A Mayor of Steel.
Councillor Eric Arnold Mayor of Scunthorpe 1977-78.
The Man Eric Arnold was born in Goole, Yorkshire in March 1921; his father having been a sea-faring man and his mother a housewife who later ran a boarding house in Scarborough. During his childhood and whilst living on the Yorkshire coast, Eric developed a taste for sport and an interest in the stage; and in 1935 aged 14 entered the butchery trade.
Eric and his family moved to Scunthorpe in 1940 and in the same year aged 19 he began working at Frodingham Steelworks (United Steelworks Ltd). This was a Reserved Occupation, thus Eric was not called up to serve with the Armed Forces in World War 2. During his time at Frodingham he attended night school working towards promotion and earned a City & Guilds qualification, becoming the number two hand at a mixing furnace. He married Mary, being later described as a ‘lovely couple who were devoted to each other’.
Eric became interested in politics during the late 1950s and contested a number of local council seats, finally entering the Municipal Borough of Scunthorpe as a Labour Councillor in 1962, representing the Grange Ward. Following the national local authority boundary changes in 1974 and the re-naming of the authority to Scunthorpe Borough Council, Eric swapped wards and in 1976 won a seat representing Ashby and later in 1979 Lincoln Gardens.
He maintained his interest in sports, leisure and local Youth groups sitting on related committees within the Council and was described as not a tall man, some 5’.6” and of slight build with gingerish hair, but had a temper when roused! As a member of the Labour group on the Council he showed leadership of the highest quality and by the time of his election as Mayor in 1977, Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee year, aged 56, had become a Scrap Inspector at the Anchor Site of United Steelworks.
He was elected as Mayor of Scunthorpe at the Borough’s annual Mayor Making ceremony in April 1977 in a packed Civic Centre; taking over from Councillor Mrs Joyce Abey. His Deputy was Councillor Cyril Nottingham. It was said at the ceremony by a colleague that he might be known as ‘The Mayor of Friendliness’. One Councillor recalling a time watching a fettling crew hard at work in the Frodingham melting shop. “When the blue goggles came off and the sweat towels came down there was Eric Arnold’s beaming face, dispensing tea, cigarettes and friendliness”.
Eric and his family moved to Scunthorpe in 1940 and in the same year aged 19 he began working at Frodingham Steelworks (United Steelworks Ltd). This was a Reserved Occupation, thus Eric was not called up to serve with the Armed Forces in World War 2. During his time at Frodingham he attended night school working towards promotion and earned a City & Guilds qualification, becoming the number two hand at a mixing furnace. He married Mary, being later described as a ‘lovely couple who were devoted to each other’.
Eric became interested in politics during the late 1950s and contested a number of local council seats, finally entering the Municipal Borough of Scunthorpe as a Labour Councillor in 1962, representing the Grange Ward. Following the national local authority boundary changes in 1974 and the re-naming of the authority to Scunthorpe Borough Council, Eric swapped wards and in 1976 won a seat representing Ashby and later in 1979 Lincoln Gardens.
He maintained his interest in sports, leisure and local Youth groups sitting on related committees within the Council and was described as not a tall man, some 5’.6” and of slight build with gingerish hair, but had a temper when roused! As a member of the Labour group on the Council he showed leadership of the highest quality and by the time of his election as Mayor in 1977, Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee year, aged 56, had become a Scrap Inspector at the Anchor Site of United Steelworks.
He was elected as Mayor of Scunthorpe at the Borough’s annual Mayor Making ceremony in April 1977 in a packed Civic Centre; taking over from Councillor Mrs Joyce Abey. His Deputy was Councillor Cyril Nottingham. It was said at the ceremony by a colleague that he might be known as ‘The Mayor of Friendliness’. One Councillor recalling a time watching a fettling crew hard at work in the Frodingham melting shop. “When the blue goggles came off and the sweat towels came down there was Eric Arnold’s beaming face, dispensing tea, cigarettes and friendliness”.
As Mayor he was said to have represented the town in an exemplary manner and raised some £3000.00 toward his recognised charity, which was the Queen’s Jubilee Appeal Fund with a specific emphasis on youth. Mary Arnold, the Mayoress also chaired a committee to organise part of the appeal fund. The sum raised showed how his charisma and personality outlined the strength of feeling people had for him and in June 1977 he was honoured to receive Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of his services to the community.
