Author: Nick

Abbey (one seat)

Candidate	Party	Votes
J. Naylor	Ratepayers Association	399
*George Tisdale	Independent	207
Harold Jessen	Labour	42

Park Hill (one seat)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*James Leaver	Labour	217
Frederick Faxon	Independent	191

Borrowell (one seat)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Samuel Rollason	Independent	262
William Hiorns	Independent	260
Benjamin Nicholls	Labour	31

Castle (one seat)

*Leonard Smalley

Unattached

u/op

*denotes retiring councillor

TISDALE UNSEATED

The annual election of the KUDC took place when four present members had to retire and seek re-election, if they choose to do so. All four came forward but only three managed to retain their seats.

Tisdale Shocked

The major shock though, was George Tisdale losing his seat in Abbey Ward by a massive 192 votes to opponent Mr Naylor of the ‘Ratepayers Association’. Mr Tisdale had been chairman for the past two years and nobody expected this. After the result was announced, he said; ‘Mr Naylor is the straightest man I have ever fought. We both played the game and I congratulate him on his success’.

Two Vote Winner

Tension was greatest in the count at Borrowell. After the initial count, Samuel Rollason and William Hiorns, had finished level on 261. But after two furthur recounts, Mr Rollason was declared the winner by 2 votes.

In Park Hill, Labour candidate, James Leaver, just got the better of former councillor Frederick Faxon by 26 votes. Mr Leaver is the only socialist on the council.

‘King of the Castle Ward’, Leonard Smalley was returned unopposed.

KUDC Councillors

9 Independents (Rollason, Randall, Gee, Ackerman, Weetman, Watling, Jackson, Griffiths, Bostock)

1 Ratepayers Association (Naylor)

1 Labour (Leaver)

1 Unattached (Smalley)

Chairman

1936-37 Thomas Jackson

Council Clerk – Mr. James Clover Whittaker

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	446
*Williams Hiorns	Independent	369
*Samuel Rollason	Independent	335
*Edwin Gee	Independent	283

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Henry Watling	Independent	u/o
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	u/o
*Frank Weetman	Independent	u/o

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Tisdale	Independent	332
*William Griffiths	Independent	325
Frederick Faxon	Independent	294
Reginald Smith	Independent	207
Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	146

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Thomas Jackson	Independent	259
*James Leaver	Labour	251
*James Akerman	Independent	240
Benjamin Nicholls	Labour	107

*denotes retiring councillor

Council Losses Its ‘Father’ – But Tisdale is Back

82-year-old, Edwin Gee of Castle Farm lost his seat in Borrowell Ward having been on the council for 39 consecutive years and was affectionately known as the ‘Father of the Council’. His 39 years makes him the longest serving member of the KUDC, beating Edward Hodges by two years. He had been a great servant to the town.

The local press reported that voting was of a very quiet character and the poll was small. Also, some ‘plumbing’ had apparently taken place. Strangely, some voters were led to believe that they only had one vote (instead of three).

George Tisdale came top in Abbey Ward after a year away from council following his defeat in the annual election to Mr Naylor last year. He did not seek re-election this year.

Frederick Faxon, a former councillor, was also returned in Abbey Ward. Leaver retained his seat for the Labour party, and is the only socialist on the council.

The counting was done by Returning Officer, Mr. Whittaker and his staff. Only one spoilt ballot paper was reported, with the words ‘with love’ written on it? The results were declared outside the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill, to an expectant crowd, at 9.50pm.

The first meeting of the new council was on 20th April when Mr. Jackson, the retiring chairman was re-elected. But what the councillors didn’t know at the time, this would be the last election for 9 years. The Second World War was looming……

KUDC Councillors

11 Independents (Bostock, Hiorns, Rollason, Watling, Smalley, Weetman, Tisdale, Griffiths, Faxon, Jackson, Akerman)

1 Labour (Leaver)

Council Clerk – Mr. James Clover Whittaker

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref PH (N) 600/147/3)

VACANCY CAUSES A STORM – LABOUR NOT HAPPY

Due to the resignation of councillor James Leaver (Labour), a vacancy occurred in the Park Hill Ward. Under the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act 1939, the KUDC did not need to conduct a by-election as is usually the case.

