The Right Honorable Alderman Wing Commander Alexander Hugh Jenkins Royal Flying Corps,
Royal Air Force and Lord Mayor of Bristol
Alexander Hugh Jenkins
The Man Alexander Hugh Jenkins (Hugh) was born on Friday 16th August 1895 at Heath Villas, Highfield Road, Saltley, Birmingham, his birth and baptism records showing him as Hugh Alexander, son of Hugh a Surveyor and Jessie Maud nee Wigham. He was one of three children, Sybil Makin 1894-1947 and Catherine Ann 1899-1978 and was baptised on 6th October in the Parish of Saltley in a Church of England ceremony.
Sadly, Hugh’s father passed away in 1901 of tuberculosis, having been committed to the County Asylum for Lunatics at Hatton in Warwick aged just 36 (Tuberculosis being rampant in historical lunatic asylums due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, malnutrition, and lack of isolation, making them hotbeds for the disease).
Hugh junior went to live with his uncle and aunt, Andrew and Mary Jenkins at 3 Blenheim Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxford and by 1911 they had moved to 16 Wellington Avenue, Ashley Road, Bristol and Hugh now aged 15 was working as an Apprentice to a Wholesale Stationers.
On Saturday 24th January 1914, aged 19, Hugh married Alice Christina Woodford in Bristol and they lived at 133 North Road, Bishopton, Bristol. World War I began six months later on 4th August 1914 and at some time thereafter Hugh appears to have enlisted in the army, until 3rd December 1915 when he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps as Airman 2nd Class with service number 16083. He was described as 5’ 8¼” tall with a chest of 34” and his occupation a Stationer Salesman.
Hugh was posted to the Western Front on 18th December 1915 and promoted Airman 1st Class on 1st March 1916, Corporal on 1st April, Sergeant on 1st June and Flight Sergeant on 1st September. He returned to the UK serving on a home establishment on 23rd November 1916 and on 1st April 1918 when the Royal Air Force was formed Hugh transferred as a Flight Clerk.
Sadly, Hugh’s father passed away in 1901 of tuberculosis, having been committed to the County Asylum for Lunatics at Hatton in Warwick aged just 36 (Tuberculosis being rampant in historical lunatic asylums due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, malnutrition, and lack of isolation, making them hotbeds for the disease).
Hugh junior went to live with his uncle and aunt, Andrew and Mary Jenkins at 3 Blenheim Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxford and by 1911 they had moved to 16 Wellington Avenue, Ashley Road, Bristol and Hugh now aged 15 was working as an Apprentice to a Wholesale Stationers.
On Saturday 24th January 1914, aged 19, Hugh married Alice Christina Woodford in Bristol and they lived at 133 North Road, Bishopton, Bristol. World War I began six months later on 4th August 1914 and at some time thereafter Hugh appears to have enlisted in the army, until 3rd December 1915 when he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps as Airman 2nd Class with service number 16083. He was described as 5’ 8¼” tall with a chest of 34” and his occupation a Stationer Salesman.
Hugh was posted to the Western Front on 18th December 1915 and promoted Airman 1st Class on 1st March 1916, Corporal on 1st April, Sergeant on 1st June and Flight Sergeant on 1st September. He returned to the UK serving on a home establishment on 23rd November 1916 and on 1st April 1918 when the Royal Air Force was formed Hugh transferred as a Flight Clerk.
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Defence Medal. Cadet Forces Medal.
Hugh and Alice had one son, Patrick Andrew Christopher born On 28th October 1917, he was baptised on 17th November in the Parish of St Andrew, Bristol, their address given 133 North Road and Hugh’s profession shown as a Sergeant Army Service Corps. While the RFC had specialist personnel like pilots and mechanics, the general administrative "back office" work and supply chain for their operations were often managed through the established Army infrastructure, which was the ASC.
The 1918 electoral register shows Hugh living at 20 Clanricarde Gardens, Paddington , London most likely these being used as residences for serving personnel. He was discharged to the G Reserve on 19th February 1919 and awarded his 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals; he began working as a Sales Manager for a leather manufacturer in Birmingham, J B Brooks and Co. The company, founded in 1866 by John Boultbee Brooks, initially specialised in horse harnesses and general leather goods. They initially became famous for their high-quality leather bicycle saddles and accessories but expanded their wares over the decades to include items such as motoring trunks, large, chested trunks designed to fit on the back of luxury vehicles like Rolls-Royce and Bentley and often containing a set of smaller, fitted suitcases inside.
On Tuesday 28th October 1919, Hugh was in court seeking the dissolution of his marriage to Alice because of her ’misconduct with a motorcycle dealer’. Alice had seemingly been having an affair with someone known to them both, a Mr. Kickham and despite Hugh offering to take her back if she renounced Kickham, she decided to leave him. The Judge granted a decree nisi with costs of £300.00.
