1898 – October 17th – Kenilworth Urban District Council – By Election

Electorate 1000

Turnout 673 (67.3%)

Victory For Nelson – Unionists Retain Seat

6 Conservatives (W. Holmes, W. Pears, M. Francis, E. Bourne, J. Nelson, W. Middleton)

4 Liberals (J. Jackson, H. Street, W. James, J. Murdock)

2 Independants (E. Gee, G. Bostock)

Lost Shops 2019-20

1899 – 27th March – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

*Edward HodgesUnionist Party363
*John NelsonUnionist Party362
*Edmund BourneUnionist Party353
John WelshIndependent319

Not Elected

Richard EykynIndependent291
Edward LeeIndependent289
Edward Margetts Unionist Party287

*denotes retiring member

Electorate 1000

Turnout 650 (65%)

ANOTHER MIXED-UP ELECTION FOR VOTERS

KUDC Councillors

5 Conservatives (W. Holmes, W. Pears, E. Bourne, J. Nelson, E. Hodges)

4 Liberals (J. Murdock, H. Street, W. James, J. Jackson)

3 Independents (G. Bostock, J. Welsh, E. Gee)

Council Clerk – Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.

1900 – 2nd April – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

Not Elected

*denotes retiring member

Electorate 1000

Turnout 727 (72.7%)

THREE NEW MEMBERS ELECTED

KUDC Councillors

6 Unionists/Conservatives (E. Hodges, J. Nelson, E. Bourne, A. Weetman, J. Smith, J. Stringer)

3 Liberals (J Murdock, J. Jackson, W. James)

3 Independents (E. Gee, G. Bostock, J. Welsh)

1901 – 3rd March – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

William GrowseConservative Party387
*George BostockConservative Party364
Arthur StreetLiberal Party320
*Edwin GeeConservative Party317
J. KeartlandLiberal Party312

Not Elected

*James JacksonLiberal Party312
George ChurchConservative Party262
*William JamesLiberal Party255
Alfred HaggLiberal Party204
E. HallConservative Party204

*denotes retiring member

LOTTERY FOR FIFTH PLACE

Normally, only four councillors were required to stand down for an annual election, but in this case it turned out that five members would need to be elected. This was due to the resignation of councillor, John Nelson (Conservative) who was off to South Africa to serve in the Boar war with the Warwickshire Volunteers. He was first elected to the council in October 1898.

Of the four members who put themselves forward for re-election, two were returned, Gee and Bostock, who had switched to the Conservatives (from Independents) but the two Liberals, James and Jackson were not re-elected.

It was found that Keartland and Jackson (both Liberals) had tied for fifth place on 312 votes. But the strangest thing happened. Firstly, Jackson, not wishing to give trouble to a re-count offered to give way to Keartland. But the returning officer Mr J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst, would not allow this informal method of settlement. What he should have done next was to exercise his power of a casting vote but he chose not to do so. So instead, he decided the best way to resolve it was to ‘draw lots’ for the fifth place, which went in favour of Keartland.

After the poll had finished at 8pm, the ballot boxes were taken to the council house and counting was quickly concluded by 9 o’clock. The declaration came at 11.15pm outside the council house, in front of about 100 people.

KUDC Councillors

8 Conservatives (Mr Bourne, Mr Growse, Mr Bostock, Mr. Gee, Mr Hodges, Mr Weetman, Mr Smith, Mr Stringer)

3 Liberals (Mr Street, Mr Keartland, Mr Murdock)

1 Independent (Mr Welsh)

1901-02 Edmond Bourne

Council Clerk – Mr J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst

Lost Shops 2021-22

Vapelsales, High Street. Only lasted a few years

1902 – 7th April – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

*Edmund BourneConservative Party461
*Edward HodgesConservative Party456
William HolmesConservative Party374
*James JacksonLiberal Party365

Not elected

W. SmithConservative Party325
*J. KeartlandLiberal Party307
William JamesLiberal Party199
A. LuntLiberal Party164

*denotes retiring member

SIX SEAT MAJORITY FOR TORIES

James Jackson regained his seat following the ‘drawing of lots’ against fellow Liberal Keartland in last year’s election. Ironically, Keartland lost his seat this time around.

Holmes (Con) was re-elected after two years away from the council. Independent member Welsh did not seek re-election, who was first elected in 1894.

The polling was reported to have been unusually slow for most of the day but the total number of voters was about normal. There was only one spoilt ballot paper. A large crowd had congregated outside the council house when the declaration came at 11pm. The results were read out by returning officer Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.

