Southall 830-
Richard J. Meads
1947 came in with very cold weather. There was skating on the canal and Golf Links
Pond -
Other Council news -
Mr J. Culley, JP, MBE, died in April, aged 68, first leader of the Labour Party on
the Council and three times chairman. On a brighter note Mr and Mrs Chard, both JPs
and long serving members of the Council, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary,
and two Councillors married -
The Boreas destroyer adopted by the Borough had now gone out of commission and the Comforts Fund was discontinued. The cost of education was still on the increase, rising from £29.15.0d to £35.5.0d. Double British Summer Time was still in operation.
Other town news -
Captain J. J. Bridges retired as British Legion Secretary after 14 years and Mr Bill
Garrod (Charter Mayor) retired from the Salvation Army Insurance Branch after 32
years, and Mr J. S. Orwin retired from being manager of the Southall Labour Exchange
after 25 years -
The Wolf again won the Bat on The Green. Two Presentations – Southall Toc H Branch were presented with its 'Lamp' by Mr W. Haigh, JP in memory of his son killed in the RAF in 1942. Mr F. K. Taylor of the Northcote Arms presented a Mace to the ATC Bagpipe Band. On July 5th the new memorial organ was dedicated at the Kings Hall and the same evening a grand organ recital was given. Kings Hall Missionary, Miss Gladys Stevenson, was given a fond farewell before returning to the far east. She had been in Japanese hands throughout the war. Dr C. W. Seccombe, who had done such a lot for the district, died on 16th December. He had been temporary Medical Officer of Health and Divisional Surgeon to the St John Ambulance Nursing Division and had been made a Serving Officer of the Order of St John of Jerusalem by the Queen. Councillor A. T. Dane was elected Mayor for 1948.
1948
The town had not had a very good year in 1947. Rationed goods were still in short
supply. Housing was still a big problem and the rates very high. This was mentioned
by a Councillor who stated that in 33 years the rates had gone from 8/-
At the end of January the town Information Centre was opened next to the Kings Hall
in South Road. This was later closed and used by the British Red Cross until demolished.
Their new headquarters has been built on the same site. Great efforts were being
made to get bus services in the North Southall area and several meetings and petitions
had so far had no results. On the 6th May the second portion of Hortus Road Cemetery
was consecrated by the Bishop of Kensington. Deputy Town Clerk, Mr J. L. Betteridge,
died on 28th July. He had served the Council for 17 years. Mr W. J. Spencer (my last
schoolteacher) died 24th October. He was at North Road School for twenty years, Councillor
for seven years, Chairman 1930-
On Sunday, 18th July the Labour Club held a Memorial Service, and a plaque was unveiled to commemorate members who were killed in the Second World War. Later, on the 13th November, at the Southall Grammar School (Villiers Road) three plaques, with the names of former pupils who had been killed in the war, were unveiled by Under Secretary of State.
The Inauguration of Norwood Green Horticultural Section on the 1st February, 1948. The Wolf again won The Bat. St Johns old school was demolished June 1948 and the Revd D. J. Morey came as Vicar to St Johns in September.
A businessman in Southall for over 40 years, Mr H. Keevil and his housekeeper were
killed in a car crash in May. His shop in the High Street had a front canopy and
was known as the Jersey Farm Dairy. He took a great deal of interest in the town's
affairs. There was a fair amount of unrest among the workers at the AEC and several
token strikes were held. Mayor for 1949 -