1922 – 2nd April – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Election

Elected (12 seats)

William Parkinson	Business Group	931
*Edward Hodges	Business Group	863
*Charles Randall	Business Group	829
Charles Barwell	Business Group	804
John Clarke	Independent	689
*William Dencer	Labour Party	684
*Edwin Gee	Business Group	659
*James Jackson	Business Group	608
*Andrew Hacking	Independent	584
*Charles Carter	Business Group	532
William Marriott	Business Group	530
Robert Grindrod	Business Group	524

Not Elected

*Joseph Crouch	Independent	523
Alec Fayerman	British Legion	460
*Ernest Nixon	Business Group	416
Charles Roberts	Labour Party	371
William Bryan	Labour Party	270
Henry Adams	Labour Party	212
Ernest Jenson	Business Group	204
William Shreeve	British Legion	166
John Lees	British Legion	140

*denotes retiring councillor

A Storming Election

Called the ‘Kenilworth’s Snow-Storm Polling Results’ by a local newspaper, due not only to the terrible weather but to the closely contested nature of the poll which ended with five new members being elected. So close was the voting, the final position was won by only one vote, Grindrod from the ‘Business Group’, just getting the better of rival Crouch, an Independent.

Supported by the Conservatives, the eleven business candidates only had two of their candidates fail to be elected. Former police inspector, William Parkinson topped the poll with 931 votes.

The Labour party fielded four candidates, but only one got elected. That being William Dencer, who was a member of the old council. He was first elected three years ago when he stood as a candidate for the group named the ‘Local Trades and Labour Council’.

There was only modest electioneering literature about the town, Clarke send out some leaflets as did the three British Legion candidates. The Labour party attached posters to motor-cars but these were quickly un-readable due to the snow, so that became a wasted exercise.

Four polling stations were used, all at St Nicholas School in School Lane. With the snow falling for most of the day it was felt this reduced the number of people who voted. Large numbers of women voted in this election, many for the first time. Following the declaration, the results were posted on the wall outside of the council house.

8,434 votes were recorded for the elected 12 members.

When the new members take up their positions on the council they will have one major problem to address, the £4.600 overdraft at the bank.

KUDC Councillors

9 Business Group (W. Parkinson, E. Hodges, C. Randall, C. Barwell, E, Gee, J. Jackson, C. Carter, W. Marriott, R. Grindrod)

2 Independents (J. Clarke, A. Hacking)

1 Labour (W. Dencer)

Chairman

photo courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)