The 1921 census shows Hugh living at 28 Sarehole Road, Hall Green lodging with the Winder family and still with J B Brooks. On Saturday 31st March 1923, Hugh, now living at 2 Geoffrey Road, Sparkhill, re-married to Minnie Constance Bertha Bridgeman (Connie) in St John’s Church, Sparkhill, Birmingham and they had two children, Constance Sybil 1924-2008 Eva Mary 1930-2009. By 1931 the family were living at 119 Showell Green Lane and in 1932 at 1346 Stratford Road, Acock’s Green.
The 1918 electoral register shows Hugh living at 20 Clanricarde Gardens, Paddington , London most likely these being used as residences for serving personnel. He was discharged to the G Reserve on 19th February 1919 and awarded his 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals; he began working as a Sales Manager for a leather manufacturer in Birmingham, J B Brooks and Co. The company, founded in 1866 by John Boultbee Brooks, initially specialised in horse harnesses and general leather goods. They initially became famous for their high-quality leather bicycle saddles and accessories but expanded their wares over the decades to include items such as motoring trunks, large, chested trunks designed to fit on the back of luxury vehicles like Rolls-Royce and Bentley and often containing a set of smaller, fitted suitcases inside.
On Tuesday 28th October 1919, Hugh was in court seeking the dissolution of his marriage to Alice because of her ’misconduct with a motorcycle dealer’. Alice had seemingly been having an affair with someone known to them both, a Mr. Kickham and despite Hugh offering to take her back if she renounced Kickham, she decided to leave him. The Judge granted a decree nisi with costs of £300.00.
The 1921 census shows Hugh living at 28 Sarehole Road, Hall Green lodging with the Winder family and still with J B Brooks. On Saturday 31st March 1923, Hugh, now living at 2 Geoffrey Road, Sparkhill, re-married to Minnie Constance Bertha Bridgeman (Connie) in St John’s Church, Sparkhill, Birmingham and they had two children, Constance Sybil 1924-2008 Eva Mary 1930-2009. By 1931 the family were living at 119 Showell Green Lane and in 1932 at 1346 Stratford Road, Acock’s Green.
Minie Constance Beatrice Jenkins as Lady Mayoress 1960-61.
Hugh and his family moved back to Bristol as he had now become a Travelling Salesman and in 1938 he joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC), a volunteer youth organisation in the UK, preparing young men for military aviation service. He was commissioned by the Air League of the British Empire and promoted to Squadron Leader. The 1939 Register shows Hugh and his daughters, whose names are redacted, living at 22 Cleve Lawns, Mangotsfield, Bristol together with Gwendoline Davis a Domestic Servant. His ADCC details are also noted in the margin. Connie is shown as performing domestic duties at the Bristol General Hospital, Guinea Street.
At the start of World War II in September 1939, Hugh, now aged 44 continued his service with the ADCC and appears to have served in another civil defence organisation alongside. In 1941 when the ADCC became the Air Training Corps (ATC), Hugh was Commissioned as a Pilot Officer into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch on 1st February with service number 62809, taking command of the Bristol Squadron ATC and rising to the rank of Wing Commander. He served with the VR(T) for the duration of the war and awarded his Defence Medal and late, his Cadet Forces Medal following its institution in 1952.
Hugh became an area sales manager for a company specialising in typewriter accessories, having moved away from the motor trade, he retired in about 1960.
Hugh also became involved in local politics in Bristol being elected on to the Bristol City Council as a member of the Citizen Party, a centrist / centre-right municipal political group in Bristol, active from 1925 to 1974, formed by a local alliance of Conservatives, Liberals, and Independents to counter the rising Labour Party in local elections, eventually becoming dominated by Conservatives before disbanding during local government reorganisation. He was elected to the Aldermanic Bench and became Lord Mayor of the city for the municipal year of 1960-61.
He and the Mayoress attended many functions during their year in office and one of their first engagements were to attend an anti-war play ‘The Long and the Short and the Tall’ in Bristol sponsored by the Bristol Rotary Club for the Displaced Persons’ Fund.
Hugh lost his Aldermanic seat in May 1964, but stood again in May 1965 in the Durdham Ward, polling 3028 votes against Labour’s 608, a majority of 2420 and was re-elected. During his time as a Councillor he had been chairman of the city’s Museum and Art Gallery Committee, playing a prominent part in drawing up plans for their new building. He also served on the Education Committee and the Airport Committee, taking a very active interest in the development and building of Lulsgate (later Bristol Airport, located on the Lulsgate plateau, a former RAF airfield that became the city's main airport in 1957. It's known for its history as an airfield (Lulsgate Aerodrome), a motor racing circuit, and now serves as a major transport hub, with key buildings like Lulsgate House and the Aviation House situated there.) Together with Alderman Jim Ross he was responsible for the move of the airport from Whitchurch, the city’s original airport from 1930-57, to Lulsgate.
