1963-1964, Joseph Johnson Mayor of Wigan

Joseph Johnson JP

Mayor of Wigan County Borough Council 1963-64

Joseph Johnson was born in 1900, son of a miner. When he left school aged 14 he began work as a drawer at Park Lane Colliery. He studied at evening classes and gained his certificate of competency as an under manager and colliery manager. During his lifelong career in the mines he was under manager at Bee Colliery Higher Lane and when he retired in 1961 he was under manager at Landgate Colliery, Ashton.

In 1927 he married Jennie Arkwright and had one daughter, Margaret.

He was first elected to represent Pemberton South Ward for Labour on Wigan County Borough Council in 1947. He was especially interested in education, becoming chairman of the Primary and Secondary sub-committees of Wigan Education Committee and Chairman of Governors of Wigan Grammar School. In 1964 he became a member of the Board of governors of Wigan & District Mining & Technical College.

As chairman of the Wigan Parliamentary By-laws Committee he took a leading role in the local celebrations during the Festival of Britain in 1951.

In 1963 Councillor Johnson was elected as Wigan’s 716^th Mayor with his wife, Jennie, serving as Mayoress. During his year in office he hoped to do all he could to help solve the unemployment problem in Wigan and attract new industries to the town.

In July 1963 he paid an official visit to the Isle of Man were Wigan Boy’s Club were holding their annual camp. His fellow councillor, the author’s father, Alderman Arnold Walker JP, was on holiday in Port St Mary with his family. Someone thought it would be a great idea to include Alderman Walker in the Mayor’s itinerary. He was not too pleased, especially as the rented holiday bungalow was not equipped to cater for such a visit. Two dozen cups and saucers had to be purchased and then carried home to Wigan at the end of the holiday. The mayor posed for a press photograph with Alderman Walker’s sons Martin and Peter.

In April 1964 he laid the foundation stone for Wigan’s new £770,000 swimming baths, replacing the town’s Victorian baths, and opened the new fire station at Newtown. The M6 Motorway at Gathurst was opened by the Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples MP.

Joseph Johnson was a quiet spoken gentleman, known and respected for his faith, courtesy, tact and diplomacy – skills that he put to good use when thousands of council tenants besieged the Town Hall during protests against rent rises. Other important issues at this time were the use of smokeless fuels and changes to Wigan’s boundaries.

In April 1969 ill health caused him to retire from public life, colleagues on Wigan Council paid tribute to him. Mr F H Pedder, secretary to the Education Committee said that “we have all appreciated Cllr Johnson’s services kindness, tolerance and integrity were characteristics of him”.

Mr H Wood said that “On behalf of all the teachers in Wigan I must say how much we have enjoyed his services”

Cllr Johnson replying said “I never felt that I was held in such high regard. This has always been my goal – do unto others as they do unto me. I am leaving the committee with great regret but my health demands it”

When he died at home in October

1973 fellow councillors paid tribute.

Alderman James Taberner worked with him in the pits and was a close family friend said “Joe Johnson was a living martyr. When you think of the conditions we worked under in the old days it’s no wonder we got chest trouble. He tried his best to carry out his intentions. He served his church, he served his town,  he served his family. In the end he suffered too much.”

 Labour Leader Alderman Edward Maloney said that “Mr Johnson was a “natural gentleman” and a “deeply religious man who lived up to his beliefs”

He was prominently associated with Christ Church Mitchell Street Newtown, he left his wife Jenny and a married daughter Margaret and two grandchildren.

Sources:

Wigan Almanac 1964 – local chronology 1963

Wigan Almanac 1965 – local chronology 1964

Biographical Cuttings Book 7

p138 Lancashire Post 6 March 1963

p139 Wigan Observer 8 March 63

p170 Liverpool Echo 10 Oct 1964

p264 Lancashire Evening Post 29 Apr 1969

Biographical Cuttings Book 8

p133 Evening Post & Chronicle 31 Oct 1973

Local Cuttings Book 10

P226 Photos LEP 23 May 1963

P285 Wigan Observer 22 May 1964

Wigan Observer Indexes

Wigan Observer 13 March 1963 p11 d&e New Mayor & Mayoress of Wigan Picture

Wigan Observer 24 May 1963 p9d to f

Volunteer Peter Walker