Romford UDC

[finsobruce]

31st March 1931

Central ward
Bissmire, Albert Sidney 110
Ives, Charles Henry 182
Jex, Alfred Edward 198
Minns, Mabel (Ratepayers) 284*
Woodcock, Charlotte Letitia

North ward
Archer, William Edward 573*
Carter, T (Labour) 110
Smart, Lewin 256
Westoby, George Henry (Labour)

South ward
Durrant, Charles William 402 *
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest (Labour) 121
Stoakley, Albert Victor (279)

Cllrs Archer and Durrant retire. Cllr Rich had recently died. Jex was the soon to be retired headmaster of St Edwards school. His retirement gifts included a leather armchair, an electric reading lamp and a grandmother clock.  In 1910 he had been before the bench for assaulting a ten year old boy by caning him after he had been caught stealing buns. The case was dismissed by the magistrates. Bissmire had been a member of the committee set up in 1929 to look at the founding of a new Romford Town football club. 

[finsobruce]

5th April 1932

Central ward
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest (Labour) 191
Johns, George Alfred (Ratepayers) 499*
Poel, John Basil 465

Collier Row ward
Smart, Ruby May(Independent) 234
Tudor, Edmund John (Labour) 418
Turtle, William Arthur (Ratepayers) 498*

Harold Wood ward
Goldsmith, William Morgan (Independent) 705*
Reynolds, Percy Edward (Labour) 156


North ward
Ellingworth, Daniel Stansbie 379
Forge, Richard Albert (Ratepayers) 663*
Westoby, George Henry (Labour) 191

South ward
Bowyer, Reginald George Laurie (Labour) 199*
Giles, Albert Selby 184
Rea, George Alfred 188

Political earthquake in Romford as all retiring councillors (Ellingworth, Poel and Rea) are defeated and the Ratepayers march in. An Independent wins in Harold Wood and there is a Labour councillor again Mr Bowyer who clearly benefits from a split vote in South ward. 

[finsobruce]

3rd April 1933

Central ward
Allen, Charles Henry 256
Ball, Ralph Alexander (Ratepayers) 341
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest (Labour) 228
Harnett, Daniel Patrick 330
Poel, John Basil 370*
Waterson, Harold John (Ratepayers) 508*

Collier Row ward
England, Thomas 426
Tudor, Edmund John (Labour) 789*

Harold Wood ward
Boston, William Thomas 717
Reynolds, Percy Edward(Labour) 209
Welsford, William Stacey 435

North ward
Brown, Thomas (Ratepayers) 547*
Carter, George Thomas (Labour) 282
Ellingworth, Daniel Stansbie 486
Parker, George Henry (Ratepayers)549*
Reeve, William 462
Westoby, George Henry (Labour)256

South ward
Nichols, William Joseph Ambridge 375
Rea, George Alfred, 356
Smart, Charles Edward (Labour) 457*
Yeal, Robert(Labour) 447*


More upheaval. Cllrs Hole, Crowe and Metcalf did not seek re-election and Cllrs Allen, Nichols, Reeve and England are defeated, the latter after eighteen years on the council. Labour gain three seats, including an impressive win in Collier Row. Poel manages a return only a year after his defeat. Mr Boston is re-elected to the council having been co-opted as chairman the previous year when he had stood down! Balance of power is now seven Ratepayers, five independents and four Labour

The slightly shocked "Reflex" of the Essex Newsman noted that not much had changed in Essex apart from at Romford "Where Labour more or less scored". He put this down to the community growing so fast "that the dignities of a Mayor and corporation will be required". Concluding portentously "And then we shall see what we shall see".

[finsobruce]

26th August 1933 by elections

Central ward
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest (Independent) 211 *
Long, William Frederick (Labour) 96

North ward
Lyons, John Stanley (Labour) 197
Osborn, Cyril Augustus (Ratepayers) 260*
Reeve, William 188

South ward
Coates, Ivy Jessie (Labour) 239*
Rea, George Alfred 193

There is definitely something in the water in Romford now as suddenly it is by elections a go go with the simultaneous resignations of Cllrs Waterson, Archer and Durrant. Labour win one seat, Ratepayers gain one and sort of lose one to Mr Fruitnight who no longer appears to be Labour.

