The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21st October, 1949, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Death of Mr. Charles Bates
President of the Rushden District Branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives for 29 years, and twice chairman of the Rushden Urban District Council, Mr. Charles Bates died at his home, 8, Denmark Road, Rushden, on Tuesday. He was 81.
Mr. Bates was a native of Podington where, at ten years of age he had his introduction to the shoe trade as a “half-timer.” His next job was with Mr. William Green as an eyeleting boy and at 11 he was working in John Cave and Sons’ factory.
On the formation of a local branch of the union he joined in 1890 at the age of 21. When Mr. Bates was appointed president of the Rushden Branch in 1924 the membership was 740, and when he retired at 65 in 1933 it was the largest branch of the union with a membership of eight thousand.
Dispute
Mr. Bates was in charge of the dispute at Raunds while Councillor Dribble led 115 strikers on their historic march to London in 1905. He was also prominent in the settlement negotiations with Mr. R. Askwith (later Lord Askwith) and he was appointed a member of the Arbitration Board which was formed as a result of the dispute.
In May, 1909, he was elected to the National Council of the Union and became the oldest member of the council and the one with the longest term of service.
Mr. Bates was a member of the Rushden Urban Council for 27 consecutive years and occupied the chair in 1913-14 and 1924-5. He also served on the Higham Ferrers Rushden Water Board for seven years and had been a trustee of the Rushden Parochial Charities.
Poor Health
He was a member of the County National Health Insurance Committee from its inception in 1911 until 1929. During the first world war he served on the County Tribunal and Local Food Control Committee, and afterwards on the Rushden War Pensions Committee. He was also a member of the Rushden Social Service Committee, formed in 1932.
Mr. Bates had been in poor health for some years. His wife died about 19 years ago and since that time he has lived with his niece, Miss G. Berrill.
Two sons – Charles W. W. Bates, of 9, Denmark Road, and Mr. Herbert Bates, of “High Breeze,” Newton Road, Rushden – are bereaved.
The funeral will take place on Saturday morning.
|
