Author: Nick

1973 – 7th June – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

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Abbey & Borrowell (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Helen DoreLiberal1384
Jack BastockLiberal1054
Haydn ThomasLiberal925
Peter MooreConservative870
Ronald StansfieldConservative867
Eleanor HogarthConservative687
Thomas LitterickLabour283
Mrs I. BarleyLabour236
G. ParkingtonLabour206

Windy Arbour (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
John WilsonConservative827
Thomas RobinsonConservative789
Jan MokrzyckiLiberal474
Lynn PollardLiberal444
Mrs M. McLellanLabour106

St John’s (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Chris WebsterLabour553
William WozencroftLabour500
Terry RogersLiberal380
Hugh MartyreLiberal376
E. I. MilliganConservative320
J. RickardConservative315

Castle (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Kenneth RawnsleyConservative749
E. L. BurbidgeConservative728
Dora GreenwayLiberal564
Peter SimmondsLiberal545
Jane LitterickLabour119
B. CarrellLabour108

Park Hill (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Robert ButlerLiberal650
Graham BramwellLiberal588
Spencer HarrisonConservative586
Kenneth HogarthConservative569
W. J. ClarkeLabour151
Mrs S. HarrisLabour132

INAUGURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

In the re-organisation of local government, Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth were combined to form the new Warwick District Council (WDC). 11 of the 58 members were allocated to Kenilworth.

Five re-counts were required in the closely contested Park Hill ward, where Graham Bramwell beat Spencer Harrison by just two votes for the second available seat.

Liberals dominated in the combined Abbey & Borrowell ward, gaining all three seats. Overall they had five candidates elected in the town.

Within the WDC, the Liberals have just seven seats, which may not seem many. But they now hold the balance of power at the new council, as the Tories hold 26 seats and Labour 25.

WDC Standings (58 seats)

26 Consevative Party

25 Labour Party

7 Liberal Party

NO OVERALL CONTROL

Kenilworth District Councillors

5 Liberals (B. Butler, G. Bramwell, H. Dore, H. Thomas, J. Bastock)

4 Conservatives (K. Rawnsley, E. Burbidge, J. Wilson, T. Robinson)

2 Labour (C. Webster, B. Wozencroft)

1976 – 6th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

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Abbey & Borrowell (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Helen Bainbridge DoreKenilworth Liberals1397
*Jack BastockKenilworth Liberals1226
Kenneth William HogarthConservative1224
Richard Mayne OldnallConservative1002
Patrica Francis AdamsConservative942
*Haydn Alan ThomasKenilworth Liberals918
Joseph William EnglandLabour277
Roger Christopher SmithLabour260
Susan Elizabeth O’DonovanLabour199

Registered Voters 4358

Ballot Papers Issued 2618 (0 Spoilt)

Votes Cast 7445 (60%)

One Con gain from Liberal

Castle (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative1057
Michael Francis CokerConservative977
John Henry DrewKenilworth Liberals502
John RiordanKenilworth Liberals443
Rosemary Mary EllisLabour93
Jane Ellen LitterickLabour89

Registered Voters 2737

Ballot Papers Issued 1622 (16 Spoilt)

Votes Cast 3161 (59%)

No Change

Park Hill (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Henry Frederick PottsConservative862
Ann Judith PearceConservative774
*Robert Charles ButlerKenilworth Liberals648
*George Lansbury BramwellKenilworth Liberals596
Malcolmn Leslie BurfittLabour109
Peter Rhydwen JonesLabour104

Registered Voters 2443

Ballot Papers Issued 1576 (20 Spoilt)

Votes Cast 3093 (65%)

Two Con gains from Liberal

St John’s (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Richard Ernest MonningtonConservative561
*William Henry WozencroftLabour557
Jerry HickConservative551
Kevin John O’DonovanLabour435
Kenneth Charles EvansKenilworth Liberals353
John Keith OrdKenilworth Liberals309

