1904-1905, Sir Harry Speakman, Mayor of Leigh

1904-1905, Harry Speakman, Mayor of Leigh

Harry Speakman, the fifth Mayor of Leigh, was born on the 23 May 1885, the eldest son of John and Jane Speakman of Bedford House, Leigh.

Sir Harry was educated at Elliott’s School, Leigh, the North Lancashire Collegiate School and Wigan Mining School.

He held a mine manager’s certificate of competency and was the general manager of John Speakman and Sons, Bedford Colliery. Harry was also a director of many local companies including Atherton Mills, Harrison McGregor, Bridgewater Estates Ltd., and Astley Estates Ltd.

In 1894 Harry was elected to the Council as a Conservative member and became Mayor of Leigh in 1904, the youngest person to be Mayor at that time. Harry became was given Honorary Freedom of the borough of Leigh in 1930 where he and Mrs Speakman were presented with a silver casket, on one side is a painting in enamel of Leigh Town Hall and on the lid is the Leigh coat of arms

Other duties Harry performed included being the chair of the Technical Instruction Committee of the council and a member of the Leigh and Atherton Joint Sewage Board. Harry was also a member of the Manchester Geological and Mining Society and was on the Executive Council of the Mining Association of Great Britain. He was a Governor of both Leigh Grammar School and Leigh Girls Grammar school.

In 1889 he married Helen Francis McGregor of Clonlee, Larne, County Antrim. They had five sons and one daughter, their son Ernest Speakman was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action. 

Harry was also a Freemason and Junior Deacon of the Marquis of Lorne Lodge in Leigh as well a member of the order of Oddfellows. 

Harry was included in the King’s Birthday Honours List in 1936 and was knighted for political and public services in Leigh.

His main recreation was golf.

He died in 1946.

By Evelyn Walls 

References

Biographical cuttings – Harry Speakman, available at Leigh Local Studies