He lived long enough to see two of his greatest ambitions in Bristol fulfilled, the expansion of Lulsgate into Bristol Airport the airport and the bridge built across the River Severn in 1966.
Hugh and Connie lived in Canynge Square and he passed away on 29th July 1979 aged 84 and was privately cremated. Connie lived another nine years and died in 1988 in Weston Super Mare aged 88.
At the start of World War II in September 1939, Hugh, now aged 44 continued his service with the ADCC and appears to have served in another civil defence organisation alongside. In 1941 when the ADCC became the Air Training Corps (ATC), Hugh was Commissioned as a Pilot Officer into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch on 1st February with service number 62809, taking command of the Bristol Squadron ATC and rising to the rank of Wing Commander. He served with the VR(T) for the duration of the war and awarded his Defence Medal and late, his Cadet Forces Medal following its institution in 1952.
Hugh became an area sales manager for a company specialising in typewriter accessories, having moved away from the motor trade, he retired in about 1960.
Hugh also became involved in local politics in Bristol being elected on to the Bristol City Council as a member of the Citizen Party, a centrist / centre-right municipal political group in Bristol, active from 1925 to 1974, formed by a local alliance of Conservatives, Liberals, and Independents to counter the rising Labour Party in local elections, eventually becoming dominated by Conservatives before disbanding during local government reorganisation. He was elected to the Aldermanic Bench and became Lord Mayor of the city for the municipal year of 1960-61.
He and the Mayoress attended many functions during their year in office and one of their first engagements were to attend an anti-war play ‘The Long and the Short and the Tall’ in Bristol sponsored by the Bristol Rotary Club for the Displaced Persons’ Fund.
Hugh lost his Aldermanic seat in May 1964, but stood again in May 1965 in the Durdham Ward, polling 3028 votes against Labour’s 608, a majority of 2420 and was re-elected. During his time as a Councillor he had been chairman of the city’s Museum and Art Gallery Committee, playing a prominent part in drawing up plans for their new building. He also served on the Education Committee and the Airport Committee, taking a very active interest in the development and building of Lulsgate (later Bristol Airport, located on the Lulsgate plateau, a former RAF airfield that became the city's main airport in 1957. It's known for its history as an airfield (Lulsgate Aerodrome), a motor racing circuit, and now serves as a major transport hub, with key buildings like Lulsgate House and the Aviation House situated there.) Together with Alderman Jim Ross he was responsible for the move of the airport from Whitchurch, the city’s original airport from 1930-57, to Lulsgate.
He lived long enough to see two of his greatest ambitions in Bristol fulfilled, the expansion of Lulsgate into Bristol Airport the airport and the bridge built across the River Severn in 1966.
Hugh and Connie lived in Canynge Square and he passed away on 29th July 1979 aged 84 and was privately cremated. Connie lived another nine years and died in 1988 in Weston Super Mare aged 88.
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Andrew and Mary Eliza Jenkins. Hugh's Uncle and Aunt with whom he lived following the death of his father in 1901.
The Story The medals awarded to Alexander Hugh Jenkins were acquired from Wendy Howlett via E-Bay in November 2025. The group were of interest because of the fact Hugh was a former Lord Mayor of Bristol, Civic Positions being a sub-theme of this collection, the Royal Flying Corps 1914-15 Star group, the first such in this collection and the Cadet Forces being named to him as Wing Commander, possibly the scarcest rank on a CFM.
Because of his unusual name, coupled with his history as Lord Mayor, research was relatively straightforward with Ancestry, Newspaper Archives and Bristol Archives providing much useful information, the latter holding a number of good quality photographs of Hugh as Lord Mayor.
As always, some interesting additional detail was uncovered, such as the divorce from his first wife after World War I and his interest and involvement in the creation of Bristol Airport.
Because of his unusual name, coupled with his history as Lord Mayor, research was relatively straightforward with Ancestry, Newspaper Archives and Bristol Archives providing much useful information, the latter holding a number of good quality photographs of Hugh as Lord Mayor.
As always, some interesting additional detail was uncovered, such as the divorce from his first wife after World War I and his interest and involvement in the creation of Bristol Airport.
Extract from WWI RAF Records showing award of the 1914-15 Star trio.
All photographs copyright and property of The Bristol Archives, to whom thanks are extended for allowing their use.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Starr: 16083 2.A.M. A.H.JENKINS. R.F.C.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 16083. F.SGT. A.H.JENKINS. R.F.C.
- Victory Medal: 16083. F.SGT. A.H.JENKINS. R.F.C.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet Forces Medal: ACT.WG.CDR. A.H.JENKINS. R.A.F.V.R.(T).
This page last updated 7 Feb 26
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