Kenilworth Town Council Mayors

1974 – present

1974/75
Jack Cox
1991/92
Peggy Cox
2008/09
Spencer Harrison
1975/76
Harry Potts
1992/93
Spencer Harrison
2009/10
Richard Davies
1976/77
Kenneth Hogarth
1993/94
Jack Bastock
2010/11
Susan Howell
1977/78
Ronald Stansfield
1994/95
Bob Wooller
2011/12
Dave Shilton
1978/79
Thomas Robinson
1995/96
Haydn Thomas
2012/13
George Illingworth
1979/80
Florence Adcock
1996/97
Patrick Ryan
2013/14
Felicity Bunker
1980/81
Kenneth Rawnsley
1997/98
Helen Pavier
2014/15
John Cooke
1981/82
Richard Monnington
1998/99
Pauline Edwards
2015/16
Michael Coker
1982/83
Bill Wozencroft
1999/00
Dave Shilton
2016/17
Richard Davies
1983/84
Kenneth Rawnsley
2000/01
Graham Windybank
2017/18
Kate Dickson
1984/85
Spencer Harrison
2001/02
Felicity Bunker
2018/19
Michael Hitchins
1985/86
Jack Bastock
2002/03
John Hatfield
2019/20
Alison Firth
1986/87
John Cooke
2003/04
Doug Golby
2020/21
Richard Dickson
1987/88
Bob Wooller
2004/05
Pauline Edwards
2021/22
Peter Jones
1988/89
Graham Windybank
2005/06
Norman Vincent
2022/23
Samantha Louden-Cooke
1989/90
Michael Coker
2006/07
Michael Coker
2023/24
Alix Dearing
1990/91
Pauline Edwards
2007/08
Patrick Ryan
2024/25
Alan Chalmers

1974 – The Beginning – Kenilworth Town Council

THE NEW AUTHORITY

Between 6th July 1973 and 31st March 1974, Kenilworth had officially become a parish council, with 1st April, being the start of the new council. During a meeting on 11th April, the Town Clerk was appointed the ‘Proper’ officer under the title of Clerk of the Council, with the effect from 2nd April. The salary being £750 per annum. The Clerk’s private telephone quarterly rental would also be paid for the cost of the appropriate number of local calls. Also available to the Clerk was a part-time ‘clerked’ assistant on a salary of £200 per annum, if needed.

The first Annual meeting of the Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) took place at the castle gatehouse on Tuesday 7th May. There were principally two main issues to resolve. Firstly, to fill two vacancies, and secondly, to choose the new Mayor of the town.

The Vacancy Problem

Due to the death of Leonard Smalley (Castle ward) and the resignation of Thomas Litterick (St John’s), because he didn’t agree about the present councillors being automatically transfered to the new authority, he believed a poll should have taken place.

As there were no set rules for filling ‘casual vacancies’, the new council had to decide how they would go about it, and there was much debate at the meeting regarding the best resolution. Members of the public would assume that by-elections would take place, but this was apparently not possible. The traditions among many parish councils, of much longer standing than Kenilworth, was to co-opt the runners-up from the previous election.

No By-Elections Allowed

The Clerk of the Council, Leslie Hibbard, informed the meeting, that no election by poll of new councillors, could take place before 31st December 1975. Cllr Helen Dore said; “Many people in the town think the democratic way of doing things would be for the public to elect their representatives at a public meeting. But I consider the fairest way to do it would be to accept the runners-up in the respective wards from the last election”.

Show Of Hands or Secret Ballot?

One suggestion was, that there be a secret ballot, the other, a show of hands. But some members were not in favour of a show of hands, preferring to conceal their individual preferencies from the public who were present.

Tory Cllr Rawnsley moved that co-option should take place by a secret ballot, but Labour Cllr Webster had the opposite view, saying there should be a show of hands, so that people could see who individual councillors were supporting. But Cllr Webster’s motion was lost by a vote amongst the members – by a show of hands.

Ian Milligan for the Tories was elected to Castle ward and Bill Wozencroft for Labour at St. John’s.

