| Alfred Keeling | Independent | 547 |
| Eliza Mary Cole | Labour Party | 63 |
HEAVY LABOUR DEFEAT IN THE ‘TEN BOB’ ELECTION
This by-election was called due to resignation of member, Dr. William Marriott, in July, who had left the town. His resignation came only four months after being re-elected at the triennial election. But it caused much disagreement amongst some of the members. The main issue being the cost of the election. The council clerk, Mr Platt had received the resignation and the ‘fixed penalty’ of 10 shillings from Mr Marriott. Chairman, Cllr Barwell proposed that the seat was now vacant and was seconded by Cllr Gee. But Cllr Hadow protested saying that he didn’t see why the town should be put through the cost of another election. He felt that Mr. Marriott should not be allowed to resign at the cost of just 10 shillings when an election may cost up to £40. But any member has the right to resign, depending on their personnal circumstances, so the council had an obligation to hold a by-election. Especially as there was two years and eight months before the next triennial election. The chairman’s resolution was passed with Cllr Clarke and of course Cllr Hadow, voting against.
The contest, which did not excite much interest, was basically a fight between Conservative and Labour. For Mrs Cole it was the first time that a lady had stood in a Kenilworth election. She may well have regreted it as her opponent gained a majority of 484. Although Keeling had support from the Conservatives, rather oddly he decided to stand as an Independent. He had stood at the triennial election back in April (as a conservative) but came 13th in the poll, eleven votes short.
Polling took place not at the usual Central School in School Lane but at St. Nicholas school at the ‘Blundells’. Four polling stations were used for this election which in hindsight was far too many (and costly) as less than 20% of the electorate bothered to vote. Hence the polling was slow all day and only increased in the evening when people returned from work. The declaration, by the returning officer, Mr Platt was at 8.30pm, only 30 minutes after the polls had closed.
In the course of her election address, Mrs Cole stated; ‘I venture to urge that it is not unfair that Labour should have a share of representation on the local council in order that the ideas of the workers may be adequately voiced’. She also added; “I am in favour of an annual election as I consider three years between them too long. I favour the retirement of four members annually, who would be eligible for re-election. I am also in favour of the town being divided into four Wards: Central, South, West and East”.
Mrs Cole did eventually get her wish for the Ward system in Kenilworth but that took another nine years, being introduced in 1934. She never stood in a Kenilworth election ever again.
8 Conservatives (E. Hodges, W. Parkinson, C. Randall, C. Barwell, W, Dencer, R. Grindrod, E. Gee, M Carter)
3 Independents (J. Clarke, K. Rotherman, A. Keeling)
1 Unattached (E. Hadow)