Registered Voters 2276

Ballot Papers Issued 1462 (34 Spoilt)

Votes Cast 2766 (64%)

One Con gain from Labour

Windy Arbour (2 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*John Pearson WilsonConservative1134
*Thomas Fredrick RobinsonConservative1076
Derek ChingKenilworth Liberals482
Dennis George CoulsonKenilworth Liberals391
Peter Frederick SingerLabour79
Graham Charles HallLabour75
*denotes retiring councillor

Registered Voters 2544

Ballot Papers Issued 1651 (2 Spoilt)

Votes Cast 3237 (67%)

No change

RIGHT TURN FOR WARWICK DISTRICT

Any influence the Liberals had on the WDC has now finally diminished following this election. Three years ago they had the balance of power with just seven members, the Tories and Labour having a similar number of seats. In Kenilworth they were down to just two councillors. In Abbey ward, Helen Dore and Jack Bastock were returned but Haydn Thomas was unseated. Two other Liberals failed to be re-elected, Bob Butler and George Bramwell in Park Hill. Within the district the Liberals only have three members left.

For the Tories, is was a good day with three of their members being re-elected, plus five new councillors. This doubled their Kenilworth representation from the 1973 poll. In the district, the Tories took overall control.

Labour were down to only one councillor, Bill Wozencroft, who successfully retained his seat in St. John’s. Chris Webster who had been elected at the 1973 poll, did not seek re-election.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservatives (M. Coker, K. Hogarth, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, R. Monnington, H. Potts, A. Pearce, K. Rawnsley)

2 Liberals (H. Dore, J. Bastock)

1 Labour (B. Wozencroft)

1977 – 24th November – Warwick District Council – By Election – Park Hill

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Park Hill

CandidatePartyVotes
Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative465
Lance Bramwell Liberal421
Malcolm Leslie BurfittLabour76

CONSERVATIVES RETAIN SEAT

This by-election was called due to the resignation of member Ann Pearce, who was leaving the town and moving to London with her husband.

But the Tories held the seat with a majority of 44. Winner, Spencer Harrison had contested the inaugural district council election in 1973 but lost by just 2 votes in Park Hill to Liberal, Graham Bramwell. He did not stand in last years poll.

Mr Harrison is 52-years-old and lives in Station Road. He is a director of Buckingham Swimming Pools in Priory Road and has four children, all attending local schools. He had previous been on the old Kenilworth Urban District Council for seven years, also representing Park Hill.

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservatives (M.Coker, J. Wilson, T. Robinson, R. Monnington, H. Potts, K. Rawnsley, K. Hogarth, S. Harrison)

2 Liberals (H. Dore, J. Bastock)

1 Labour (B. Wozencroft)

1979 – 3rd May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

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Abbey & Borrowell (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Helen Bainbridge DoreLiberal1986
*Jack BastockLiberal1795
Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal1387
*Kenneth William HogarthConservative1340
Ronald StansfieldConservative1245
Nicholas Russell WilsonConservative1141
Wendy Jane EnglandLabour474
Susan Elizabeth O’DonovanLabour322
Collen Bernadette RamseyLabour259

Registered Voters 4287

Ballot Papers Issued 3474 (7 spoilt)

Votes Cast 9949 (81% Turnout)

Liberal gain from Conservative

Castle (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Michael Francis CokerConservative1277
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative1199
Leslie Graham WindybankLiberal699
David Arthur PreeceLiberal681
Thomas SwallowLabour166
Gordon Herbert MitchellLabour161

Registered Voters 2765

Ballot Papers Issued 2271 (16 spoilt)

Votes Cast 4183 (82.1% Turnout)

No Change

Park Hill (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Robert Charles ButlerLiberal1080
Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative968
Kenneth BulmerConservative922
Kenneth Charles Evans Liberal869
Peter Rhydwen JonesLabour249
Peter Frederick SingerLabour222

