1897 – April 5th – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

William HolmesConservative Party390
William PearsConservative Party371
M. B. FrancisConservative Party361
Joseph MurdockLiberal Party346

Not Elected

*John WelshConservative Party344
Obediah WoodsLiberal Party310
*Richard KnightLiberal Party294
Joseph ButcherLiberal Party260
Job SatchwellIndependent163

*denotes retiring member

Electorate 990

Turnout 730 (73.7%)

Spoilt ballot papers 4

TORIES GAIN CONTROL OF KUDC

This annual election in which four councillors had to ‘retire’ according to the rules, took place at the St. Nicholas National School in School Lane.

Present members Church and Riley did not seek re-election. It was a well contested election, indeed the forth position was only won by two votes in favour of Murdock over rival, Welsh. Traps and carriages were used heavily by both parties during the day.

The results were declared by acting returning officer, Mr J. J. Willington Wilmshurst outside the council house at Upper Rosemary Hill on the following day at 11.50am.

Following the election a sarcastic remark from a reader was printed in the 17th April edition of the Kenilworth Advertiser stating; ‘Why is the KUDC now paradise? Because there is no (K)night there anymore‘. Referring of course to the defeat of former member Richard Knight, who had been elected three years ago in the first ever KUDC election. Obviously, there were some people glad to see the back of him. But he would return………

Following the election, the strange ‘compromise’ of (Liberal-Unionists) gave the two parties a big majority at the council.

KUDC Councillors

7 Conservatives (W. Holmes, W. Pears, M. Francis, E. Bourne, Liet-Colonel Joynson, W. Middleton, E. Hodges)

3 Liberals-Progressives (J Murdock, H. Street, Rev. Field)

2 Independents (J. Jackson, W. James)

Council Clerk – Mr J. J. Willington Wilmshurst

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