2007 – 3rd May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

Registered Voters 5902

Ballot Papers Issued 3010 (0 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 8585 (51% Turnout)

NO CHANGE

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

Registered Voters 6375

Ballot Papers Issued 2890 (11 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 8081 (45.3% Turnout)

CONSERVATIVES GAIN FROM LIB-DEMS

St. John’s Ward (3 seats)

*denotes retiring councillors

Registered Voters 5850

Ballot Papers Issued 2851 (15 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 8084 (48.7% Turnout)

NO CHANGE

TORIES GAIN ONE SEAT FROM LIB-DEMS – DUE TO SWITCH

Following problems with the newly introduced electronic counting system, the counting had to be done the old way – manually. This delayed the results by several days. The count began on election night – 3rd May – but didn’t end until Tuesday 7th May.

In the end, the Conservatives gained one seat in Kenilworth due to long-standing Liberal Democrat, Dave Shilton switching to the Tories. He retained his seat in Park Hill, topped the poll with 1681 votes, the largest in all three wards.

The Resuffle

Alan Cockburn and Pauline Edwards, who held seats in St. John’s did not seek re-election. So the Conservatives had a small ‘reshuffle’ of candidates around the wards. John Hatfield moved from Abbey to St. John’s and Richard Davies from Park Hill also to St. John’s. This helped two new recruits get elected, Andrew Mobbs and George Illingworth.

In the district overall, the Tories gained 7 seats and now have 24 councillors, Labour and Lib-Dems have 9 each plus 4 Independents. This gives them a two seat majority in the 46-seat council. The first time in 12 years they have control.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservative Party (D. Shilton, N. Vincent, R. Davies, J. Hatfield, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, G. Illingworth, M. Coker)

1 Liberal Democrats (A. Blacklock)

2011 – 5th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

Abbey Ward (3 seats)

Registered Voters 5840

Ballot Papers Issued 3397 (32 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 9429 (58.2%)

NO CHANGE

Park Hill Ward (3 seats)

Registered Voters 6397

Ballot Papers Issued 3164 (54 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 9432 (49.4%)

NO CHANGE

St. John’s Ward (3 seats)

*denotes retiring councillors

Registered Voters 5808

Ballot Papers Issued 3161 (37 spoilt papers)

Votes Cast 8900 (54.4%)

NO CHANGE

NO CHANGE IN KENILWORTH

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservatives (D. Shilton, M. Coker, N. Vincent, R. Davies, J. Dagg, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, G. Illingworth)

1 Liberal Democrat (Ann Blacklock)

Kenilworth Magistrates Court 1947

Off to the Nick For a Seven Pence Trick

Dairyman Who Sold Too Much Milk

2015 – 7th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Election

Abbey Ward (5 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Michael Francis CokerConservative Party1580
*George Reginald IllingworthConservative Party1516
Rowena Ann HillConservative Party1481
Helen DelaneyConservative Party1406
*Katherine Sara DicksonLiberal Democrats1378
James MaherConservative Party1239
John Richard WhitehouseLiberal Democrats1217
Alison Rita Margaret TylerLiberal Democrats1165
Andrew TullochLiberal Democrats1131
Andrew BrierleyLiberal Democrats1042
Joshua PayneLabour Party743
Rhiannon FreguelliTrade Union and Social Coalition241

Park Hill Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Dave John ShiltonConservative Party2873
*Felicity Gena BunkerConservative Party2777
*Andrew James MobbsConservative Party2709
Richard John HalesConservative Party2599
*Shirley Beatrice ShiltonConservative Party2475
*Michael Charles HitchinsConservative Party2344
Jeremy EastaughLabour Party1736

St John’s Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Patricia May CainConservative Party2448
*Richard Ivor DaviesConservative Party2383
Marilyn BatesConservative Party2356
*John Anthony CookeConservative Party2341
Alastair BatesConservative Party2248
Clive NelsonConservative Party1718
Richard Guy DicksonLiberal Democrats1615
Gillian Ann PalmerLiberal Democrats1431
Richard GrimesLabour Party1161
Lynn Annette PollardLiberal Democrats1115
Mary Latham HarrisonLiberal Democrats1088
Nicholas HotenLabour Party1065
Ian Malcolm FenwickLiberal Democrats1061
Peter Joseph ShielsLabour Party1036
John Steven WilsonLiberal Democrats939
*denotes sitting councillor

LANDSLIDE FOR CONSERVATIVES

It was hardy a contest in the town election this year, which left only one non-Tory on the council. Lib-Dem, Kate Dickson was the soul survivour, retaining her seat in Abbey ward.

