Robert Pendlebury
Chairman of Aspull Urban District Council 1941/42, 1947/48
Elected Chair 17 April 1941
Elected Chair September 1947 on resignation of John Tootle
Re-elected Chair 22 April 1948
B 1893 Aspull
Parents: Robert Pendlebury (Colliery Carpenter) and Emma (formerly Ryder)
m Martha Alice Coward, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Coward
children: One Son
d 1964 Aspull, Martha died 1969 in Blackpool
Robert Pendlebury was born in 1893 son of Robert Pendlebury and Emma (daughter of Robert Ryder). He attended Aspull Methodist School and became a life-long member of Aspull Methodist Church. He worked for Wigan Coal Corporation for over 25 years.
In 1918 he married Martha Alice Coward and had one son.
During the Second World War he was employed in munitions work and served as Chief Air Raid Warden for Aspull. His son, Thomas, served as an Air Raid Warden Messenger in Aspull.
Elected to Aspull Urban District Council in 1936 for North Ward he remained a member of the Council for eighteen years serving on the water, health, highways and Lighting committees. He also represented the Council on the Divisional Education Committee and sat on the managing bodies two local schools.
He was first elected Chairman of the Council in April 1941 and served in this capacity for one year. In April 1947 he was elected vice-chairman to John Tootle who was elected to the Chair. Following John Tootle’s resignation in September 1949 Robert became chair for the remainder of the Council’s year.
Robert died at his home in St Mary’s Road, Aspull, in 1964 and was cremated following a funeral service at Aspull Methodist Church. Martha died in 1969 in Blackpool.
Author: Peter Walker
Sources:
Aspull Urban District Council Minutes
Wigan Observer 22 April 1941 p3e Appointed chair
Post & Chronicle 29 October 1964 p1f Obituary
National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914 on Findmypast.co.uk – free at Museum of Wigan Life
Ancestry.Com (Free at Museum of Wigan Life)
Findmypast.co.uk (Subscription required)