South Yorkshire Times, December 15, 1951
Dearne Urban Council By-election
Who’s Who in Tomorrow’s Contest in Four Wards
20 candidates will go to the poll tomorrow (Saturday) in the Dearne Urban Council by-election to fill 13 seats on the Council caused by the disqualification only King’s Bench Divisional Court decision of 17 past and present members of the authority.
Polling will be from 8 am to 9 pm, and will he followed immediately by the count at Goldthorpe Welfare Hall. The results are expected about 11 p.m.
Biographical Details
Brief details of the candidates are:—
South Ward
Mr. Thomas Burke (Lab.):
Aged 42, of 125, Ingsfield Lane, Bolton. Delegate of Barnburgh N.U.M. branch He has worked at Barnburgh since he left school except for an absence of six years, when he worked at Wath Main and Shirebrook. Now a maintenance worker. Was seriously injured a few years ago at Barnburgh. Chairman of the N.C.L.C.
Mr. Gordon Roberts (Con.)
Lived in district all his life. Educated at Bolton Junior School, won County Minor Scholarship and attended Wath Grammar School, 1939-45. Worked in Surveyor’s Dept., Barnburgh Main Colliery, since 1945. Joined Conservative Party four years ago, and active worker in Dearne district.
Mr. Joseph Sheehan (Ind. Lab.)
Irishman, aged 43. Came to Wath as a young man after having been educated in college in Ireland. Resides in Furlong Road, Bolton, and is a bricklayer at Manvers Main Colliery, where he has worked for three years. Served in the Royal Artillery during the war for five years. Vice-chairman of Bolton British Legion branch, 1949-50, and vice-chairman of the Old Age Pensions Association 1949-50. Labour Party member for five years, but resigned this year.
Mr Wilfred Thomson (Lab.)
West Riding County Council representative on Dearne Combined Secondary Schools Governor’s, and a member of Mexborough Further Education Sub-Committee, has served for the past year on Dearne Urban Council Library Committee. Was secretary of Dearne Labour Party and a member of Hemsworth Divisional Labour Party Executive until the end of 1950, when he resigned owing to ill-health.
Mr. Charles Henry Williams (Ind. Lab.)
Former chairman of Dearne Urban Council and for many years an experienced local government administrator. Previous East Ward member, now fighting first South Ward contest. Brother of Mr. Tom Williams, former Minister of Agriculture. Resident of Bolton. A lamp room attendant at Wath Main Former chairman of Mexborough Divisional Education Executive.
