. Bracewell	Labour	372
Norman Anderson	Labour	291

61% Turnout

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
W. R. Taylor	Independent	679
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	656
*Henry Watling	Independent	575
*Frank Weetman	Independent	551

62% Turnout

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Thomas Jackson	Independent	727
A. James	Independent	629
Ernest Glenn	Independent	528
D. Deykin	Labour	357
Harold Gloster	Labour	459
Robert Tuck	Independent	235

53% Turnout

*denotes retiring councillor

INDEPENDENTS DAY – WOMEN MEMBERS ARRIVE

For the first time in its history, the KUDC has two women councillors. Mrs C. Alford and Mrs Huckvale, wife of councillor Alan Huckvale. They polled the same number of votes in Abbey Ward.

Two members that stood for re-election, Frederick Whitehouse and Frank Weetman lost their seats. Frank Weetman had served 17-years and Frederick Whitehouse had done six.

Four councillors did not seek re-election: Jeacock, Griffiths, Smallwood and former chairman, Howe. Hubert Howe had resigned his chairmanship just before the election due to health reasons. He was an engineer at Armstrong Siddeley and the chairman of not only the council but the local Conservative Club as well. His wife said that it was all getting too much for him and he needs a rest from these responsibilities.

There were 7,699 people on the register in Kenilworth and although the Labour party made a determined effort, getting 2,528 ‘crosses’ on their ballot papers, it was to no avail. The political compostion of the council is entirely Independent. Exactly half of the council are new members.

Two members of council run licensed premises, Ernest Glenn at the Abbey Hotel, and Thomas Jackson at the Engine Pub in Mill End. Both were elected in Park Hill. (Drinks all round!)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Mrs K. Alford	Independent	486
*Sidney Flavel	Conservative	441
*Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	373
Alex Jeacock	Conservative	337

NO CHANGE

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	910
Jack Cox	Conservative	873
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	790
J. A. McDonald	Labour	572

CONS GAIN FROM INDEPENDANT

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	764
*W. Taylor	Independent	723
*Henry Watling	Independent	717
Mrs J. Worrall	Independent	398

NO CHANGE

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Joseph Watts	Conservative	616
*A. James	Independent	509
*Thomas Jackson	Independent	388
*Ernest Glenn	Independent	356
Harold Gloster	Labour	343
Florence Langdale	Independent	269

CONS GAIN FROM INDEPENDENT

*denotes retiring councillor

Overall Turnout 52%

THE DUSTBIN ELECTION

In the weeks leading up to the election there had been issues with the dustbin collections or rather the lack of them. Ratepayers were not happy people, and numerous complaints were received. The council responded by saying that the dustbin vehicle was constantly breaking down plus the shortage of ‘Dustbinmen’ was the cause of the problems. The Surveyor has suggested putting forward a possible incentive bonus to attract workmen into the job, and the purchase of a new lorry would stop the recurring repair costs to the present one, which is now, ten years old.

But whether the ‘rubbish’ problem contributed to the supposedly low turnout is disputable, the 52% could be said to be a ‘normal’ poll for Kenilworth elections. There were reasonably close polls for third seat in both Abbey and Park Hill, but in the other two wards, the candidates were easily returned. Labour only stood in two wards, Borrowell and Park Hill, both candidates failed to be elected. Mr Gloster being the closest, getting within 40 odd votes in Park Hill.

Two New Members

Jack Alwyn Cox, of Oaks Road, has lived in the town for most of his life and is employed at Humber Ltd in Coventry as a wages accountant. He is the vice-president of the Kenilworth Conservative Club and has served on its committee for sometime. Mr Cox is also the treasurer of the Coventry East Conservative Association. He is married with no children and in his spare-time he is a Special Constable. He was educated at Warwick School where he had gained a scholarship.

Joseph Watts, is a master Ironmonger by trade, which he started in 1948. This followed employment for many years as an engineer. He is married and has a 12-year-old son. Mr Watts is not a member of any club or organisation and spends his spare time gardening. He has lived in Kenilworth all his life, in the ward that he will represent. He was educated at St Augustine’s School.