Registered Voters 2684

Ballot Papers Issued 2237 (1 spoilt)

Votes Cast 4310 (83.3% Turnout)

Liberal gain from Conservative

St John’s (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*William Henry WozencroftLabour790
*Richard Ernest MonningtonConservative710
Robert Ronald WoollerConservative678
Malcolm Leslie BurfittLabour566
Mary Muirhead ArcherLiberal377
Leonard Charles DavisLiberal354

Registered Voters 2241

Ballot Papers Issued 1816 (2 spoilt)

Votes Cast 3475 (81% Turnout)

No Change

Windy Arbour (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*John Pearson WilsonConservative1381
James Herbert WhitbyConservative1282
Lynn Annette PollardLiberal601
Stephen James Francis AdamsLiberal524
Joseph William EnglandLabour213
Elizabeth Evelyn LeeLabour176
*denotes retiring councillor

Registered Voters 2609

Ballot Papers Issued 2194 (10 spoilt)

Votes Cast 4177 (84.1% Turnout)

No Change

MASSIVE TURNOUT BY KENILWORTH VOTERS

Not for many years has a Kenilworth election produced such a large turnout of voters. But as it was the same day as the General Election, so it wasn’t surprising. Every ward produced more that 80%, un-heard of in local elections. In the event, the Liberals gained two seats from the Tories, much to everyones surprise. The lone Labour voice is Bill Wozencroft, who retained his seat by topped the poll at St John’s with 790 votes.

Liberal, Helen Dore received the highest vote in the election, 1,986 in Abbey & Borrowell.

Four Conservatives who seeked re-election retained their seats. One surprise return to the Tory ranks was James Whitby. He was first elected in Kenilworth in 1964, during the days of the old KUDC but did not seek re-election in the 1967 poll. The Tories also saw the return of Spencer Harrision, another veteran of the old council.

In Kenilworth, the Tories took 46.6% of votes cast, Liberals 39.7% and Labour 13.5%.

WDC Standings (58 seats)

40 Conservative Party

13 Labour Party

4 Liberal Party

1 Ratepayers of Whitnash

22 SEAT OVERALL MAJORITY

Kenilworth District Councillors

6 Conservatives (J. Pearson, J. Whitby, R. Monnington, S. Harrison, M. Coker, K. Rawnsley)

4 Liberals (R. Butler, H. Dore, J. Bastock, H. Thomas)

1 Labour (B. Wozencroft)

1982 – 25th November – Warwick District Council By-Election – Abbey & Borrowell

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Abbey & Borrowell

CandidatePartyVotes
Leslie Graham WindybankLiberal834
John Anthony CookeConservative758
Melanie Ruth LomasLabour150

LIBERAL HOLD

Turnout 49%

LIBERALS RETAIN SEAT

This by-election was called due to the resignation of Liberal, Helen Dore, who had been on the district council since its inception in 1973.

Graham Windybank, leader of the town council, managed to retain the seat for the Liberals by a majority of 76 over rival, John Cooke. It was never going to be an easy task for the Tories who needed more than a 7% swing from 1979 poll.

Labour candidate, Melanie Lomas, a former Kenilworth Grammar School pupil, faced an up-hill struggle to get anywhere near the winning line. District elections for Labour have always been difficult in Kenilworth, especially in Abbey & Borrowell, where they have never had a candidate elected.

1983 – 5th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

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Abbey (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative1934
*Michael CokerConservative1823
John CookeConservative1787
*Jack BastockLiberal1766
*Graham WindybankLiberal1577
*Haydn ThomasLiberal1557
Melonie LomasLabour313
Geoffrey CleaveLabour300
Teresa BlackwellLabour294

Park Hill (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Spencer HarrisonConservative911
*Robert ButlerLiberal898
Tony DaltonConservative896
Paul WeatherallLiberal840
John AireyLabour182
Chris PayneLabour166