Castle Ward

CandidateVotes
Ian Milligan (Con)7
Eleanor Hogarth3
Harry Sunley3
Dora Greenway1

St John’s Ward

CandidateVotes
Bill Wozencroft (Lab)7
Harry Sunley6
Eleanor Hogarth2
Terence Rogers1
Richard Monnington0
Hugh Martyr0

The First Mayor of Kenilworth

Oaks Road resident, Jack Cox, was overwelming voted the new Mayor of Kenilworth. Former chairman Kenneth Hogarth handed over the chain saying this was the last link between the old KUDC and the new authority and effectively was saying goodbye to the chairmanship, which had stood for 80 years. Mrs Peggy Cox, the Mayor’s wife, became the Mayoress.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

15 Conservatives (I. Milligan, K. Hogarth, Florence Adcock, D. Charlton, J. Cox, E. Evans, S. Harrison, D. Moore, H. Potts, K. Rawnsley, T. Robinson, Joan Salkeld, L. Wiles. R. Stansfield, H. Whiteman)

2 Labour (W. Wozencroft, C. Webster)

1 Liberal (Helen Dore)

1974-75 Jack Cox

1975-76 Harry Potts

Town Clerk – Mr Leslie Hibbard

Subsequent co-opted members

1975 (10th June) – Patrica Adams replaced Joan Salkeld

1976 – 6th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Elections

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidateParty Votes
Jack BastockLiberal Party700
Enys ThomasLiberal Party467
Nick WilsonConservative Party466
*Patrica AdamsConservative Party465
Jerry HiggsConservative Party457
Terry RogersLiberal Party445
*Derek MooreIndependent178
Roger SmithLabour Party143

15 spoilt ballot papers

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Harry PottsConservative Party863
Ann PearceConservative Party717
Paul Pearce Conservative Party700
Robert ButlerLiberal Party682
Lance BramwellLiberal Party650
Charles BatesLiberal Party463
Harry SunleyIndependent224
Malcolm BurfittLabour Party129
Peter JonesLabour Party112

6 spoilt ballot papers

Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Helen DoreLiberal Party804
*Kenneth HogarthConservative Party678
Haydn ThomasLiberal Party517
Richard OldnallConservative Party508
Graham WindybankLiberal Party470
Mrs A. HartlandConservative Party437
Eric Bernard SmithIndependent222
Joe EnglandLabour Party142

7 spoilt ballot papers

St John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Jack CoxConservative Party571
Richard Monnington Conservative Party541
*Bill WozencroftLabour Party537
Jerry HicksConservative Party529
*Chris WebsterLabour Party447
Kevin O’DonovanLabour Party407
Colin CliffordLiberal Party341
Kenneth EvansLiberal Party328
Kieth OrdLiberal Party310

16 spoilt ballot papers

Castle Ward (3 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1037
*Ronald StansfieldConservative Party970
Joseph SapsfordConservative Party880
John DrewLiberal Party532
John RiordanLiberal Party482
Dora GreenwayLiberal Party439
Jane LitterickLabour Party95
Irene May PotterIndependent95
Rosemary EllisLabour Party91

2 spoilt ballot papers

Windy Arbour Ward (3 seats)

CandicatePartyVotes
John WilsonConservative Party1128
*Florence AdcockConservative Party1123
*Thomas RobinsonConservative Party1063
Derek ChingLiberal Party497
Dennis CoulsonLiberal Party397
Eileen WebsterLiberal Party349
Graham HallLabour Party82
Peter SingerLabour Party81
*denotes sitting councillor

TORIES RULE IN FIRST EVER KENILWORTH TOWN COUNCIL ELECTION

Polling for the first ever Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) election ran along side the second Warwick District Council elections and the results were a mirror image of each other. It was a swing to the right with the Conservatives taking control of both councils.

Seven standing members retained their seats but one who didn’t was Labour’s Chris Webster, he finished only fifth in St John’s. He had been a member of the old KUDC since 1964 and was the chairman in 1969/70.

A feature of Castle ward, was that four of the candidates were women. One being Jane Litterick, Quarry Road resident, wife of MP for Selly Oak, Thomas Litterick. He was a former member of the old KUDC before it became a town council. He had resigned his seat in protest at the way in which the change-over took place. Members were automatically transferred from the old council to the new. In his opinion an election should have taken place.

Draw Decided Who Should Have Seat

It was tight as a drum for seats in Abbey Ward. Liberal Jack Bastock, was well ahead of the rest, but the next three places only one vote seperated them. After two re-counts, Enys Thomas was elected in second place but tory candidates Nick Wilson and Patrica Adams were dead-locked on 466. So to decide who took the seat, two pieces of paper went into a ballot box: elected and not elected. Mr Wilson was the successful candidate. This was the first ever election that he had contested. He is a solicitor and lives in Henry Street. For ‘adminstration’ purposes, Patrica Adams was deducted one vote.

