Harry Davies was born in Leigh in 1915 and attended Leigh Grammar School. He was married in 1941 to Elsie Gore and had 3 daughters who all went on to be teachers. During the Second World War he was a Corporal in the Royal Tank Regiment.
In 1948 Harry started teacher training and his first teaching appointment was at Westleigh St. Paul’s School where he taught from 1949 to 1957. He then taught at Newton Westpark from 1957 to 1960. After Newton Westpark he went to Westleigh Church of England School where he became the Deputy Head. In 1964 Harry was promoted to Head Teacher of Bedford Methodist Primary. He retired in 1977.
Harry was an influential figure outside the classroom too, being Secretary of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley National Union of Teachers Association, president of Wigan Borough N.U.T. and chair of Lancashire County N.U.T. He was a Vice Chair of governors at Bedford High and a governor at Leigh College.
His passion for education didn’t merely include schools; he was a member of Leigh Council’s Library Committee in the 1950s and 60s. He was a trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry.
Harry was also a Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee of the council.
He was Mayor of Leigh in 1971 and later he joined Greater Manchester Council, being Chair in 1984. He was also Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 1987.
Harry died in 1993.
By John Green
Reference
Biographical cuttings – Harry Davies, Mayor of Leigh