After advertising the vacancy, they received two applicants. Herbert Martin Woodhams of Windy Harbour and Eric Bernard Smith of Warwick Road.

Mr Woodhams was proposed by Cllr Akerman and seconded by Cllr Tisdale. Mr Smith was proposed by Cllr Hiorns and seconded by Cllr Rollason.

At a council meeting on 18th August, the vacancy was voted upon by the the eleven present members. The vote went as follows:

Woodhams 7 Smith 4

Woodhams was declared the winner, and duly elected as a councillor in the Park Hill Ward. This would last for as long as the Temporary Provisions Act 1939 remains in force.

Home Office Get Involved

However, that was not the end of the matter. At a meeting on 15th September, the council were informed by the clerk that he had received a letter from the Home Office following a complaint from the Warwick and Leamington Divisional Labour Party. The Home Office was asking the KUDC for their observations upon a complaint in respect to the procedures adopted by the council at their meeting on 18th August when filling the vacancy.

The KUDC responded by submitting to the Home Office, certified extracts from their minutes plus newspaper adverts, together with a copy of the notice that advertised the vacancy on the Council House notice board.

Mr Leaver was first elected in 1931 and was the only Labour representative on the council. We can only assume that the Labour Party did not put forward a candidate for the vacancy because they didn’t know it existed. There was no doubt it was advertised correctly by the council. But surely, Mr Leaver himself, would have mentioned to someone at the divisional party (and locally), that he was resigning his seat in Kenilworth?

After the rumpus was over, Mr Woodhams continued as a councillor, so the Home Office were obviously satisfied with the KUDCs submission of evidence. Two-years-later, Mr Woodmans received a CBE for his work in the aircraft industry, while a director at Armstrong Whitworth.

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Griffiths	Independent	404
Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	385
Alexander Jeacock	Progressive-Liberal	372
George Tisdale	Independent	370
*Frederick Faxon	Independent	322
Albert Sullivan	Labour	226
Albert Whitehouse	Independent	217
William Riley	Labour	199
Caroline Adkins	Labour	167

Turnout 63.8%

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	880
Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	832
Alan Huckvale	Independent	806
Ernest Altree	Labour	184
Florence Langsdale	Labour	127
Benjamin Nicholls	Labour	122

Turnout 62.2%

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	775
*Frank Weetman	Independent	667
*Henry Watling	Independent	625
John Beadle	Labour	244
Carl Ashford	Labour	213
Violet Povey	Labour	175

Turnout 57.6%

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Ling	Ex-Service	948
Miles Smallwood	Independent	858
Hubert Howe	Independent	641
*Thomas Jackson	Labour	447
Bruce Tyson	Independent	292
Stephen Everall	Labour	278
Claude Simpson	Labour	259

*denotes retiring councillor

Turnout 62.7%

CRUSHING DEFEAT FOR LABOUR – TISDALE GONE

A ‘minor sensation’ occured at this election when two former chairman, Tisdale and Jackson, lost their seats. Faxon, another former member, who had served throughout the war, also lost his seat.

Abbey Ward, in which Tisdale was defeated, was the closest in the whole election. Indeed, three re-counts were required between him and Jeacock. But after all the re-counts had tallied-up, Tisdale finally conceded defeat and shook the hand of Jeacock. Only 34 votes seperated the first four candidates.

Overall polling was particularly strong and few people can remember such enthusiasm and interest in a Kenilworth election before. It seemed the war had changed peoples thinking. Polling was said to be brisk during the day and in the evening it was more reminiscent of a parliamentary election.

Polling took place at the Priory Road school and the declaration was made by the returning officer, Mr J. C. Whittaker at 12.45am. Many hundreds of people had gathering outside to hear the results.

Labour, who had won a landslide victory in the General Election the previous year were soundly beaten here in Kenilworth, not one of their 12 candidates came close. The town had asserted that they wanted individuals to run the town, not parties.

Following this election, the KUDC acquired larger premisies in Southbank Road. Wilton House was eventually converted from a private residence into a functional council house.

