1920-1921, Edwin Yates, Mayor of Wigan

ALDERMAN EDWIN YATES, JP

Mayor of Wigan 1920 – 1921

Born: 1 January 1859, Pendleton, Lancs

Parents: Philip and Mary Yates

Married: Eliza Boardman, 26 July 1883 (widowed)

Children: William (b1884), Mary (b1887), Eda (b1890), Edwin (b1892) and James (b1895)

Died: 20 January 1943,  Poolstock Lane, Wigan (aged 84)

Edwin Yates was born in Pendleton, Lancashire (now part of the borough of Salford), on the first day of 1859. His father Philip was a miner, and several of his sons, including Edwin, followed him into the mining industry. Edwin was the third child of eight.

The family moved frequently when Edwin was young, first to Staffordshire, then St Helen’s, Hawarden in North Wales, Rainford and Ashton-in Makerfield, before moving finally to Wigan, when Edwin was around 9 years old.

The Gladstone family (including the Prime Minister W E Gladstone) had an estate near Hawarden, Hawarden Castle, the young Edwin recalled seeing W E Gladstone in the area regularly.

The family settled in Worsley Mesnes, Edwin was to live around Poolstock Lane for the rest of his life. Shortly after the move, aged 9, Edwin began working at Bryn Hall Colliery. He was a door-tenter (watching and attending to the entrance to the pit), earning 11 pence a day. Edwin worked in various local mines over the next few years including Norley and Garswood Collieries, and in Brown and Nephews Cotton Mill. Around 1900 he became the checkweight man at Worsley Mesnes Colliery, where he worked until the pit closed in 1928/9.

It was whilst working at Garswood Colliery that Edwin started to take an interest in politics and trade union matters, becoming an active union member. He was the president of the Wigan Miners’ Association for 47 years, and secretary of the Worsley Mesnes branch of the Lancashire and Cheshire branch of the Miners’ Federation for 43 years.

Edwin Yates was elected to Wigan Town Council in 1907 as a Labour representative for the South Pemberton ward. He was to serve continuously until his death, some 36 years later.

In 1920, he was elected as Mayor of Wigan, a year after also becoming a magistrate in 1919. At the time of his election, he was the Chairman of the Labour Party on the Council. During his year in office, he hosted two royal visits – The Prince of Wales, who was touring Lancashire, and Princess Marie Louise, who visited Wigan YMCA. Also, during his year in office, he made an appeal for help for those affected by famine in Russia.

Edwin was elected an Alderman in 1922. Prior to his death, he was fondly known by the honorary title of ‘Father’ of Wigan Town Council – an accolade given to the longest serving Councillor in the chamber. As a Councillor, he took an especial interest in matters of public health and housing.

He served on all of the Corporation Committees, and was Chairman of the Housing and Works Committee from its inception in 1926. In 1936, the employees of the Works Department presented Alderman Yates with a wallet to mark the completion of £400,000 worth of work by the Corporation.

He also represented the Council on the Mental Health Hospital at Prestwich and Whittingham’s Board, the Board of Wigan Infirmary and for 25 years was the Chairman of the Wigan After-Care Committee for Consumptives.

Edwin married Eliza Boardman at St James’ C of E Church in Poolstock, on 26 July 1883. They celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1933, a year before Eliza’s death in 1934.

The couple had five children - William, Mary, Eda, Edwin and James. Two children predeceased their father - son Edwin died aged 11 in 1903, and daughter Mary died aged 50 in 1937. His son James was decorated for bravery during the First World War.

Edwin was a Methodist, and practiced temperance for many years. He was a member of the Bolton Unity of Oddfellows and took a great interest in football, regularly attending home and away matches in support of Wigan Athletic FC.

Edwin Yates died on 20 January 1943, shortly after turning 84 years of age. The flag flew at half-mast over to Wigan Town Hall as a mark of respect.

His funeral was held at Worsley Mesnes Methodist Church, and he is buried in Wigan Cemetery.  A large congregation gathered to pay their respects, and the police lined the entrance to the church. His coffin was transported to the cemetery on a Corporation fire engine tender. In the eulogy, it was noted that Edwin Yates’ motivation was always to make life easier for others

Sources: Wigan Observer, Wigan Examiner, Ancestry, Wigan World (cemetery records), Lancashire BMD

Complied by Rachel Stafford, volunteer.