St John’s (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
Bob WoollerConservative2029
*John WilsonConservative2009
*James WhitbyConservative1933
*William WozencroftLabour1170
John WhitehouseSDP830
Mary HarrisonSDP733
Brenda Payne Labour651
Mark JubyLabour564
*denotes retiring councillor

TORY LANDSLIDE IN KENILWORTH

The district council had reduced the number of councillors down to 45 from the previous 58. This left Kenilworth with only 8 seats to contest, which meant a restructuring of the ward boundaries and the reduction from five to three wards. This did not go down well with the Liberals. Abbey & Borrowell was renamed just Abbey, with Castle and Windy Arbour wards disappearing.

The Conservatives took seven of the seats, leaving only one Liberal left, Bob Butler, who only retained his seat by two votes, over Tory Tony Dalton in Park Hill. But Jack Bastock and Haydn Thomas were the biggest casulties of all the Liberals, both being dumped from Abbey ward. Mr Thomas said; “There is no doubt the boundary changes have helped the Tories and the Labour party took votes off us”. He added; “People voting Labour had effectively put the Tories in. If it were not for the Labour vote the Liberals would have been comfortably elected”.

Town mayor, Labour’s Bill Wozencroft, lost his seat in St. John’s. The newly formed Social Democratic Party (SDP) didn’t fair well either, their two candidates, John Whitehouse and Mary Harrison being unsuccessful in St. John’s.

Six of the Tories who stood for re-election, retained their seats. For John Cooke, this was the first district council election he had contested beating Liberal rival Jack Bastock by just 21 votes.

WDC Standings (46 seats)

31 Conservative Partry

7 Labour Party

5 Liberal Party

3 Whitnash Ratepayers Association

17 SEAT OVERALL MAJORITY

Kenilworth District Councillors

7 Conservatives (M. Coker, J. Cooke, B. Wooller, J. Wilson, J. Whitby, S. Harrison, K. Rawnsley)

1 Liberal (B. Butler)

1987 – 7th May – Warwick District Council Elections – Kenilworth

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Abbey (3 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Kenneth RawnsleyConservative2027
*John Anthony CookeConservative2025
*Michael Francis CokerConservative1989
Jack BastockSDP-Liberal Alliance1887
Haydn Alan ThomasSDP-Liberal Alliance1586
Mary Latham HarrisonSDP-Liberal Alliance1470
Teresa Margaret BlackwellLabour400
Garry John LucasLabour302
Leonora EverittLabour260

Votes Cast 11,946 (29 spoilt)

Park Hill (2 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Spencer Charlton HarrisonConservative1189
Thomas Anthony DaltonConservative1116
Kenneth James GriffithsSDP-Liberal Alliance689
*Robert Charles ButlerSDP-Liberal Alliance649
Lesley Jane BowenLabour242
Anthony BowenLabour240

Votes Cast 4,125 (10 spoilt)

St. John’s (3 seats)

CandidatesPartyVotes
*Robert Ronald WoollerConservative2348
*John Pearson WilsonConservative2334
*James Herbert WhitbyConservative2214
William Henry WozencroftSDP-Liberal Alliance1581
Dennis Edmund RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1206
Vera Maud RoystonSDP-Liberal Alliance1187
John David BennettLabour415
John PayneLabour393
Geoffrey Ernest CleaveLabour378
*denotes retiring councillor

Votes Cast 12,056 (9 spoilt)

CLEAN SWEEP FOR TORIES IN KENILWORTH

Bob Butler, of the SDP-Liberal Alliance, the soul survivor of the 1983 poll, lost his seat in Park Hill. He was very disappointed and puzzled by the result. He also lost his town council seat, and said he is contemplating standing down from local politics. He said; “This might be my ‘swan song’, I’ve worked hard in Kenilworth for the last 12 years but if this is what the voters want, then that is what they will get, you never really know the reasons why. I haven’t faced any animosity from people or the oppostion”.