KUDC Councillors

10 Independents (Smallwood, Howe, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Bostock, Huckvale, Smith, Whitehouse, Griffiths)

1 Progressive-Liberal (Jeacock)

1 Ex- Service (Ling)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)

Park Hill Ward

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Jackson	Independent	545
Frederick Dodds	Independent	511
Harry Andrew	Labour	314

Electorate 2300 Turnout 1370 (59.6%)

JACKSON RETURNS

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Major Ling in December last year.

Three candidates came forward, George Jackson, former councillor (and chairman) and now licensee of the Engine Public House in Mill End. Second candidate was Frederick William Dodds, who is also a licensee, at the Albion Tavern, Albion Street. The third hopeful was Harry Andrew who is an aircraft fitter, and vice-chairman of the local Labour party.

Following Mr Ling’s resignation rumours were flying about that the council were going to ‘Co-opt’ a member onto the committee instead of holding an election to fill the post. This was categorically denied by Mr Whittaker, Clerk of the KUDC. He said that co-option was out of the question, as this war-time expedient no longer applied.

Mr Jackson’s election comes after two years away from the council, having failed to be re-elected in the Park Hill in 1946, when he stood as a Labour candidate. At that time he had been on the council for 15 straight years. At his first meeting back he did not mince his words, telling the members they had; “Been asleep for a long time” and reforms were being held up because of it. He demanded action on a number of issues including the provision of a ‘halt-sign’ at the railway at Mill End to serve the industrial population. He also added that a better bus service in Windy Arbour was also needed.

KUDC Councillors

11 Independents (Smallwood, Howe, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Bostock, Huckvale, Smith, Whitehouse, Griffiths, Jackson)

1 Progressive-Liberal (Jeacock)

Clerk of the KUDC – Mr James Clover Whittaker

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Griffiths	Independent	582
*Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	475
*Alexander Jeacock	Independent	461
Harry Andrew	Labour	222
Leonard McDonald	Labour	185

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	954
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	857
*Alan Huckvale	Independent	810
Alice Andrew	Labour	242

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	829
*Frank Weetman	Independent	779
*Henry Watling	Independent	690
Thomas Ingram	Labour	236

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Thomas Jackson	Independent	929
*Miles Smallwood	Independent	747
*Hubert Howe	Conservative	702
Harold Gloster	Labour	394
Carl Ashford	Labour	263

*denotes retiring councillor

INDEPENDENTS RULE – LABOUR HAVE BAD DAY

It was an easy victory for the ‘Independents’ with all their eleven candidates being returned. The Labour party, however, had a bad day, all six of their candidates failed get anywhere near being elected.

Before the poll, Hubert Howe, who was elected as an Independent in 1946, said in his election address that he was going to stand as a Conservative. He added that as he was the Chairman of the Kenilworth Conservative Men’s Association, and if I stood as anything but a Conservative I would be letting down not only my friends in the local association but the Conservative cause as a whole. The question of politics even at a local level, cannot be ruled out entirely. The present government are gradually removing many powers of local authorities. This can be seen in the nationalisation of electricity, gas, transport, hospitals and probably water as well. Mr Howe’s statement did not effect his re-election in any way, as he was easily returned in Park Hill. But he was the only official tory on the KUDC.

KUDC Councillors

11 Independents (Griffiths, Whitehouse, Jeacock, Bostock, Smith, Huckvale, Smalley, Weetman, Watling, Jackson, Smallwood)

1 Conservative (Howe)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of the Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sidney Flavel	Independent	510
Mrs C. Alford	Independent	401
Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	401
Howard Hooper	Independent	319
*Frederick Whitehouse	Independent	303
Florence Langdale	Labour	232
Cecil Johnson	Labour	196
Thomas Ingram	Labour	192

63% Turnout

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Wiliiam Bostock	Independent	978
*Alan Huckvale	Independent	883
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	873
Leonard McDonald	Labour	429
W. P. Bracewell	Labour	372
Norman Anderson	Labour	291

61% Turnout

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
W. R. Taylor	Independent	679
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	656
*Henry Watling	Independent	575
*Frank Weetman	Independent	551

62% Turnout

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Thomas Jackson	Independent	727
A. James	Independent	629
Ernest Glenn	Independent	528
D. Deykin	Labour	357
Harold Gloster	Labour	459
Robert Tuck	Independent	235

53% Turnout

*denotes retiring councillor

INDEPENDENTS DAY – WOMEN MEMBERS ARRIVE

For the first time in its history, the KUDC has two women councillors. Mrs C. Alford and Mrs Huckvale, wife of councillor Alan Huckvale. They polled the same number of votes in Abbey Ward.

