Mr. W J Sawford

A man of energy – as anybody might tell at a glance – Mr. Walter James Sawford, new chairman of Rushden Urban Council, elected on Wednesday, leads a busy life as grocery, transport and milk manager to the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society.

He will now be busier – but he does not seem to mind. He has had eight years of preparation for the chairmanship, and his colleagues know his liking for action as opposed to mere speech-making.

Born in Queen-street, Rushden, Mr. Sawford has been quite content to make his career in the town, though during the last war he was away on patriotic duty serving in France and Italy with the Notts and Derby Regt. To-day three of his sons are in the fighting forces, another is in the Home Guard and a fifth does A.R.P. work. Father himself does fire-watching.

Mr. Sawford entered the service of the R.I.C.S. as a youth 39 years ago, since when he has managed all the branches at one time or another. Thirteen years ago he rose to his present position, following the death of Mr. W. H. Marriott.

Labour Councillor

In 1934, at the first attempt, he became a Labour councillor for the West Ward, fourth on the poll, and three years later he was one place higher. He is on the War Emergency Committee and has done good service also in connection with highways, lighting and the Fire Brigade.

Seven years ago he joined the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board in the place of the late Mr. G. W. Coles, going through the chair in 1939. Early this year he took an energetic and successful part in Rushden’s Aid-to-Russia Campaign as chairman of the salvage sub-committee.

As a young man Mr. Sawford played football for the Rushden Thursday Club.

Second in Command

Mr. A F Weale

Mr. A. F. (“Archie”) Weale, vice-chairman at Rushden, was in the news at Easter when he retired from the L.M.S. Railway Co. after a long term of service, latterly as town representative.

He intends to take up another appointment – for the period of the war – but his Council work and his position as Lieutenant (second-in-command) of the Rushden “E” Company, Home Guard, would keep him active in any case.

A native of Leicester, Mr. Weale served as a young man with the North Staffs Volunteers, and during the last war was with the 63rd Royal Naval Division in France and Belgium.

He joined the Midland Railway as a clerk at Tamworth and came to Rushden in 1901. An able political speaker and organiser, he put in many years of excellent service for the Liberal Party before gaining his Council seat as an East Ward Liberal in 1937. He was then regarded as the successor to his father-in-law, Mr. Arthur Wilmott, who had retired. During the last year he has been chairman of the Plans and Highways Committee.

Mr. Weale has been associated with several town organisations, including the League of Nations Union, and was for several years vice-chairman of the British Legion branch. His son is an officer of the Royal Navy.

Civic Service 1942

Chairmen of the Council