Town Mayor-elect, Bob Wooller was delighted with the Kenilworth and overall district results, saying it is down to the hard working Tory group. Councillor Rawnsley, currently the leader of the Conservative group on the district council, believed the success was due to their record over the last four years. He was disappointed to lose three councillors in Leamington but happy that they had a sweeping success in Kenilworth.

WDC Standings

29 Conservatives

7 Labour

6 SDP- Liberal Alliance

3 Whitnash Ratepayers Association

Overall Majority 29

Kenilworth District Councillors

8 Conservatives (K. Rawnsley, M. Coker, J. Cooke, B. Wooller, J. Wilson, J. Whitby, T. Dalton, S. Harrison)

Thomas Litterick MP

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Kenilworth’s Scottish Politican

Former Quarry Road resident Thomas Litterick was born in Clydeside, Glasgow in 1929 to working-class parents, William and Annie.

The family moved south, probably to find work. In the 1939 register, the family were living at Standard Ave in Coventry. His father was recorded as being an ‘Engine Assembly Fitter’, probably in the car industry, as the city was a major car manufacturer.

Arrival In Kenilworth

Thomas eventually became a university lecturer having graduated in economics at Dundee University. He also studed at the University of St. Andrews. He lecturered at both Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University), and at Aston University in Birmingham, on Industrial Relations.

In 1957, Thomas married Jane Ellen Birkenhead at Chippenham and they eventually came to Kenilworth. They moved into a ‘new build’ at 1, Quarry Road, probably in 1966. They had four daughters together. Quarry Road has only four houses and adjoins Malthouse Lane with De Montfort Road.

Political Life – 1970

But it was politics that made Thomas, tick, especially the left-wing variety. This made him a ‘thorn-in-the-flesh’ of not only opposition parties like the conservatives but his own Labour party as well. He was uncompromising as well as outspoken and had strong principles and was never afraid to express his opinions.

But his political life was somewhat of a roller-coaster. His first venture into public office was in the 1970 Kenilworth Urban District Council (KUDC) election when he was elected in the St John’s ward with 521 votes. He then stood in the first ever Warwick District Council (WDC) elections in 1973 but fell short in the combined Abbey & Borrowell ward, finishing 7th out of 10 candidates with only 283 votes. He also contested the Warwickshire County Council elections in 1970 and 1973, but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

His wife Jane, also stood in the 1970 KUDC election, but was un-successful in Castle ward. She last stood in 1976, both at the district and town council elections.

Resignation From KUDC

He remained on the KUDC until 1974, but resigned his seat when all the councillors were automatically transferred to the new Town Council. He believed that a poll should have taken place.

But that same year he was nominated by the Labour Party to stand in the February general election in the Selly Oak constituency, traditionally a Tory seat, but it was marginal. He fell short by 2,882 votes to Tory incumbent Harold Gurden. But when another general election was called in October of the same year, he again went head to head with Gurden, but this time he was triumphant winning by just 326 votes, due to a 3% swing. So his dream had come true, he was now a Member of Parliament on the back-benchs in the Wilson government. His voice would be heard on numerous occasions in the chamber, but he was somewhat surprised at the ‘cat-calling’ abuse that he found there.

Health and Family Issues

But it was in 1977, that he attracted most publicity. Whilst recovering from a heart attack after being on the danger-list in the Coronary Unit of Warwick Hospital, he announced he had left his wife for another woman. But, after recovering and moving to London, he suffered a relapse and was admitted to hospital.

During a press interview his wife said that she put his condition down to many factors, including the death threats they were getting, causing him stress. Indeed, his first heart attack came only hours after he had rushed back home from Westminster following death threats the family had received. She also blamed the long working hours that MPs had to endure and called for the government to change MPs working hours. Kenilworth Police became aware of the deaths threats and put on extra patroles around the area of the Littericks’ home.

