1933-1934, William Rowland Boydell, Mayor of Leigh

1933-1934, William Rowland Boydell, Mayor of Leigh

William Rowland Boydell was the twenty-fifth Mayor of Leigh. 

Born in Leigh his first job was as an office boy at Marsh Calvert & Sons solicitors later becoming confidential clerk to William Edward Marsh.

He joined the Army Service Corps in 1915 during the First World War. By the end of the war, William held the rank of Captain as well as being the Officer Commanding in the Manchester District. William took up the position of secretary of the Lilford Weaving Company mill which had previously used as a German prisoner of war camp during the war. The mill flourished and William subsequently becoming the Managing Director.

As a Councillor William represented the St Thomas ward prior to 1914, he later represented St. Mary’s ward from 1929 to 1938. He served on several committees and was chair of the Rating Committee. William served on the Executive and the Finance committee of the Leigh Conservative Association as being the district chair for Leigh. William had a reputation of being a lucid and forceful speaker.

Appointed a borough magistrate in 1919, William also represented Leigh on the County Council as well as serving as a warden and school manager of Leigh Parish Church. 

William was elected Mayor in 1933, when he and the Mayoress were presented to King George V and Queen Mary during their stop at Lowton Junction in 1934.

Always having an aversion to being photographed, his picture is believed to be the only one missing from the pictorial record of Mayors of the Leigh Municipal Borough, as he constantly refused to have his picture taken. 

William left the Council in 1937 and moved to North Wales. Before his move to Wales, William had lived at Northfield off St. Helens Road, Leigh.

William died aged 86, the Mayor at that time, Francis Gibson, said that he learned with regret of his death and he remembered William as an adversary of his late father. Alderman Kearney, recalled that William’s opinions where always respected as honest. 

William was said to be a keen watchdog over finance but a ‘fine character’. 

William’s funeral took place at Colwyn Bay Crematorium following a service in the house. 

William married three times and left a wife, one daughter, Margaret Hall Boydell, a former high-ranking officer in the W.R.A.C., and one son, John Cowburn Boydell, manager of Lilford Mill.

By Evelyn Walls.

References

Biographical cuttings – William Rowland Boydell – Leigh Local Studies