A Dispensing Mayorality
Councillor Fred Hunter Howarth Mayor of Rawtenstall 1958-1960
The Man Fred Hunter Howarth was born on 6th May 1907 in Lancashire, son of George Watson a Cotton Weaver and Margaret. In 1911 the family were living at 21 Heyhead Street, Brierfield, Lancashire. Little additional detail is known except that Fred married Ida Widdall in Burnely during the second quarter of 1935 having two children George Philip and Patricia Hunter, and he was elected to Rawtenstall Council in 1947 representing West Ward. He was made an Alderman in January 1950, reverting to Councillor upon expiration of his term and then representing North Ward. He was a Chemist and owned shops in Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth, living in the latter. Fred was elected as the 27th Mayor of Rawtenstall on Saturday 24th May 1958, proposed by Alderman Alfred Peel who said “I am certain the new Mayor will fill the position with dignity and efficiency. I have known Councillor Howarth ever since he and Mrs Howarth moved to Crawshawbooth, and I know of the good work they have done. Their connection with voluntary work has given them a knowledge which will be of considerable help to them. I wish good health to the new Mayor & Mayoress and extend the best wishes of the council for a happy, pleasant year in office.” He was seconded by Councillor George Tomlinson who said “I am sure the New Mayor’s experience on the Council would enable him to carry out his duties in a way which would be satisfactory not only to himself but to the burgesses of the Borough. He may have had plenty of advice since he knew he was going to be appointed Mayor, if I were to say anything to him it would be - do you duty as you think best - you will in that way satisfy every member of the Council. I end by expressing the wish that the new Mayor will have the support of every member of the Council, so as to make it easier for us to get on with the business that we come to this Council for”. Responding, Fred made one of the briefest acceptance speeches on record, lasting just four minutes promising to serve “Faithfully and well”.
He also said “My first duty is to express to the members of the Council and people of the Borough my greatest appreciation and best thanks for the honour they have bestowed upon me. When I first entered the Council chamber some nine and a half years ago, I never thought the day would come when I should occupy that chair. It is indeed a great honour you have paid me, and I trust that at the end of my office I will have served you faithfully and well. This I will try to do sincerely and to the best of my ability with the help of my wife and the help of all members of the Council. It might not always be possible for me to accept every invitation or to fulfil every engagement, but I trust the townspeople will understand that quite apart from business commitment my wife and I lead quite busy lives in other spheres. Nevertheless members should rest assured we will do our best to avoid disappointing anyone. For we are both determined to fulfil this office to the very best of our ability and I feel sure that with everyone’s cooperation we shall have a very happy term. He concluded by telling a story, “Many years ago a British General having satisfied himself that all preparations for the battle were made , retired to his tent and prayed thus “God, I shall be very busy this day, I may forget thee but do not forget me” “I venture to say to the members of the council that not only are we going to have a very busy day but I trust a very busy year, and I pray that we shall not forget that our words in this Council Chamber should not only be acceptable to our Creator and our fellow members of the Council but also to all residents in the Borough of Rawtenstall”. On Sunday 25th May Fred led the Mayoral Procession to the Civic Service at St John’s Church of England Church in Crawshawbooth. He served as Mayor for two civic years until 1960. Fred lived at Contin, Crawshawbooth and died on 20th August 1982 aged 75 leaving £21,289.00 in his will. He was survived by Ida who died 12 years later during 1994
The Story The Past Mayors Jewel awarded to Fred Hunter Howarth was acquired from E-Bay on 6 May 14 and as with all Mayoral regalia was of interest because of the research possibility. Research with Rawenstall Library provided some excellent photographs of Fred and his wife in Mayoral robes and some additional information about his life. But despite being elected as a Mayor it has only been possible to build up a brief biography as it seems his election came at a more innocent time, when the media were reluctant to disclose too much personal detail about an individual. However the newspaper articles, a visit to the Royal Courts of Justice to extract his will and Ancestry.com have allowed Fred's brief life story to be put together. Interestingly it was very difficult to find Fred and Ida's marriage details on ancestry.com, until it was eventually discovered that Howarth had been misspelt on the records as Howorth! Proof that there can be many stumbling blocks in the way of research.
Rawtenstall
Official blazon: Arms : Or on a Fesse Gules between two Stags trippant at gaze in chief proper and a Mound in base Vert thereon two Cows grazing and respecting each other Sable a Wolf courant of the first between two Bales of Wool of the third in the chief point a sinister Hand couped at the wrist of the second.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours upon a Mount a Squirrel sejant cracking a Nut between two Sprigs of the Cotton Tree slipped leaved and fructed all proper.