On Thursday 16th June Eric was admitted to Scunthorpe General Hospital to undergo an operation after having been feeling unwell for a few days and attending Mayoral functions in some pain. He spent a week in hospital and his engagements were carried out by is wife. During July of the same year having recovered sufficiently, Eric and Mary attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Eric lost his seat in the elections of 1982 and failed to win re-election the following year in Kingsley West Ward, thus ending his political career after 20 years aged 62. In his later years and in retirement Eric lived near the now Melior College and spent a lot time in his garden and his flower arrangements. He was also a keen lawn bowler, playing regularly for the Nypro Team in Scunthorpe. He was described in his later life as always having smile on his face and obliging.
Eric and Mary had children and a Granddaughter Hayley Jackson, but little detail is known.
Mary pre-deceased Eric and he died on 16th May 2011 and was creamed at Woodlands Crematorium on 25th May 2011. His ashes were scattered in the garden of remembrance.
On Thursday 16th June Eric was admitted to Scunthorpe General Hospital to undergo an operation after having been feeling unwell for a few days and attending Mayoral functions in some pain. He spent a week in hospital and his engagements were carried out by is wife. During July of the same year having recovered sufficiently, Eric and Mary attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Eric lost his seat in the elections of 1982 and failed to win re-election the following year in Kingsley West Ward, thus ending his political career after 20 years aged 62. In his later years and in retirement Eric lived near the now Melior College and spent a lot time in his garden and his flower arrangements. He was also a keen lawn bowler, playing regularly for the Nypro Team in Scunthorpe. He was described in his later life as always having smile on his face and obliging.
Eric and Mary had children and a Granddaughter Hayley Jackson, but little detail is known.
Mary pre-deceased Eric and he died on 16th May 2011 and was creamed at Woodlands Crematorium on 25th May 2011. His ashes were scattered in the garden of remembrance.
The Story The past Mayor’s Jewel belonging to Eric Arnold, was found on E-Bay on Monday 20th July 2010, following a speculative search for ‘Mayors Medals’. It aroused interest due to the fact the recipient had been Mayor during Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee year of 1977 and from previous experiences the researching of Mayors can be a relatively easy matter, their portraits often hanging in local Town Halls. There is also often a lot of information about them in the local press during their year in office.
A check on the internet revealed that Scunthorpe had been a Borough Council in 1977, although now a part of North Lincolnshire Council since reorganisation on 1st April 1996. As Cllr Arnold had been Mayor during the Silver Jubilee year it was likely he would also have been awarded the Silver Jubilee medal. A further check on e-bay, looking at the sellers other items currently on offer was made, and as suspected, immediately in front of the Jewel, nine minutes to be precise, was a Silver Jubilee medal. An e-mail was sent to the seller asking if the two items were connected and the following response received. “What an interesting question, yes looking back I was holding an antiques fair in Scunthorpe,and I now remember that these two items came in together from an elderly lady” A bid was placed on both and won on Tuesday 21st July 2011, thus keeping them together for posterity. |
In the meantime a telephone call to Pittwood House, the former headquarters of Scunthorpe Borough Council, was made and within a few minutes Councillor Arnold’s first name, Eric had been established and it was confirmed there was a Mayoral portrait of him in the Past Mayor's Gallery which could be visited and a picture taken. After a worrying two days where it seemed the package may have been lost in the post and following various telephone calls to the vendor and Royal Mail, they were located safely stored in a neighbour's house where they had been delivered! The Jewel bore the inscription on the reverse, Councillor E Arnold 1977-78 and was hallmarked, the Jubilee Medal still being in its original box. Further enquiries with the library in Scunthorpe revealed there were a number of news articles available in old copies of the Scunthorpe Telegraph and Scunthorpe & Frodingham Star from his Mayoral year. These were ordered, and as hoped for, contained sufficient information about Eric Arnold to begin building up a detailed biography. Interestingly one of the articles was specifically about the award of the Silver Jubilee Medal, and contained a rather poor head and shoulders photograph of him. Within a few days two of the most important aspects of medal research and collecting had been achieved, a picture of ‘The Man’ and confirmation of an unnamed award. Thus began the task of compiling his life story and piecing together a story. The Mayor’s Secretary at Pittwood House was very helpful and forwarded the request for further details onto the Labour Group office and after an exchange of telephone calls and letter to Councillor Darrel Barkworth, a long standing Councillor of Town Ward, and former colleague of Eric’s, he replied with some extra detail and the names of other former Councillors and Mayors who may be able to help. At the same time the Scunthorpe Telegraph was contacted and a lady called Jaqui was most helpful. She explained that her mother had played bowls with Eric up until his death of May this year (2011) and that sadly, not many people had attended his funeral. She also confirmed that the Telegraph had many photographs of Eric within their archives, she even downloaded some onto their web site for me to view. Jaqui also confirmed Eric had been cremated a Woodlands Cemetery in Scunthorpe, but that his family had not requested an obituary be placed in the paper. A telephone call to Woodlands confirmed that Eric had died on 16th May 2011 and had been cremated on 25th. The lady who took the call Jeanette, also knew Eric personally. Following a further telephone call to Pitwood House in 2013, it was disclosed that the photographs of the Past Mayors had all been removed for storage at North Lincolnshire Museum Services! Initially the museum wanted to charge £60.00 for a copy of Eric's portrait in robes, but following negotiation and the fact it had been agreed previously by Pittwood House, they sent a copy free of charge, which adds a superb touch to this story. Yet another example of where a little medallic foresight and tenacity will yield dividends often beyond expectations.