[finsobruce]

Mar 30, 2015 22:42:05 GMT finsobruce said:

26th August 1933 by elections

Central ward
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest (Independent) 211 *
Long, William Frederick (Labour) 96

North ward
Lyons, John Stanley (Labour) 197
Osborn, Cyril Augustus (Ratepayers) 260*
Reeve, William 188

South ward
Coates, Ivy Jessie (Labour) 239*
Rea, George Alfred 193

There is definitely something in the water in Romford now as suddenly it is by elections a go go with the simultaneous resignations of Cllrs Waterson, Archer and Durrant. Labour win one seat, Ratepayers gain one and sort of lose one to Mr Fruitnight who no longer appears to be Labour. This may go back a couple of years - I'll need to check back. He was definitely chair of the Trades Council in 1929 and was an inveterate letter writer to the local press. He goes back to Labour later - and then leaves again.Not quite sure where he's coming from, but I don't think it's the left. 

[finsobruce]

May 1933 sees a Ministry of Health report on council boundaries. Noak Hill and Havering are added to Romford but the council's proposal that they gain North West Hornchurch too are turned down. The Rural District council is therefore abolished.

Dagenham also applied to get a bit of Hornchurch but this was also refused. The Chronicle notes that the "residents of Harold Wood are jubilant" as County Council proposals that part of the area are taken out of Hornchurch and added to Romford are unsuccessful.

[finsobruce]

26th March 1934

Central ward
Allen, Charles Henry (Independent) 495*
Elliott, Alfred (Labour)320
Minns, Mabel (Ratepayers) 489

Collier Row ward
Armstrong, William Alfred Richard(Ratepayers) 561
Stafford, George Amos(Labour) 607*

Gidea Park ward
Barney, Charles Henry (Ratepayers) 688*
Reynolds, Percy Edward (Independent Labour) 57

Havering ward
Delf, Kurt Henry Otto (Independent) 113*
Golley, Ernest William (Independent) 72
Rogers, Harold Arthur (Labour) 40

Noak Hill ward
Hammer, Ernest (Independent) 83
Russell, William John(Labour) 97*
Wingrave, William George (Independent)74

North ward
Lyons, John Stanley (Labour) 348
Osborn, Cyril Augustus (Ratepayers) 699*

South ward
Coates, Ivy Jessie (Labour) 542*
Hillman, Edward Henry 455

Noak Hill's inaugural contest sees a Labour gain on a suspicion of a split vote. Labour also gain Collier Row. Mrs Minns is defeated. Mr Hillman in South ward was apparently the "well known road and air transport proprietor". 

[finsobruce]

30th March 1935

Central ward
Irons, Henry (Labour) 272
Johns, George (Conservative) 474*
K!tchen, John (Ratepayers) 167

Collier Row ward
McGonagle, Aleck (Labour) 774
Turtle, William Arthur (Ratepayers) 953*

Gidea Park ward
Farrow, Robert (Labour) 218
Goldsmith, William M (Independent)1126*
Rea, George Alfred (Independent)723*
Rogers, Harold (Labour)226
Webb, Leonard S (Ratepayers) 679

North ward
Forge, Richard A (Ratepayers) 766*
Irons, Mrs Lillian (Labour) 367

South ward
Bowyer, R G L (Labour) 562*
Stoakley, Albert (Ratepayers) 491

A momentous occurence in Romford politics. The election of the first designated Conservative Mr George Johns. Labour holds its seat in South ward and the husband and wife Irons team fail to get elected. McGonagle does well for Labour in Collier Row but there is no poetry for him in the result. Two vacancies in Gidea Park due to the resignation of Cllr Boston.

