1946 -1st April – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Elections

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

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

Turnout 63.8%

Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

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

Turnout 62.2%

Castle Ward (3 seats)

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

Turnout 57.6%

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

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

Turnout 62.7%

*denotes retiring councillor

CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR LABOUR – TISDALE GONE

A ‘minor sentation’ 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, had the heaviest poll and was the closest contested ward. Indeed, three re-counts were required between Tisdale 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 last year were soundly beaten here in Kenilworth, not one of their 12 candidates were elected. The town had asserted that they wanted individuals to run the town and 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 (M. Smallwood, H. Howe, L. Smalley, F. Weetman, H. Watling, W. Bostock, A. Huckvale, E. Smith, F. Whitehouse, W. Griffiths)

1 Progressive-Liberal (A. Jeacock)

1 Ex- Service (D. Ling)

Chairman 1946-49

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