Four Independent candidates stood for first time since 1964. Moore, Sunley, Potter and Eric Smith, a former councillor and chairman of the old KUDC. None were elected.

Councillors

13 Conservatives (J. Wilson, N. Wilson. F. Adcock, T. Robinson, R. Stansfield, K. Rawnsley, J. Sapsford, J. Cox, R. Monnington, K. Hogarth, H. Potts, P. Pearce, A. Pearce)

4 Liberals (H. Dore, J. Bastock, H. Thomas, E. Thomas)

1 Labour (B. Wozencroft)

Mayors

1976-77 Kenneth Hogarth

1977-78 Ronald Stansfield

1978-79 Thomas Robinson

1977 – 28th November – Kenilworth Town Council – By Election

Park Hill Ward (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Patrica Adams Conservative Party448
Lance BramwellLiberal Party432
Jerry HicksConservative Party416
Robert ButlerLiberal Party392
Malcolm BurfittLabour Party84
Joseph EnglandLabour Party58

LIBERAL GAIN ONE SEAT FROM CONSERVATIVES

This by-election was called following the resignation of Paul and Ann Pearce, due to them leaving the town to live in London. Both had been elected in this ward in the inaugural poll last year, both as Conservatives.

But the Tories could only hang on to one seat, while the Liberals took the other. Tory, Patrica Adams, of Villers Road, who topped the poll, is a former town councillor who was co-opted in 1975. She replaced the then retiring, Mrs Salkeld. But in last year’s poll she did not get re-elected. Patrica has lived in the town for 14 years and is married with three children.

The other successful candidate, Liberal, Lance Bramwell, lives in Clinton Lane and works for Automative Products in Leamington. He had contested the Park Hill seat in 1976 but came fifth out of nine candidates. He had been a district councillor from 1973 to 1975. He is Kenilworth born and breed and is interested in conservation.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

12 Conservatives (J. Wilson, N. Wilson, F. Adcock, T. Robinson, R. Stansfield, K. Rawnsley, J. Sarsford, J. Cox, R. Monnington, K. Hogarth, H. Potts, P. Adams)

5 Liberals (H. Dore, J. Bastock, H. Thomas, E. Thomas, L. Bramwell)

1 Labour (B. Wozencroft)

1979 – 24th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Elections

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Jack BastockLiberal Party589
*Enys ThomasLiberal Party470
Kenneth GriffithsLiberal Party467
*Ronald StansfieldConservative Party303
*Nicholas WilsonConservative Party264
Brian Robinson-BrowneConservative Party231
Susan O’DonovanLabour Party76

Borrowell Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Helen Dore Liberal Party682
*Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal Party516
Roger RolfeLiberal Party482
*Kenneth Hogarth Conservative Party477
Valerie Beaumont Conservative Party360
John Jones Conservative Party344
Wendy Jane EnglandLabour Party66

Castle Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth Rawnsley Conservative Party695
John Cooke Conservative Party654
Daphne Harrison Conservative Party642
Graham WindybankLiberal Party407
Marjorie Barfield Liberal Party388
Peter Hardisty Liberal Party362
Thomas SwallowLabour Party47

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Robert Butler Liberal Party665
*Patrica AdamsConservative Party588
*Harry PottsConservative Party563
Kenneth EvansLiberal Party527
Jerry HicksConservative Party518
Stephen AdamsLiberal Party474
Peter JonesLabour Party62
Peter SingerLabour Party51

St John’s Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Bill WozencroftLabour Party490
*Jack CoxConservative Party459
*Richard MonningtonConservative Party458
Robert WoollerConservative Party449
Chris WebsterLabour Party372
Malcolm BurfittLabour Party302
Edward DoreLiberal Party226
Mary ArcherLiberal Party176

Windy Arbour Ward (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Florence AdcockConservative Party639
*John WilsonConservative Party607
*Thomas RobinsonConservative Party579
Lynn PollardLiberal Party324
Joseph EnglandLabour Party73
Elizabeth LeeLabour Party69

*denotes retiring councillors

TORIES STILL IN CONTROL EVEN WITH A SWING TO THE LIBERALS

Four new members were elected, with the Liberals gaining two seats from the Conservatives. But they still have overall control of the council. The three tory casualties were Wilson, Hogarth and Ronald Stansfield who had been a Kenilworth councillor since 1958. He became Mayor in 1977 and previous to that he had been chairman of the old KUDC twice, in 1964 and 1971. Strangley though, for this election, he swopped from Castle to Abbey, which was a mistake, as he only finished forth. Patrica Adams retained her seat at Park Hill which she won at a by-election, two years ago.

