1961 – 11th May – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Election

Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

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

CON GAIN FROM IND

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

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

CON GAIN FROM IND

Castle Ward (3 seats)

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

NO CHANGE

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

*J. Prentice	Conservative Party	1002
*Frederick Dodd	Conservative Party	868
*Joseph Watts	Independent	836
Mrs J. Langdale	Labour Party	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 council polls.

For the first time since 1952 the council will be all-male when they assemble on May 30th. Councillor Mrs. Huckvale did not seek re-election and councillor Mrs. Alford (Ind) 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 Mr Smalley and Mr Watling, who were both elected in 1934. They succeed Mr. Bostock who did not seek re-election and had served continuously since 1928.

KUDC Councillors

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

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

Chairman 1961-64

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