Two members that stood for re-election, Frederick Whitehouse and Frank Weetman lost their seats. Frank Weetman had served 17-years and Frederick Whitehouse had done six.

Four councillors did not seek re-election: Jeacock, Griffiths, Smallwood and former chairman, Howe. Hubert Howe had resigned his chairmanship just before the election due to health reasons. He was an engineer at Armstrong Siddeley and the chairman of not only the council but the local Conservative Club as well. His wife said that it was all getting too much for him and he needs a rest from these responsibilities.

There were 7,699 people on the register in Kenilworth and although the Labour party made a determined effort, getting 2,528 ‘crosses’ on their ballot papers, it was to no avail. The political compostion of the council is entirely Independent. Exactly half of the council are new members.

Two of those new members run licensed premises, Ernest Glenn at the Abbey Hotel, and Thomas Jackson at the Engine Pubin Mill End. Both were elected in Park Hill. (Drinks all round!

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Mrs K. Alford	Independent	486
*Sidney Flavel	Conservative	441
*Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	373
Alex Jeacock	Conservative	337

NO CHANGE

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*William Bostock	Independent	910
Jack Cox	Conservative	873
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	790
J. A. McDonald	Labour	572

CONS GAIN FROM INDEPENDANT

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	764
*W. Taylor	Independent	723
*Henry Watling	Independent	717
Mrs J. Worrall	Independent	398

NO CHANGE

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Joseph Watts	Conservative	616
*A. James	Independent	509
*Thomas Jackson	Independent	388
*Ernest Glenn	Independent	356
Harold Gloster	Labour	343
Florence Langdale	Independent	269

CONS GAIN FROM INDEPENDENT

*denotes retiring councillor

Overall Turnout 52%

THE DUSTBIN ELECTION

In the weeks leading up to the election there had been issues with the dustbin collections or rather the lack of them. Ratepayers were not happy people, and numerous complaints were received. The council responded by saying that the dustbin vehicle was constantly breaking down plus the shortage of ‘Dustbinmen’ was the cause of the problems. The Surveyor has suggested putting forward a possible incentive bonus to attract workmen into the job, and the purchase of a new lorry would stop the recurring repair costs to the present one, which is now, ten years old.

But whether the ‘rubbish’ problem contributed to the supposedly low turnout is disputable, the 52% could be said to be a ‘normal’ poll for Kenilworth elections. There were reasonably close polls for third seat in both Abbey and Park Hill, but in the other two wards, the candidates were easily returned. Labour only stood in two wards, Borrowell and Park Hill, both candidates failed to be elected. Mr Gloster being the closest, getting within 40 odd votes in Park Hill.

Two New Members

Jack Alwyn Cox, of Oaks Road, has lived in the town for most of his life and is employed at Humber Ltd in Coventry as a wages accountant. He is the vice-president of the Kenilworth Conservative Club and has served on its committee for sometime. Mr Cox is also the treasurer of the Coventry East Conservative Association. He is married with no children and in his spare-time he is a Special Constable. He was educated at Warwick School where he had gained a scholarship.

Joseph Watts, is a master Ironmonger by trade, which he started in 1948. This followed employment for many years as an engineer. He is married and has a 12-year-old son. Mr Watts is not a member of any club or organisation and spends his spare time gardening. He has lived in Kenilworth all his life, in the ward that he will represent. He was educated at St Augustine’s School.