New Tory councillors are John Cooke, a keen photographer of Amherst Road and Daphne Harrison of Station Road, who is a former GB Olympic swimmer and wife of district councillor, Spencer Harrision.

The two new Liberals are Ken Griffiths, a civil engineer, representing Abbey ward and Roger Rolfe, a teacher, elected to Borrowell.

Kenilworth Town Councillors (18 members)

10 Conservative Party (F.Adcock, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, J. Cox, R. Monnington, P. Adams, H. Potts, D. Harrison, J. Cooke, K. Rawnsley)

7 Liberal Party (R. Butler, R. Rolfe, H. Thomas, E. Thomas, H. Dore, J. Bastock, K. Griffiths)

1 Labour Party (B. Wozencroft)

Mayors

1979-80 Florence Adcock

1980-81 Kenneth Rawnsley

1981-82 Richard Monnington

1982-83 Bill Wozencroft (pictured)

In March 1983 – Viki McClean was elected onto the council by a vote of 8-7 by the members.

The vacancy was caused by the death of Richard Monnington in February. He had been a town and district councillor since 1976 and became Mayor of Kenilworth in 1981/2. He was just 55 years-old.

1979 – 15th November – Kenilworth Town Council – By Election

Park Hill Ward

CandidatePartyVotes
Graham WindybankLiberal Party555
Spencer HarrisonConservative Party508

Turnout 39.33%

LIBERALS GAIN CRITICAL SEAT FROM TORIES

This by-election was caused by the death of councillor Harry Potts, who died in September. He had served on the old KUDC from 1967 to 1974 and on the town council since its creation five years ago. He was also Mayor from 1975/76.

It was straight fight between a Tory and a Liberal, both eager to find a seat at Southbank Road. Mr Windybank had previously been a candidate in 1976, and also at the election earlier this year, but was unsuccesful on both occasions. For Mr Harrision, it was his first town council election, however, he had been member of the old KUDC from 1967 to 1974, and has been a district councillor for the past two years. He was hoping to join his wife, Daphne on the council, who was elected to Castle ward in the May election this year.

It was a close contest between the two, with Mr Windybank, of Brookside Ave, coming out on top by just 47 votes. The result means the Conservatives lose overall control at the council.

Cllr Windybank paid tribute to the Liberal organisation in the town and especially in the Park Hill ward, which made his success possible. He said the main issues in the town as far has he was concerned was traffic situation and the Cherry Orchard development plan.

Kenilworth Town Councillors (18 seats)

9 Conservative Party (F. Adcock, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, J. Cox, R. Monnington, P. Adams, D. Harrison, J. Cooke, K. Rawnsley)

8 Liberal Party (G. Windybank, R. Butler, R. Rolfe, H. Thomas, E. Thomas, H. Dore, J. Bastock, K. Griffiths)

1 Labour Party (B. Wozencroft)

1982 – 23rd September – Kenilworth Town Council – By Election

St John’s Ward

CandidatePartyVotes
Robert WoollerConservative Party393
John SumnerLiberal Party276
Brendan PayneLabour Party117

Turnout 41%

WOOLLER WINS SEAT FOR TORIES

A casual vacany had arisen due to the death of longstanding member Jack Cox who died in June, he was 74. Known as the ‘Man of the people’, he was devoted to Kenilworth and had been on the council for 27 years. 19 years on the old KUDC and 8 years on the new Town Council. Indeed he was the first ever Town Mayor.

Present Mayor of Kenilworth, Bill Wozencroft, said he was a very good friend and a good man who had given a lifetime of service to the town and would be greatly missed.

Following his death there were discussions at the council if a by-election was even needed to fill the vacancy. But under the rules, if at least two of the electors of St John’s ward gave notice that an election should take place, in writing, then one would have to take place. If not, the council members would need to fill the vacancy by co-option. Tory group leader, Florence Adcock, suggested the council co-opt a member of same political persuasion as the late Mr Cox, until the town council election next May. But she was advised by town clerk, Harry Sunley, that this was not now possible and the position had to be advertised.

1982 – 25th November – Kenilworth Town Council – By Election

Windy Arbour Ward

CandidatePartyVotes
James Herbert WhitbyConservative Party534
Brenda May PayneLabour Party92

Turnout 22.2%

TORIES RETAIN SEAT

A second by-election of the year took place due to the resignation of long standing member Florence Adcock in September. She had served on both the old KUDC and the new town council for a total of 20 years.

