|
Herbert Beach, 1933 - 1935 Herbert Beach was living at "Thornbury", 4 Wolverhampton Road, Bilston at the time of his termof office as mayor. He was first elected to Bilston Urban District Council in 1906. Before the charter of incorporation of Bilston (which made Bilston a municipal borough in 1933) Beach had held the title of Chairman of the Council. He worked in a furnishing business set up by his father, and continued to do so whilst serving the borough council. In November 1933, he became the first person to hold the office of Mayor of Bilston. He was associated with a number of organisations and causes in Bilston and was president of the Bilston Horticultural Society and the Bilston Operatic Company. He was a member of the High Street Methodist Church throughout his life and was voluntary organist there for over thirty years. In 1933 he was made a magistrate, and during the incorporation of Bilston he was presented with the Town's Charter by the Right Honourable the Earl of Harrowby, the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire. One of his first official duties was to attend the service at Swan Bank Methodist Church to mark Mayor's Sunday (12th November), accompanied by the borough's aldermen, councillors and officials. Sometimes known as the "Father" of Bilston, Beach was affectionately referred to by his closet friends as "Uncle Herbert". In May 1950 he was presented with the title Honorary Freeman of the Borough. Freedom
of the Borough: Express & Star, 6th May 1950 |
 |
