1904 – 25th March – KUDC Triennial Election

Elected (12 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Edwin Gee	Conservative	533
*William Growse	Conservative	531
*James Jackson	Liberal	495
*George Bostock	Conservative	476
Charles Randall	Liberal	476
Arthur Street	Liberal	465
*Edward Hodges	Conservative	451
*Edmund Bourne	Conservative	430
William Riley	Liberal	363
Maj. Berkeley	Conservative	355
Edward Margetts	Conservative	327
*Arthur Weetman	Conservative	307

Not Elected

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Barnet	Liberal	299
William Pears	Conservative	298
John Knight	Liberal	291
*Richard Knight	Liberal	289
Ernest Nixon	Conservative	262
Dr. Jackson	Conservative	261
T. Sherwin	Liberal	183
Charles Wilkinson	Conservative	150

*denotes retiring councillor

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, at which time 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 (Gee, Bostock, Growse, Hodges, Bourne, Berkeley, Weetman, Margetts)

4 Liberals (Jackson, Randall, Street, Riley)

Chairman

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