KUDC Councillors

9 Independents (Mrs Alford, Mrs Huckvale, James, Jackson, Smalley, Taylor, Watling, Bostock, Smith)

3 Conservatives (Watts, Cox, Flavel)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Mrs K. Alford	Independent	684
Ronald Stansfield	Conservative	637
*Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	612
R. C. Mitchell	Labour	374
T. A. Ingram	Labour	368
G. R. Darkin	Labour	359

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Jack Cox	Conservative	938
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	839
*William Bostock	Independent	837
Chris Webster	Labour	724
Raymond Tanner	Labour	570
Arthur O’Connor	Labour	552

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Joseph Watts	Independent	660
T. J. Prentice	Conservative	621
Frederick Dodd	Conservative	516
F. W. Miller	Independent	413
Mrs A. Birch	Independent	393

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	u/o
*W. R. Taylor	Independent	u/o
*Henry Watling	Independent	u/o

*denotes retiring councillor

PUBLIC MEETINGS JUST FOR ‘RUBBER STAMPING’ – SAY LABOUR

The Independent group hold a four seat majority over their Conservatives rivals, one less than the election of 1955.

In their Election Address, the Kenilworth Labour Party, claimed that KUDC monthly public meetings were merely a procedure for ‘rubber stamping’ decisions made at committee. They stated that they deplored this attitude towards the ratepayers of the town. In their manifesto they said that the Square should be developed for the benefit of the people and not left until private enterprise decides to develop it for its own interest. Labour stood in only two wards with six candidates, all of which, failed to be elected.

There was no contest in castle ward as Smalley, Taylor and Watling were elected unopposed. They have been ‘Kings of the Castle‘ since the 1952 election and any opposition would have been futile.

Former Councillor, Mr Flavel had resigned his seat two months before the election due to business commitments, which left him little time for council matters.

Only four Conservatives stood in the poll and all were elected. New to the council is Mr Prentice, who has recently moved to Kenilworth and was a former Conservative member for ten years on Coventry City Council. He is an accountant and company director.

KUDC Councillors

8 Independents (Mrs Huckvale, Mrs Alford, L. Smalley, W. Taylor, H. Watling, J. Watts, E. Smith, W. Bostock)

4 Conservatives (T. Prentice, F. Dodd, J. Cox, R. Stansfield)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Jack Cox	Conservative	979
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	733
John Russell	Conservative	716
Derek Rivett	Conservative	656
Chris Webster	Labour	533
Harry Potts	Independent	520
Mrs. F. Allen	Labour	341
Dorothy Boneham	Labour	330

CON GAIN FROM IND

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
John W. Wilson	Conservative	722
Evan Thomas Evans	Conservative	604
*Ronald Stansfield	Conservative	570
*Mrs. K. Alford	Independent	513
K. Emerson	Labour	365
T. Ingram	Labour	362
S. Barnett	Labour	352

CON GAIN FROM IND

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	802
*Henry Watling	Independent	772
*William Taylor	Independent	765
Percy Barnett	Labour	220

NO CHANGE

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*J. Prentice	Conservative	1002
*Frederick Dodd	Conservative	868
*Joseph Watts	Independent	836
Mrs J. Langdale	Labour	400

NO CHANGE

*denotes retiring councillor

WOMEN GONE FROM COUNCIL

Although the election provided some records, especially for the amount of electors being able to vote, the turnout was only 56%, which is about average for town polls.

For the first time since 1952 the council will be all-male when they assemble on May 30th. Mrs. Huckvale did not seek re-election and Mrs Alford lost her seat in Abbey ward. But there wasn’t enough women candidates to realistically have any chance of gaining representation on the council.

Labour put much effort into this election but all their eight candidates failed to to be elected.

There will be three new faces on the council. The youngest member being 25-year-old Mr. Wilson, whose father has just been elected onto the County Council.