History of Eric Arnold’s Political Seats in Scunthorpe
Election date
8 May 58 - West Ward not elected
7 May 59 - West Ward not elected
10 May 62 - Brumby Ward not elected
5 Jul 62 - Grange Ward elected in casual ward vacancy
9 May 63 - Grange Ward elected
12 May 66 - Grange Ward elected unopposed
8 May 69 - Grange Ward elected
4 May 72 - Grange Ward elected unopposed
7 Jun 73 - Grange Ward elected
Local Government Reorganisation 1974
May 76 - Ashby Wad elected
3 May 79 - Lincoln Gardens Ward elected
6 May 82 - Lincoln Gardens Ward lost seat not elected
5 May 83 - Kingsway West Ward not elected
Election date
8 May 58 - West Ward not elected
7 May 59 - West Ward not elected
10 May 62 - Brumby Ward not elected
5 Jul 62 - Grange Ward elected in casual ward vacancy
9 May 63 - Grange Ward elected
12 May 66 - Grange Ward elected unopposed
8 May 69 - Grange Ward elected
4 May 72 - Grange Ward elected unopposed
7 Jun 73 - Grange Ward elected
Local Government Reorganisation 1974
May 76 - Ashby Wad elected
3 May 79 - Lincoln Gardens Ward elected
6 May 82 - Lincoln Gardens Ward lost seat not elected
5 May 83 - Kingsway West Ward not elected
Borough of Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe became a borough on 1 August 1936. The coat of arms was prepared by the College of Arms to reflect the town's history and character. The blast furnace represented the principal industry of the steel town. Two shells, Gryphaea incurva, represented the fossil most commonly found in the ironstone. The knight's helmet showed the town's authority as a legally constituted former Borough. The five chain links represented the five original villages of Ashby, Brumby, Crosby, Frodingham and Scunthorpe, which were combined to form the borough. The agricultural heritage of the town was depicted by the sheaf of wheat. The motto (written in latin) - 'The Heavens Reflect Our Labours' - referred to the frequent illumination of the sky which occurred at night time. This happened when molten slag was disposed of. The flowing mantel symbolised the dynamism and bravery of the borough. Pittwood House was opened on 10 April 1963. At that time it was named the Civic Centre and it was the headquarters of the then Scunthorpe Borough Council. The borough council itself dated back to 1936. As a result of local government reorganisation, Scunthorpe Borough Council was abolished on 31 March 1996. It was replaced by North Lincolnshire Council on 1 April 1996. On 2 April 1996, the Civic Centre was renamed Pittwood House in honour of Edwin Pittwood, a former Alderman and long-serving leader of the council. The name change was deemed essential to make a new beginning for local government. North Lincolnshire Council serves a much larger area than the previous borough council, taking in surrounding rural communities
Thanks are extended to North Lincolnshire Museum Service & Scunthorpe Civic Office for their invaluable assistance in helping to piece this story together.
Medal Details
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: Unnamed as awarded.
- Past Mayor's Jewel: COUNCILLOR E.ARNOLD 1977-78
This page last updated on 5 Nov 13