1958 – 8th May – KUDC Triennial Election

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, 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)