The Thatcher Revolution

By the time of the 1979 General Election, the ‘wind of change’ was blowing threw UK politics. Margaret Thatcher had been tory leader since 1975 and her party stormed to a decisive victory over the Callaghan government with an overall majority of 44 seats. Thomas Litterick was one of the casualties, losing his Selly Oak seat by 4,775 votes. This must have been one of the lowest periods of his life. Thatcher would have been his arch nemesis, being on the complete opposite ends of the political spectrum to himself.

Death

Thomas Litterick died in London, on Monday 5th January 1981, he was just 51-years-old. His wife said she did not receive any notification until Tuesday afternoon when her solicitor called round to tell her of the tragic news. A death notice had appeared in The Times but no details of the funeral arrangements were mentioned. Mrs Litterick said that she had never given up hope that he would come back home to the family in Kenilworth.

Of the ‘other woman’ in his life she said; “If she is going through what we are going through, then I feel sorry for her but I appeal to her to let me have Tom’s body back so that he can be buried alongside his parents at Canley Cemetery”. But, on the 8th January, she conceded; “I will be attending the funeral tomorrow at the West London Crematorium”. Her 20-year-old daughter, Tracey, was also there. About 150 people were at the funeral, and his last election rosette was placed on his coffin.

West London Crematorium

Tributes

MP Tony Benn, described him as a remarkable man, and a dedicated socialist. He said he was a fine teacher and a very modest man.

Former Chairman of the Kenilworth Labour Party, Joe England, of Forrest Road, said that in 1973, Mr Litterick told him that there was one thing he’d like to do before he dies was to spend some time in the ‘gasworks’ – his name for the House of Commons. A year later he got his wish.

Love him or loath him, one thing that Thomas Litterick must always be remembered for, is that he was the first Kenilworth resident ever to become an MP.

Jane Litterick continued to live in Quarry Road until her death in 2006, aged 73.

Kenilworth Town Council Mayors

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1974 – present

Richard Monnington
Michael Coker
Alix Dearing
Samantha Louden-Cooke
Spencer Harrison
Kenneth Rawnsey
1974/75
Jack Cox		1975/76
Harry Potts		1976/77
Kenneth Hogarth
1977/78
Ronald Stansfield		1978/79
Thomas Robinson		1979/80
Florence Adcock
1980/81
Kenneth Rawnsley		1981/82
Richard Monnington		1982/83
Bill Wozencroft
1983/84
Kenneth Rawnsley		1984/85
Spencer Harrison		1985/86
Jack Bastock
1986/87
John Cooke		1987/88
Bob Wooller		1988/89
Graham Windybank
1989/90
Michael Coker		1990/91
Pauline Edwards		1991/92
Peggy Cox
1992/93
Spencer Harrison		1993/94
Jack Bastock		1994/95
Bob Wooller
1995/96
Haydn Thomas		1996/97
Patrick Ryan		1997/98
Helen Pavier
1998/99
Pauline Edwards		1999/00
Dave Shilton		2000/01
Graham Windybank
2001/02
Felicity Bunker		2002/03
John Hatfield		2003/04
Doug Golby
2004/05
Pauline Edwards		2005/06
Norman Vincent		2006/07
Michael Coker
2007/08
Patrick Ryan		2008/09
Spencer Harrison		2009/10
Richard Davies
2010/11
Susan Howell		2011/12
Dave Shilton		2012/13
George Illingworth
2013/14
Felicity Bunker		2014/15
John Cooke		2015/16
Michael Coker
2016/17
Richard Davies		2017/18
Kate Dickson		2018/19
Michael Hitchins
2019/20
Alison Firth		2020/21
Richard Dickson		2021/22
Peter Jones
2022/23
Samantha Louden-Cooke		2023/24
Alix Dearing		2024/25
Alan Chalmers
2025/26
James Kennedy
Dave Shilton
Kate Dickson
Peter Jones
Alan Chalmers
James Kennedy

1974 – The Beginning – Kenilworth Town Council

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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.

First Annual Meeting

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

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)

Mayors

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