The honour of being ‘father’ of the council will now be shared between Leonard Smalley and Henry Watling, who were both elected in 1934. They succeed William Bostock who did not seek re-election, he had served continuously since 1928.

KUDC Councillors

7 Conservatives (Cox, Russell, Wilson, Evans, Stansfield, Prentice, Dodd)

5 Independents (Watts, Smalley, Watling, Taylor, Smith)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)

Park Hill

Candidate	Party	Votes
Florence Adcock	Conservative	951
Florence Langdale	Labour	419

Majority 532 (44.1%)

Electorate 2,954

Turnout 1,370 (46.4%)

WOMEN ONLY ELECTION

A vacancy had arisen due to resignation of Cllr Prentice due to health reasons. He was returned at last year’s triennial election, polling 1002 votes, the most of all the candidates.

Last year’s election produced no women councillors, so it looks like good sense prevailed between the parties to only nominate female candidates, hence ensuring at least one lady would be on the council.

Mrs Adcock will attend her first public meeting next Tuesday (15th May), along with her fellow eleven male council members. (Good luck to her)

Mrs Langdale’s vote increased by 12% from last years election but it was not enough to seriously challenge Mrs Adcock.

KUDC Councillors

7 Conservatives (J. Cox, J. Russell, J. Wilson, E. Evans, R. Stansfield, F. Adcock, F. Dodd)

5 Independents (J. Watts, L. Smalley, H. Watling, W. Taylor, E. Smith)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*E. Thomas Evans	Conservative	652
*Ronald Stansfield	Conservative	554
Joan Salkeld	Conservative	526
J. E. Knight	Labour	422
L. Haydon	Labour	397
E. Emerson	Labour	389
Enys Thomas	Liberal	315

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Jack Cox	Conservative	931
Chris Webster	Labour	824
Alan Bytheway	Labour	764
Anthony Whittaker	Conservative	745
Albert Bovington	Conservative	703
A. Diggins	Labour	618
Helen Dore	Liberal	502
John Piggott	Liberal	384

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	985
Bill Whiteman	Conservative	796
*William Taylor	Independent	790
P. Smith	Labour	425
Haydn Thomas	Liberal	319
R. Webberley	Labour	260

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Florence Adcock	Conservative	1106
Bernard Jury	Conservative	898
James Whitby	Conservative	889
Thomas Caswell	Labour	569
L. Scott-Walker	Liberal	527
Robert Butler	Liberal	496
Geoffrey Minion	Labour	440
Colin Sweeney	Labour	438

*denotes retiring councillors

Electorate 3,398 (Turnout 58%)

TWO SOCIALISTS ELECTED

The Labour party will have two representatives on the council. They were both elected in the closely contested Borrowell ward where a re-count was required for the third seat, which went on until 1am. Alan Bytheway finally getting the better of Tory rival, Anthony Whittaker, by just 19 votes.

Labour’s success comes after a long period of endeavour. As a party, they have contested every local election since the war. Before then, on several occasions, candidates who have adopted the Labour Party tag, fought only occasionally. (Dencer being the first ever Labour party candidate elected in 1922)

The Liberals, who as a local party have only been in existance a few months, failed to make any impression on the electorate. They fielded five candidates. A defiant official stated; “This election is only the beginning and even if we are absolutely unsuccessful, we shall continue as a party, building up our strength and influence”.

The Conservative constituency party agent, John Devine, blamed the intervention of the Liberals for them losing two seats.

All councillors who seeked re-election held their seats.

Florence Adcock’s poll of 1106, is a new record for a KUDC election. In subsequent elections it was never beaten and so holds the largest ever poll in the 80-year history of the KUDC.

KUDC Councillors

8 Conservatives (E. Evans, R. Stansfield, Joan Salkeld, J. Cox, B. Whiteman, Florence Adcock, B. Jury, J. Whitby)

2 Labour (C. Webster, A. Bytheway)

2 Independents (L. Smalley, W. Taylor)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)