James Heyes
Chairman of Aspull Urban District Council 1929/1930 and 1930/31
Elected 17/04/1929, re-elected 16/04/1930
b 1878 Aspull
Parents: Alexander Heyes, grocer, and Mary Ann (formerly Monks)
m 1919 Wigan Gladys Holt
children: Not known
d 1968 Bispham, Blackpool. Gladys died 1970 in Bolton
James Heyes was born in Aspull in 1878. His parents Alexander and Mary Ann ran a grocers shop at 3 Scot Lane, Aspull. The 1911 census states that there were seven children, with two having died. Two daughters and three sons have been identified from census records.
Two of James’s younger brothers attended Aspull Methodist School, so it is probable that James also was educated there.
During the Great War 1914-1919 James served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Salonika. His brother Alfred served in the Royal Field Artillery and his other brother William was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. All three survived the war.
Following the War James took over the family grocery business from his father who retired to live in Bispham, Blackpool. He married Gladys Holt in 1919 and at the start of the second world war was running the grocery and post office at 3 Scot Lane Aspull.
James was first elected to Aspull Urban District Council around 1923 and was appointed a County Magistrate in 1935. He served as chairman of the Council for two years from 1929 to 1931.
He was a founder member of the Aspull branch of the British Legion, serving as chairman and treasurer, He was also vice-chairman of the Aspull War Memorial Committee. He was active in supporting movements to benefit ex-servicemen and was secretary of the Aspull Free Church Relief Fund that assisted families of soldiers and sailors.
During the 1926 coal strike he was Chairman of the Miner’s Dispute (1926) Children’s Distress Fund and of the Lord Mayor’s Coalfield Distress Fund in Aspull. He also served on the Wigan and District Employment Committee and on the finance committee of the Haigh and Aspull Nursing Committee.
A lifelong member of Aspull Methodist Church he was treasurer, manager of the day school and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday School.
Following his retirement from business James and Gladys moved to the family home in Bispham were James died in 1968 and Gladys in 1970. Both are buried in Haigh St David’s Churchyard.
Author: Peter Walker
Sources:
Aspull Urban District Council Minutes
Wigan Observer 25 September 1935 p14e appointment as magistrate (with photo)
Aspull Methodist School registers (Findmypast.co.uk free at Museum of Wigan Life) originals at Wigan Archives
Pilkington P, Roll of Honour of the men of St Elizabeth’s Parish Aspull who served in the Great War. Wigan Local studies reference 040.467
Ancestry.co.uk (Free at Museum of Wigan Life)
Findmypast.co.uk (Subscription required)