1907 – 25th March – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Election

Elected (12 seats)

*William Growse	Conservative Party	579
*Edward Hodges	Conservative Party	528
*James Jackson	Liberal Party	528
*Edmund Bourne	Conservative Party	522
*Charles Randall	Conservative Party	511
*George Bostock	Conservative Party	499
*Edwin Gee	Conservative Party	452
*Arthur Street	Liberal Party	431
Charles Carter	Conservative Party	418
George Barnett	Liberal Party	410
*William Riley	Liberal Party	406
*Arthur Weetman	Conservative Party	379

Not Elected

Charles Wilkinson	Conservative Party	354
Arthur Perkins	Conservative Party	346
Edward Lee	Liberal Party	340
Jeremiah O’Hea	Liberal Party	331
Richard Taylor	Liberal Party	295
Wiliiam Holmes	Conservative Party	292
John Clarke	Liberal Party	283
William Bishop	Liberal Party	266
Thomas Smith	Conservative Party	261
Richard Knight	Liberal Party	237
Arthur Walmsley	Liberal Party	226
George Whenday	Liberal Party	224

*denotes retiring member

FOUR SEAT MAJORITY FOR TORIES

More interest was shown over this triennial election than is normally the case. There was one or two topics to arouse the interest of the ratepayers, notably that of the on-going issue with the sewage farm. The other being that too many farmers were on the council, four of them. But with an average vote of 464 each, this vindicated their inclusion. So, the result of the election shows that the ratepayers endorsed the action of their representatives in this matter.

All the old members who offered themselves up for re-election were returned. Maj. Berkeley and Edward Margetts did not seek re-election. They were replaced by Mr Barnett and Mr Carter.

Several motor-cars and carriages were lent by the conservatives candidates and supporters to ‘assist’ voters to the polling stations. The Liberals only had one motor-car plus two or three carriages for assistance, which probably didn’t help their cause. Charles Randall who was elected as a Liberal in 1904, had now switched to the Conservatives.

Polling took place as usual was at St. Nicholas schoolrooms, School Lane and three polling stations were used. Voters were allotted a station by the initial of their surname. Voting commenced at 8am until 8pm. Returning officer was Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.

KUDC Councillors

8 Conservatives (W. Growse, E. Hodges, E. Bourne, C. Randall, W. Bostock, E. Gee, C. Carter, A. Weetman)

4 Liberals (J. Jackson, A. Street, R. Barnett, W. Riley)

Chairman

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