Richard Buxton, 1943 - 1944

Richard Buxton was born in Bradley and lived at "Thelma" in King Street. He ran his family's engineering business in Bradley. He was first elected to Bilston Council in 1933, representing the Town Hall Ward. In 1944, as mayor, Buxton attended a church service in order to pray for the lives of Bilston men who had been captured by enemy forces. By the end of his local government career, Buxton had attained the position of Justice of the Peace and in 1947 he defeated Ernest Bold in the Alderman election by nine votes to five. One of Buxton's associates wrote of him: 'He reminded me of a blunt instrument…He was seen as a quick tempered, aggressive man' who 'baited those who disagreed with him'.

Church Service: Bilston and Willenhall Times, 22nd January 1944 Photograph Index: BILSTON PEOPLE Buxton R Mayor 1943 - 1944 Associate's Quote: Smallshire, JL 1986: Pioneering in Black Country Local Government 1850-1950. p.148