[finsobruce]

4th April 1936
Central ward
Brittain, Bertram (Market Stallholders Association) 74
Butterfield,Mr J 494
Fruitnight, Arnold Ernest 516*
Hare,Mr M C A (Conservative) 355
Hill, Mr W D (Labour) 168
Irons, Mr Henry (Labour) 238
K!tchen, Mr J (Ratepayers) 252

Collier Row ward
Cole, Mr F C J (Ratepayers) 1296*
Mcgonagle, Mr A E (Labour) 787

Gidea Park ward
Rea, Mr G A (Independent) 373
Webb, Mr L J (Ratepayers) 675*

North ward
Benton, Mr J H (Conservative) 491*
Farrow, Mr R (Labour) 421
Irons, Lilian (Labour) 435
Lucas, Mr L A (Independent) 1213*
Smith, Mr C W (Conservative) 482

South ward
Perrett, Mr A (Conservative)399
Rogers, Mr H A (Labour)510*
Smart, Mr G E (Labour) 523*
Thorley, Mr P E (Conservative)378

Ratepayers gained a seat from Labour in Collier Row as Mr Tudor (who looks like he had a personal vote) stands down. North ward sees Ind and Con gain from Ratepayers who don't defend the seats. Composition of the council for those not keeping track (which includes me) is now: Labour 6, Ratepayers 6, Independents 5, Conservatives 3.

I can't find a reason why the Market Stallholders put up a candidate all of a sudden although it may not be unconnected with the fact that Mr Brittain had been convicted of employing his daugher in street trading while under the age of 16, in the previous December and again in February.

Mr Lucas was chairman of the Harold Wood Sports club which had been founded in 1925 as an offshoot of the "Householders Association". In an illustration that estate agents cheesy names for new estates are nothing new, the area had originally been known as "Sunny Town". Lucas played bowls and contract bridge.

[finsobruce]

3rd April 1937

Central ward
Allen, Mr Charles - unopposed

Collier Row ward
Stafford, Mr G A (Labour) - unopposed

Gidea Park ward
Barney, Mr C H(Ratepayers) - unopposed

Havering ward
Self, Mr K H O - unopposed

Noak Hill ward
Russell, Mr W J (Labour)- unopposed

North ward
Dyer, Capt A J 770
Hole, Mr H W (Independent) 954*
Osborn, Mr G A (Ratepayers) 720
Parker, Mr G H (Labour) 601

South ward
Coates, Ivy J (Labour) - unopposed

Only one contest with presumably all activity concentrated there. Mr Hole commented that "they had had a glorious fight. Capt Dyer and himself had won but they had met two jolly good sportsmen". (applause). There is a nice picture of Dyer somewhere in the archives, with beer glass in hand: www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/alderman-albert-john-dyer-obe-133061

[finsobruce]

September 16th 1937 was Romford's charter day when it became a borough. Charter Mayor was Cllr Allen. Composition of council moves from twenty members from seven wards to twenty one members (including seven aldermen) for five wards.

[finsobruce]

4th December 1937

Collier Row ward
Hill, Walter (Labour) 910*
Smart, Mrs L (Ratepayers) 880

Gidea Park ward
Brian, Mr Arthur J (Ratepayers) 988*
Cary, Sidney (Labour) 257
Eyre, Newman (Independent) 968*
Haseltine, George(Labour)244
Meech, Harold (Independent) 30

Town ward
Johns, Mr George (Conservative) 248
Russell, Mr William J (Labour) 374*
Stanbridge, Mr J A (Ratepayers) 287

These by elections were caused by the election of the Borough's first aldermen in November, which was the subject of some skullduggery. Of which more next time....

[finsobruce]

So back to the events of the evening of November 9th 1937: "Mayor's Night" in Essex.