KUDC Councillors

9 Conservatives (Mr Bourne, Mr Hodges, Mr Holmes, Mr Growse, Mr Bostock, Mr Gee, Mr Weetman, Mr Stringer, Mr Smith)

3 Liberals (Mr Jackson, Mr Street, Mr Murdock)

Council Clerk – Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst

1903 – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Annual Election

Elected

*Capt James StringerUnionist Partyu/opposed
*Arthur WeetmanUnionist Partyu/opposed
Alfred HerbertUnionist Partyco-opted
Richard KnightLiberal Partyco-opted

*denotes retiring member

UNOPPOSED ANNUAL ELECTION – ‘THE KNIGHT’ RETURNS

Four councillors had been nominated for ‘retirement’, these being; Smith, Stringer, Murdock and Weetman. However, Joseph Murdock was leaving Kenilworth and Mr Smith did not want to offer himself for re-election.

But with only the two vacancies to fill it was considered by both Parties that an election might be avoided if each party selected a candidate to fill the two seats. This resulted in Herbert and Knight being co-opted. It was also agreed that present members, Weetman and Stringer would be elected unopposed. This agreement would not alter the political make-up of the council and with the triennial elections returning next year they decided this was a convenient arrangement for this year.

Richard Knight was first elected at the inaugural KUDC election in 1894, being one of the ‘Liberal/Separatist Eight’ but on seeking re-election in 1897 he lost his seat. Alfred Herbert is new to the council.

KUDC Councillors

9 Conservatives (E. Bourne, E. Hodges, W. Holmes, W. Growse, W. Bostock, E. Gee, A. Weetman, J. Stringer, A. Herbert)

3 Liberals (J. Jackson, H. Street, J. Knight)

Council Clerk – Mr J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst

The Vanished Barman – Brian Painter – 1962

The Bear & Ragged Staff Hotel in c1963 (Photo courtesy of Graham Gould, Kenilworth In Camera)

Body Found In Troyes

Body Taken To Paris – Conflicting Evidence

The Death Certificate

1904 – 25th March – Kenilworth Urban District Council – Election

Elected (12 seats)

*Edwin GeeConservative Party533
*William GrowseConservative Party531
*James JacksonLiberal Party495
*George BostockConservative Party476
Charles RandallLiberal Party476
Arthur StreetLiberal Party465
*Edward HodgesConservative Party451
*Edmund BourneConservative Party430
William RileyLiberal Party363
Maj. BerkeleyConservative Party355
Edward MargettsConservative Party327
*Arthur WeetmanConservative Party307

Not elected

George BarnetLiberal Party299
William PearsConservative Party298
John KnightLiberal Party291
*Richard KnightLiberal Party289
Ernest NixonConservative Party262
Dr. JacksonConservative Party261
T. SherwinLiberal Party183
Charles WilkinsonConservative Party150

*denotes retiring member

FIRST FULL ELECTION FOR 10 YEARS – TORIES RULE

This was the first triennial election of the KUDC since the inaugural poll of 1894. Up until this point, the council was using the annual election system, where one-third of councillors needed to retire and seek re-election. But the suggestion of adopting triennial elections permanently had been discussed by the council back in 1901, when it was voted through unanimously. But it took three years to sort out the details (with the County Council) and revert back to it permanently. Several reasons were put forward for the change. Money would be saved from not having elections every year and it would also stop the ill-feeling and friction that always seemed to happen during annual elections. Plus the fact that the electorate were getting fed-up with having to vote every year.

Liberal Richard Knight, who was elected back onto the council un-opposed at last years annual election surprisingly lost his seat. But fellow Liberal, William Riley was returned, having previously served between 1894-1898. Conservatives, Alfred Herbert and Capt Stringer who were elected onto the council last year in the annual election, did not seek re-election.

The counting took place at 9am the following day. The result was declared by returning officer Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst, outside the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill at 1.10pm. Despite the inclement weather a decent crowd had gathered to hear the results.

A local newspaper stated; ‘The rain in the evening prevented anything like any demonstration, which is usual at the close of the poll, neither was there any disturbance during the day so the police had a quiet time’.

KUDC Councillors

8 Conservatives (E. Gee, G. Bostock, W. Growse, E. Hodges, E. Bourne, Maj. Berkeley, A. Weetman, E. Margetts)

4 Liberals (J. Jackson, C. Randall, H. Street, W. Riley)

Chairman

Chairman 1904-07

1904-05 Edmund Bourne

1905-06 Edmund Bourne

1906-07 Edmund Bourne

Council Clerk – Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst

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