Motto : 'FLORET QUI LABORAT' - He prospers who labours
Origin/meaning: The arms were officially granted on July 16, 1871.
The squirrel, stags, and wolf are emblems of the Forest of Rossendale which once surrounded Rawtenstall. There is a tradition that before the deforestation, in the reign of Henry VII, the squirrel could leap from tree to tree. Wolves haunted the forest, and one part of the Borough formerly bore the name 'Wolfenden Booth'. The red hand, cut off at the wrist, recalls the penalty for killing the King's deer. The cows represent agriculture; the Borough includes a former hamlet called Cowpe, anciently Cowup, said to have been a place in the uplands where cows used to graze. The cotton and woolpacks stand for modern industries.
Rawtenstall: Is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, England. It is the seat for the Borough of Rossendale, in which it is located. The town lies 17.4 miles north of Manchester, 22 miles east of Preston and 45 miles south east of the county town of Lancaster. Nearby towns include Bacup, Haslingden and Ramsbottom. The name Rawtenstall has been given two possible interpretations. The older is a combination of the Middle English routen ('to roar or bellow'), from the Old Norse rauta and the Old English stall 'pool in a river'. The second, more recent one, relates to Rawtenstall's identification as a cattle farm in 1324 and combines the Old English ruh 'rough' and tun-stall 'the site of a farm', or possibly, 'buildings occupied when cattle were pastured on high ground'. A local board was formed for the town in 1874 and the district it governed was extended to cover parts of the townships of Lower Booths (Rawtenstall itself), Higher Booths, Newchurch and Haslingden in the ancient parish of Whalley and Cowpe, Lench, Newhall Hey and Hall Carr, and part of Tottington (Higher End) in the ancient parish of Bury. Subsequently Rawtenstall was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891 and in 1894 a civil parish was created to match the borders of the borough. Following the local government reorganisation in 1974 Rawtenstall became part of the Borough of Rossendale.
Official blazon: Arms : Or on a Fesse Gules between two Stags trippant at gaze in chief proper and a Mound in base Vert thereon two Cows grazing and respecting each other Sable a Wolf courant of the first between two Bales of Wool of the third in the chief point a sinister Hand couped at the wrist of the second.
Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours upon a Mount a Squirrel sejant cracking a Nut between two Sprigs of the Cotton Tree slipped leaved and fructed all proper.
Motto : 'FLORET QUI LABORAT' - He prospers who labours
Origin/meaning: The arms were officially granted on July 16, 1871.
The squirrel, stags, and wolf are emblems of the Forest of Rossendale which once surrounded Rawtenstall. There is a tradition that before the deforestation, in the reign of Henry VII, the squirrel could leap from tree to tree. Wolves haunted the forest, and one part of the Borough formerly bore the name 'Wolfenden Booth'. The red hand, cut off at the wrist, recalls the penalty for killing the King's deer. The cows represent agriculture; the Borough includes a former hamlet called Cowpe, anciently Cowup, said to have been a place in the uplands where cows used to graze. The cotton and woolpacks stand for modern industries.
Rawtenstall: Is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, England. It is the seat for the Borough of Rossendale, in which it is located. The town lies 17.4 miles north of Manchester, 22 miles east of Preston and 45 miles south east of the county town of Lancaster. Nearby towns include Bacup, Haslingden and Ramsbottom. The name Rawtenstall has been given two possible interpretations. The older is a combination of the Middle English routen ('to roar or bellow'), from the Old Norse rauta and the Old English stall 'pool in a river'. The second, more recent one, relates to Rawtenstall's identification as a cattle farm in 1324 and combines the Old English ruh 'rough' and tun-stall 'the site of a farm', or possibly, 'buildings occupied when cattle were pastured on high ground'. A local board was formed for the town in 1874 and the district it governed was extended to cover parts of the townships of Lower Booths (Rawtenstall itself), Higher Booths, Newchurch and Haslingden in the ancient parish of Whalley and Cowpe, Lench, Newhall Hey and Hall Carr, and part of Tottington (Higher End) in the ancient parish of Bury. Subsequently Rawtenstall was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1891 and in 1894 a civil parish was created to match the borders of the borough. Following the local government reorganisation in 1974 Rawtenstall became part of the Borough of Rossendale.
All photographs of Fred Hunter Howarth form part of the Rossendale Collection and are Copyright, Lancashire County Council, to whom thanks and in particular Rawtenstall Library for providing the detailed research.
Jewel Details:
- Past Mayor's Jewel: COUNCILLOR F.H.HOWARTH MAYOR 1958 - 1960
This page last updated 20 Nov 14