In Park Hill, if it wasn’t for Jeremy Eastaugh of the Labour Party, there wouldn’t have been an election at all. With six seats up for grabs, only seven candidates stood. The Lib-Dems deeming it a Tory stronghold, so wasn’t worth contesting. They were dead right.

Lib-Dem, Patrick Ryan, who had been on the council (Abbey Ward) for the last 12 years, did not seek re-election. He first stood in a town election way back in 1987, and was elected to the council between 1991 and 1999.

Following retirements and resignations, the Conservatives have seven newcomers to Jubilee House. Helen Delaney and Rowena Hill in Abbey Ward, Richard Hales in Park Hill and Pat Cain, Marilyn Bates, Alastair Bates and Clive Nelson in St. John’s. John Cooke will become the leader of the council and Michael Coker, the Mayor.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

16 Conservatives (M.Coker, J. Cooke, P. Cain, R. Davies, M. Bates, A. Bates, C. Nelson, D. Shilton, S. Shilton, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, R. Hales, M. Hitchins, G. Illingworth, R. Hill, H. Delaney)

1 Liberal Democrat (K. Dickson)

Mayors

2015-16 Michael Coker

2016-17 Richard Davies

2017-18 Kate Dickson (pictured)

2018-19 Michael Hitchins

Town Clerk – Maggie Field

Kenilworth Magistrates Court – Officials 1956

Magistrates (JP’s)

Kenilworth Magistrates Court – Officials 1950

Magistrates (JP’s)

1962 Kenilworth Magistrates Court Highlights

Driver Refused to Dodge the Issue of his ‘Wobbling Car’

Parents did not Approve of Marriage

Failed to Register as an ‘Alien’

Betwixt and Between

1963 Kenilworth Magistrates Court Officials

Magistrates (JP’s)

1963 – January – Kenilworth Magistrates Court

Jimmy Hill’s Offside Move Failed

Bought Tuck With What He Took

Court Had a ‘Bone To Pick’ with Lorry Driver

Ice Cream Man in a Hurry to Sell Ices

Jacked Up Job after White Line Troubles

Couldn’t wait a Few More Days to have Some Booze

2017 – 4th May – Kenilworth Town Council – By Election

St. John’s Ward

CandidatePartyVotes% vote
Richard Guy DicksonLiberal Democrats129742.91
Joe CarterConservative Party120239.77
Jeremy EastaughLabour Party2999.89
Alix Margaret Dearing Green Party1274.20
Susan Mabel ChambersUnited Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)993.27
Majority 95

Electorate 6679 (Turnout 49%)

Ballot Papers Issued 3024 (2 Spoilt Papers)

RICHARD JOINS WIFE ON COUNCIL

The election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative, Alistar Bates who was moving to New Zealand. He had been elected to the council two years previously.

After five previous town council elections, stretching back 22 years, all in the Tory stronghold of St. John’s, Richard Dickson’s long fight for a seat on the council, has finally come to fruition. His determination and perseverance has won him the day.

In a tight contest, he fought off Tory rival Joe Carter by just 95 votes.

Richard Dickson now joins his wife Kate at Jubilee House, but the Lib-Dems have an up-hill struggle with just two councillors as opposed to 15 Tories. Good luck, Mr & Mrs Dickson!

Kenilworth Town Councillors

15 Conservatives (M.Coker, J. Cooke, P. Cain, R. Davies, M. Bates, C. Nelson, D. Shilton, S. Shilton, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, R. Hales, M. Hitchins, G. Illingworth, R. Hill, H. Delaney)

2 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson, R. Dickson)