George Henry Naylor
Chairman of Aspull Urban District Council
Chair 1933/34, 1934/35 & 1940/41
Elected 19/04/1933, re-elected 18/04/1934
Elected 18/04/1940
b 1878 Aspull
Parents: John Naylor, Miner, and Alice (formerly Seddon)
m 1902 at Haigh Margaret Jane daughter of Robert Williamson, contractor
children: Two sons and one daughter
d 1961 New Springs, Margaret died 1966
Born in 1878, son of John and Alice Naylor of Longfield Street, New Springs. George was the eldest son in a family of five boys and four girls.
In 1902 he married Margaret Jane Williamson at St David’s Church Haigh. They lived all their lives in Longfield Street where they brought up a family of two sons and a daughter.
George’s younger brother, Fred, won a Powell scholarship to Wigan Grammar School and from there he went to Liverpool University where he attained a BA with honours in history. He taught first at St Thomas’ School, Wigan before accepting a post as assistant master at Bishop Wordsworth’s School in Salisbury. In April 1915 he enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment where he attained the rank of Lieutenant. On 11th April 1918 he was killed in action by a machine gun bullet at Ploegsteert Wood in Belgium. His name is listed on Aspull War Memorial.
George was a coal miner (Hewer) in 1901, checkweighman in 1911, in the 1939 National Register he is recorded as a platelayer’s labourer (unemployed).
George was first elected to Aspull Urban District Council in 1924 and held his seat for thirty years, becoming respected as the “Father of the Council” for his knowledge and experience. He represented the Council on Division 11 Education Committee and several other organisations and was elected chairman in 1933/34, 1934/35 and 1940/41.
When he retired from the Council in 1954 he was presented with a tea service from his fellow councillors.
Paying tribute to him following his death in 1961 the then Chairman, Councillor Green. said that “throughout his life (Councillor Naylor) had done valuable work in the trade union and political fields”.
Margaret Naylor died in 1966.
Author: Peter Walker
Sources:
Aspull Urban District Council Minutes
Wigan Grammar School Admissions (National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914) www.findmypast.co.uk (Free at Museum of Wigan Life)
Wigan Observer 18 May 1918 (WW1 Newspaper Cuttings) Death in action of Fred Naylor (brother of George)
Wigan Observer 15 May 1954 p9c (Photo) – Retirement age 75
Wigan Observer 7 Feb 1961 p1 Death
Wigan Examiner 7 Feb 1941 p2g Death
Ancestry.Com (Free at Museum of Wigan Life)
Findmypast.co.uk (Subscription required)