Mrs Adcock was first elected to the old KUDC at a by-election in the Park Hill ward in May 1962. She then switched to the new Windy Arbour ward when it was introduced in 1967 and there she has remained. She was the town Mayor in 1979/80.

The Conservative victory was a forgone conclusion, that’s probably why the turnout was pitifully low, just over a fifth of voters bothering to turn up at the polling stations. The Labour Party only stood in the election because the town council wanted to co-opt a member but the Labour group had other ideas, so an election had to take place.

James Whitby is not entirely new to council work as he first became a member of the old KUDC when he was elected at Park Hill in 1964, but remained for only one term. He is an executive with a midland company of exporters and has lived in Kenilworth for 27 years.

1983 – 5th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Election

Abbey Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party1922
Kenneth HogarthConservative Party1864
Michael CokerConservative Party1821
*Jack BastockLiberal Party1817
*John CookeConservative Party1781
John HatfieldConservative Party1718
D. BarfieldConservative Party1678
*Graham WindybankLiberal Party1594
*Haydn ThomasLiberal Party1544
*Kenneth GriffithsLiberal Party1457
*Enys ThomasLiberal Party1444
John SumnerLiberal Party1417
Teresa BlackwellLabour Party326
Melanie LomasLabour Party325
Geoffrey CleaveLabour Party313
M. HironsLabour Party296
R. SmithLabour Party288
Richard WoodLabour Party278

Turnout 61.3%

St John’s Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Robert WoollerConservative Party2046
Peggy CoxConservative Party1984
*James WhitbyConservative Party1961
Pauline EdwardsConservative Party1919
*Viki McCleanConservative Party1882
Mike JamesConservative Party1838
*Bill WozencroftLabour Party1170
John WhitehouseSocial Democratic Party873
Mary HarrisonSocial Democratic Party809
M. ReynoldsSocial Democratic Party687
H. MakuraSocial Democratic Party631
I. RixomSocial Democratic Party627
Brenda PayneLabour Party622
Mark JubyLabour Party603
John PayneLabour Party563
Thomas SwallowLabour Party554
l. MountneyLabour Party533

Turnout 56.7%

Park Hill Ward (4 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Spencer HarrisonConservative Party970
*Robert ButlerLiberal Party956
Thomas DaltonConservative Party925
Paul WeatherallLiberal Party883
Ian HillsConservative Party842
T. SturgessConservative Party794
Eric DealLiberal Party790
Vera RoystonLiberal Party743
John AireyLabour Party202
Chris PayneLabour Party180
Rosemary EllisLabour Party178
David PeggsLabour Party139

Turnout 61.4 %

*denotes retiring councillors

A new ward system was introduced for this election. The traditional six wards were replaced by three but larger wards. The historical: Windy Arbour, Borrowell and Castle wards were gone. The number of councillors was also reduced from 18 to 16. One further change was that elections would now be every four years, replacing the longstanding triennial polls.

These changes did not go down well with the heavily defeated Liberals. They claimed the results on the new ward boundaries had favoured the Tories, and had been engineered by them. Town Major, Bill Wozencroft lost his seat, as did three others members, deputy Mayor Haydn Thomas, his wife, Enys and Liberal leader Graham Windybank. The Liberals were now down to just three councillors, a reduction of four from the 1979 election.

Jack Bastock, one of the Liberals who survived the rout, stated that the new boundaries were a ‘big con’, the wards were so large the result was distorted. The Liberals also believed that the many new people on the Knight’s Meadow estate were not aware of the Liberals strength or hard work they do in Kenilworth and as a result voted politically.

New to the Tory ranks are solicitor, Michael Coker and Spencer Harrison who are also district councillors. Other new members include Peggy Cox, wife of the late councillor, Jack Cox. Tony Dalton, an office equipment supplier and has lived in Kenilworth for seven years and was elected in Park Hill. Mike James, John Hatfield and Pauline Edwards are also completely new to council work. But Kenneth Hogarth is an ‘old’ face to the council having been Town Major (1976) and Chairman of the old KUDC (1973) before losing his seat at the 1979 poll.

Viki McClean is not entirely a new face, having been co-opted onto the council in March. Bob Wooller, following his by-election success last September, topped the tree in St John’s with a whopping 2046 votes, the highest of any candidate.

