Southall 830-
Richard J. Meads
On January 19th, 1946 the death was reported of Mr C. C. Stone aged 76. He had been general foreman for A. & B. Hanson for several years and had supervised the building of several of the most important places in the town, one of which was the Maypole Railway Siding, Bridge Road, which gained high awards for its excellent brickwork.
Alderman W. H. Hopkins appointed Mayor 1947.
1945 was to see Southall become a Constituency and, on the first polling day -
Labour Mr Walter H. Ayle 37,404
Conservative Col. G. G. Baker 13,347
Liberal Lt-
With a Labour majority of 24,000.
Our County Councillor, George Pargiter, was elected MP for the Spelthorne Division.
The war was still taking its toll of local men. News came through that several men
who had been prisoners of war in Japanese hands had died, and others lost in bombing
raids over Germany. But at last came Victory. Germany had surrendered and there was
great celebrations on VE Day, May 8th, with a Town Service in Southall Park on the
20th May -
Gradually all the auxiliary services were disbanded, each holding its own party. It was disclosed that the POW Packing Centre had despatched 924,878 parcels.
Other local news The County rate increased 1/0½d in the pound, and local rate up
by 1/4d in the pound. Three ex-
First mention of a school on Western Road allotment site. Borough election -
During the past two years the town had got used to having American servicemen around. With a big hospital at Northolt and the Heston Airport so near; they behaved themselves well and, of course, several married local girls. Children who had been evacuated returned home and, gradually, food and clothes rationing finished. Norwood Hall, which had been bought by the MCC, was turned into an Old Peoples' Home and remained so until 1956.
After the war ended the Norwood Green Residents' Association called an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 23rd July and took up from where it left off, its main object being to look after the interests of the residents. By this time there was only one farm left in the Southall area, Snells Farm, Dormers Wells, and this was gradually losing its land which was being taken to erect prefabs.
Around about now the Air Ministry began to make plans for a new London Airport, and Heston Airport was thought to be suitably placed. Plans were drawn up to greatly enlarge this and the Ministry began to buy all the land required. This included all Cranford village but, as we all know now, this plan was dropped and London Airport built on land about three miles away. With the coming of the airport a great change started in Southall's population.
Council doings seem to dominate 1946. Financial matters were a continual source of
worry. Losses on Borough Cafe Meals, Market Garden and Piggery amounted to nearly
£3,000, but the sale of 2,000 tons of salvage raised £7,400. Education cost £231,090
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`Victory Week', organised by the Council, with a grand opening in Southall Park, was sadly spoiled by rain. This continued most of the week and only indoor functions were held.
The Mayor raised £392 for the YMCA; at the County Council election Councillor J.
Lowe and Mrs E. Jackson elected; and at the Borough elections, the Labour majority
was reduced by one. Three former Councillors died -
The Council, after a very great deal of opposition, passed a motion to introduce
a 'Closed Shop' for employees, to come into effect March 31st, 1947. Mr J. Silvey,
an ex-
In the battle for The Bat, between The Lamb and The Wolf on August Monday The Wolf
retained The Bat. This raised £21 for hospital. Mr Percy Reading, a Southall man,
broke the world non-
Miss N. Lewis, Founder member and First Lady Superintendant Ladies Division St John
Ambulance, made a Serving Sister of the Order of St John in April, 1946. The Salvation
Army celebrated its 60 years in the town -