KUDC Councillors

9 Independents (Mrs Alford, Mrs Huckvale, James, Jackson, Smalley, Taylor, Watling, Bostock, Smith)

3 Conservatives (Watts, Cox, Flavel)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Mrs K. Alford	Independent	684
Ronald Stansfield	Conservative	637
*Mrs P. Huckvale	Independent	612
R. C. Mitchell	Labour	374
Thomas Ingram	Labour	368
G. R. Darkin	Labour	359

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Jack Cox	Conservative	938
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	839
*William Bostock	Independent	837
Chris Webster	Labour	724
Raymond Tanner	Labour	570
Arthur O’Connor	Labour	552

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Joseph Watts	Independent	660
T. J. Prentice	Conservative	621
Frederick Dodd	Conservative	516
F. W. Miller	Independent	413
Mrs A. Birch	Independent	393

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	u/o
*W. R. Taylor	Independent	u/o
*Henry Watling	Independent	u/o

*denotes retiring councillor

PUBLIC MEETINGS JUST FOR ‘RUBBER STAMPING’ – SAY LABOUR

The Independent group hold a four seat majority over their Conservatives rivals, one less than the election of 1955.

In their Election Address, the Kenilworth Labour Party, claimed that KUDC monthly public meetings were merely a procedure for ‘rubber stamping’ decisions made at committee. They stated that they deplored this attitude towards the ratepayers of the town. In their manifesto they said that the Square should be developed for the benefit of the people and not left until private enterprise decides to develop it for its own interest. Labour stood in only two wards with six candidates, all of which, failed to be elected.

There was no contest in castle ward as Smalley, Taylor and Watling were elected unopposed. They have been ‘Kings of the Castle‘ since the 1952 election and any opposition would have been futile.

Former Councillor, Mr Flavel had resigned his seat two months before the election due to business commitments, which left him little time for council matters.

Only four Conservatives stood in the poll and all were elected. New to the council is Mr Prentice, who has recently moved to Kenilworth, was a former Conservative member for ten years on Coventry City Council. He is an accountant and company director.

KUDC Councillors

8 Independents (Mrs Huckvale, Mrs Alford, L. Smalley, W. Taylor, H. Watling, J. Watts, E. Smith, W. Bostock)

4 Conservatives (T. Prentice, F. Dodd, J. Cox, R. Stansfield)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PN (N) 600/147/3)

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Jack Cox	Conservative	979
*Eric Bernard Smith	Independent	733
John Russell	Conservative	716
Derek Rivett	Conservative	656
Chris Webster	Labour	533
Harry Potts	Independent	520
Mrs. F. Allen	Labour	341
Dorothy Boneham	Labour	330

CON GAIN FROM IND

Abbey (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
John W. Wilson	Conservative	722
Evan Thomas Evans	Conservative	604
*Ronald Stansfield	Conservative	570
*Mrs. K. Alford	Independent	513
K. Emerson	Labour	365
T. Ingram	Labour	362
S. Barnett	Labour	352

CON GAIN FROM IND

Castle (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Leonard Smalley	Independent	802
*Henry Watling	Independent	772
*William Taylor	Independent	765
Percy Barnett	Labour	220

NO CHANGE

Park Hill (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*J. Prentice	Conservative	1002
*Frederick Dodd	Conservative	868
*Joseph Watts	Independent	836
Mrs J. Langdale	Labour	400

NO CHANGE

*denotes retiring councillor

WOMEN GONE FROM COUNCIL

Although the election provided some records, especially for the amount of electors being able to vote, the turnout was only 56%, which is about average for town polls.

For the first time since 1952 the council will be all-male when they assemble on May 30th. Mrs. Huckvale did not seek re-election while Mrs Alford lost her seat in Abbey ward. But there wasn’t enough women candidates to realistically have any chance of gaining representation on the council.

Labour put much effort into this election but all their eight candidates failed to to be elected.

There will be three new faces on the council. The youngest member being 25-year-old Mr. Wilson, whose father has just been elected onto the County Council.

The honour of being ‘father’ of the council will now be shared between Leonard Smalley and Henry Watling, who were both elected in 1934. They succeed William Bostock who did not seek re-election, he had served continuously since 1928.

KUDC Councillors

7 Conservatives (Cox, Russell, Wilson, Evans, Stansfield, Prentice, Dodd)

5 Independents (Watts, Smalley, Watling, Taylor, Smith)

Chairman

Chairmans Chain of Office – Courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)