Kenilworth Town Councillors (16 seats)

13 Conservative Party (S. Harrison, T. Dalton, R. Wooller, P. Cox, J. Whitby, P. Edwards, V. McClean, M. James, K. Rawnsley, K. Hogarth, M. Coker, J. Cooke, J, Hatfield)

3 Liberal Party (J. Bastock, R. Butler, P. Weatherall)

Mayors

1983-84 Kenneth Rawnsley

1984-85 Spencer Harrison

1985-86 Jack Bastock

1986-87 John Cooke

Town Clerk – Harry Sunley

1987 – 7th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Election

Abbey Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Michael CokerConservative Party2059
*John CookeConservative Party2052
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative Party2033
*Kenneth HogarthConservative Party1991
*Jack BastockSDP-Liberal Alliance1969
*John HatfieldConservative Party1876
John KinnieConservative Party1762
Haydn ThomasSDP-Liberal Alliance1554
Mary HarrisonSDP-Liberal Alliance1546
Enys ThomasSDP-Liberal Alliance1473
Ann CrumpSDP-Liberal Alliance1450
Neil ParnabySDP-Liberal Alliance1385
Teresa BlackwellLabour Party409
Nora EverittLabour Party392
Karl LapworthLabour Party333
Dick WoodLabour Party323
Beverley YellenLabour Party301

Park Hill (4 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
John DrewConservative Party1122
*Spencer HarrisonConservative Party1116
*Tony DaltonConservative Party1091
*Graham WindybankConservative Party1079
Ken GriffithsSDP-Liberal Alliance684
Elsie GriffithsSDP-Liberal Alliance669
*Bob ButlerSDP-Liberal Alliance667
Dr Joe RiversSDP-Liberal Alliance608
Tony BowenLabour Party278
Lesley BowenLabour Party264
Robin WinnLabour Party203
Paul GreggLabour Party187

St John’s Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVote
*Bob WoollerConservative Party2383
*Peggy CoxConservative Party2286
*Pauline EdwardsConservative Party2245
*Viki McCleanConservative Party2191
Norman VincentConservative Party2158
Keith TurfreyConservative Party2153
William WozencroftSDP-Liberal Alliance1600
Vera RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1264
Dennis RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1263
Colin MasonSDP-Liberal Alliance1145
Liz TilsonSDP-Liberal Alliance1139
Patrick RyanSDP-Liberal Alliance1137
John BennettLabour Party424
Geoffrey CleavesLabour Party413
Madelin LewisLabour Party391
John PayneLabour Party380
Charlier PalmerLabour Party366
David PeggsLabour Party344

*denotes sitting councillor

ALLIANCE ROUTED – FOLLOWED BY A BIG ROW

Jack Bastock (pictured), who is the only remaining Alliance town councillor, has accused the Conservatives of waging a war of ‘dirty tactics’ in the run-up to the election. But Tory group leader, Ken Rawnsley hit back with claims that the Alliance were behind a personal smear campaign against him.

Cllr Bastock said he was very concerned about the statements made by the Tories in their election address leaflets. They said that the Alliance would put an end to free car-parking in Kenilworth, when infact we have fought for free parking since 1974. They also accused us of voting against the swimming pool, when we were all in favour of getting a pool for the town. What we said was that it was not big enough and should not be put in the Abbey Fields. But Cllr Rawnsley said the complaints were “totally rubbish, from beginning to end”. I will explain our leaflets to Cllr Bastock anytime, all we did was to warn the public of the dangers of the opposition gaining control of the council.

The Tories increased their stranglehold on the council, winning 15 of the 16 seats. One noticeable new face to the Tory ranks is historian and author, John Drew, who topped the poll in Park Hill. He wrote his first book in 1969, followed by many others of his home town. He has been on TV and notabaly on radio, appearing twice on the popular BBC Radio 4’s series, Down Your Way. Three years ago the Town Council recognised his contribution to the town by naming a street after him, Drew Crescent. This was not the first town election he had contested, he had stood in the inaugural poll of 1976, as a Liberal, but failed to get elected.

Graham Windybank regained his seat following his defeat at the 1983 poll. He now has switched to the Conservatives from the Alliance.

Kenilworth Town Councillors (16 seats)

15 Conservatives (K.Rawnsley, B.Wooller, J. Cooke, P. Edwards, J. Hatfield, P. Cox, V. McClean, K. Turfrey, N. Vincent, J. Drew, S. Harrison, T. Dalton, G. Windybank, K. Hogarth, M. Coker)

1 SDP-Liberal Alliance (J. Bastock)

Mayors

1987-88 Robert Wooller

1988-89 Graham Windybank

1989-90 Michael Coker

1990-91 Pauline Edwards

Town Clerk – Susan Howell