After Cllr Allen had duly been nominated and seconded as Charter Mayor, matters moved on to the election of Aldermen. Cllr Fruitnight asked that the minutes of a meeting of October 28th be read out. These revealed an agreement that the places should be divided thus: Two to the Conservatives, Two to the Ratepayers, Two to the Labour party and one to the Mayor. Cllr Cole moved that since this had been an unofficial meeting its decisions were not binding. Cllr Fruitnight said that some people had clearly made a pact and were now trying to avoid it. Cllr Stafford said that there had been a gentleman's agreement which should be honoured. It wasn't. A vote was held "in accordance with sections 21 and 22 of the Local Government Act 1933" with the following result:

Mr C H Allen 21
Mr H A Forge 18
Mr Goldsmith 18
Mr C H Barney 17
Mr H W Hole 15
Mr C E Smart 13
Mr F L J Cole 13

Not elected:
Mr W J Russell 6
Mr R G L Bowyer 5
Mr L A Lucas 1

Mr Smart initially refused to be robed as an alderman but was persuaded by the mayor. This was clearly an anti Labour stitch up although Cllr Lucas seems to be very unpopular with his fellow councillors or didn't really want to be elected. Cllr Bowyer said he would be very careful in the future before he "entered into any pacts or agreements".

As can be seen from the by election results this stitch up back fired as Labour gained two seats.

[finsobruce]

1st November 1938

Collier Row and Havering ward
Hallett, Mr A J (Ratepayers) 1370
hartnett, Mr D P (Ratepayers) 1367
Irons, Mrs L A (Labour) 1770*
Stafford, Mr G A (Labour) 1823*

Gidea park and Noak Hall ward
Haseltine, Mr G (Labour) 648
Needham, Mr A (Ratepayers) 1535*
Smith, Mr E W (Ratepayers) 1453*
White, Mr J W (Labour) 677

South ward
Lucas, Mr L A (Ratepayers) 1111*
Rogers, Mr H A (Labour)1100*

Town ward
Dyer, Mr A J (Conservative) 1023*
Whitehouse, Mr F J (Labour) 785

West ward
Quartermaine, Mr G E C (Labour) 821*
Foskett, Mr G E (Ratepayers) 511

Collier Row and Gidea Park result is counted as a Labour gain from Ratepayers. Not sure why the south ward result isn't counted as a Ratepayers gain from Labour.... The annual rally of Romford conservatives was held and "dancing was indulged in". The PPC Mr Stephen Cohen made a speech saying Hitler would claim more territory with a German minority and it would be folly to oppose him.  There is a note that on the 9th of November Mr D P Harnett was appointed to the vacancy caused by the elevation of W J Russell to the Aldermanic bench, but I can't find a newspaper report of this. 

[finsobruce]

So that's it for the duration...except that Cllr Lucas decided to stand in the Croydon North by election of 1940 (19th June) opposing the government nominee Henry Willink. Lucas said he was advocating compulsory national service for all men between the ages of 18 and 55. He lost his deposit.

[finsobruce]

Although there are no details the 1945 council elections saw (according to the Chelmsford Chronicle) four Labour gains leaving the council as 16 Independents and 12 Labour. Which would seem to indicate some councillors had been added at some point. Ho hum.

[hullenedge]

These figures, taken from national press, may assist with your researches:-

1938 Ind 10 Lab 9 Ratepayers 7 Con 2 (One Lab gain from Rates)
1945 Ind 16 Lab 12 (One Lab gain from Ind)
1946 Ind 14 Lab 14 (Lab 4 wins, Non-Lab 3, three Lab gains)
1947 Ind 16 Lab 10 Con 2 (Lab 3 wins, Ind 2, Con 2, one Con gain from Lab)
1949 Ind 11 Lab 9 Con 8 (Con 3 wins, Lab 2, Ind 2, one Con gain from Ind)
1950 Lab 10, Con 9, Ind 9 (Lab 4 wins, Con 2, Ind 1, two Lab gains from Con & Ind)
1951 Con 17 Lab 11 (Con 4 wins, Lab 3)
1952 Lab 16, Con 11, Ind 5 (Lab 8 wins, Con 2, two Lab gains from Con & Ind)
1953 Lab 23, Con 10, Ind 3 (Lab 7 wins, Con 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1954 Lab 23, Con 11, Ind 2 (Lab 5 wins, Con 5)
1955 Lab 21, Con 13, Ind 2 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4, two Con gains from Lab)
1956 Lab 24, Con 12 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4)
1957 Lab 25, Con 11 (Lab 6 wins, Con 3, two Lab gains from Con)
1958 Lab 25, Con 11 (Lab 6 wins, Con 3, one Lab gain from Con)
1959 Lab 25, Con 11 (Con 7 wins, Lab 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1960 Lab 22, Con 14 (Con 6 wins, Lab 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1961 Lab 21, Con 15 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1962 Lab 23, Con 13 (Lab 6 wins, Con 4, two Lab gains from Con)
1963 Lab 26, Con 10 (Lab 7 wins, Con 2, three Lab gains from Con)

[finsobruce]

Dec 31, 2016 10:42:23 GMT hullenedge said:

These figures, taken from national press, may assist with your researches:-

1938 Ind 10 Lab 9 Ratepayers 7 Con 2 (One Lab gain from Rates)
1945 Ind 16 Lab 12 (One Lab gain from Ind)
1946 Ind 14 Lab 14 (Lab 4 wins, Non-Lab 3, three Lab gains)
1947 Ind 16 Lab 10 Con 2 (Lab 3 wins, Ind 2, Con 2, one Con gain from Lab)
1949 Ind 11 Lab 9 Con 8 (Con 3 wins, Lab 2, Ind 2, one Con gain from Ind)
1950 Lab 10, Con 9, Ind 9 (Lab 4 wins, Con 2, Ind 1, two Lab gains from Con & Ind)
1951 Con 17 Lab 11 (Con 4 wins, Lab 3)
1952 Lab 16, Con 11, Ind 5 (Lab 8 wins, Con 2, two Lab gains from Con & Ind)
1953 Lab 23, Con 10, Ind 3 (Lab 7 wins, Con 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1954 Lab 23, Con 11, Ind 2 (Lab 5 wins, Con 5)
1955 Lab 21, Con 13, Ind 2 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4, two Con gains from Lab)
1956 Lab 24, Con 12 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4)
1957 Lab 25, Con 11 (Lab 6 wins, Con 3, two Lab gains from Con)
1958 Lab 25, Con 11 (Lab 6 wins, Con 3, one Lab gain from Con)
1959 Lab 25, Con 11 (Con 7 wins, Lab 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1960 Lab 22, Con 14 (Con 6 wins, Lab 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1961 Lab 21, Con 15 (Lab 5 wins, Con 4, one Con gain from Lab)
1962 Lab 23, Con 13 (Lab 6 wins, Con 4, two Lab gains from Con)
1963 Lab 26, Con 10 (Lab 7 wins, Con 2, three Lab gains from Con)

Thanks hullenedge . The BNA don't have the Essex papers digitised after 1950 which I have e-mailed them about. I will have to get back to Romford at some point....

[hullenedge]

I've dug out these Romford county council results but please treat with caution (database iffy):-

1958

Central
Lockwood Con 2220
Newens (think it's Stan Newens) Lab 1453

East
Spackman Lab 1764
Tannock Con 154

North
Dutch Lab 1938
Mereweather Con 423

North West
Castle Lab 1446
Falk Con 892

South East
Everitt Con 2398
Ms Stokes Lab 778

South West
Ms Irons Lab 1639
Burton Con 1033

1961
Central
Lockwood Con 3117
Hollidge Lab 1084
Ms Trzebinski Lib 760

East
Ms Roberts Lab 2431
Tannock Con 322

North
Ms Hurley Lab 2613
Mereweather Con 1054

North West
Castle Lab 2858
Shute Con 2429

South East
Everitt Con 3191
McGonagle Lab 751

South West
Ms Irons Lab 1922
Ms Peters Con 1845