All That Glitters...Is Gold!
Alexander Stewart Polson Mayor of Bath 1969-70.
The Man Alexander Stewart Polson (Alex) was born on Friday 29th June 1894 in Stoke Damerel, Devonport son of Alexander senior an Engine Fitter and Royal Navy Chief Engine Room Artificer, from Scotland and Isabella nee Stewart. He had one sister, Margaret born in 1892.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 6 Herbert Place, Devonport together with the Trusk family and on 14th September 1909, aged just 15 Alex, following his father’s footsteps, became a Marine Engine Fitter at Devonport Docks. The 1911 census shows him and family still at the same address in Herbert Place.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Alex’s occupation was considered a reserved occupation and he was not therefore called up. On 14th September 1915 he was appointed as an Apprentice Engineer and on 31st March 1916 transferred to the Dockyard at Rosyth, Firth of Forth as a Fitter. He was transferred to the Chief’s Department as an Engineer and then to the Admiralty as an Assistant Draftsman.
On 20th May 1918 he joined the Mercantile Marine Reserve as an Engineering Officer serving for the rest of the war and returning to Rosyth on 30th October 1919 still as Assistant Draftsman, later Engineering Draftsman.
The Mercantile Marine Reserve was not a large organisation and one of the least understood Naval Formations of World War I. During 1916-1920 the MMR was used to engage officers and seamen on board vessels employed on government service. The crews of vessels commissioned as auxiliaries by the Admiralty were signed up under a T.124 agreement, whereby they agreed to serve in any commissioned vessel, but retained aspects of their civilian pay and benefits. They were sometimes the entire crew of a vessel and can be likened to the Dunkirk Ships in WWII. For his service Alex was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He was living at 61 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh when on 11th March 1921, at Ardmillan Hall, Murieston Road, Dalry he married Janet Oliphant Ferguson, a typist. They had two children, Winifred Fraser born in 1928 and Alexander Ferguson 1930.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 6 Herbert Place, Devonport together with the Trusk family and on 14th September 1909, aged just 15 Alex, following his father’s footsteps, became a Marine Engine Fitter at Devonport Docks. The 1911 census shows him and family still at the same address in Herbert Place.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Alex’s occupation was considered a reserved occupation and he was not therefore called up. On 14th September 1915 he was appointed as an Apprentice Engineer and on 31st March 1916 transferred to the Dockyard at Rosyth, Firth of Forth as a Fitter. He was transferred to the Chief’s Department as an Engineer and then to the Admiralty as an Assistant Draftsman.
On 20th May 1918 he joined the Mercantile Marine Reserve as an Engineering Officer serving for the rest of the war and returning to Rosyth on 30th October 1919 still as Assistant Draftsman, later Engineering Draftsman.
The Mercantile Marine Reserve was not a large organisation and one of the least understood Naval Formations of World War I. During 1916-1920 the MMR was used to engage officers and seamen on board vessels employed on government service. The crews of vessels commissioned as auxiliaries by the Admiralty were signed up under a T.124 agreement, whereby they agreed to serve in any commissioned vessel, but retained aspects of their civilian pay and benefits. They were sometimes the entire crew of a vessel and can be likened to the Dunkirk Ships in WWII. For his service Alex was awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He was living at 61 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh when on 11th March 1921, at Ardmillan Hall, Murieston Road, Dalry he married Janet Oliphant Ferguson, a typist. They had two children, Winifred Fraser born in 1928 and Alexander Ferguson 1930.
Alex remained at Rosyth until at least 1925 when he was transferred south of the border, still in the Admiralty and by 1939, aged 38 was living at 16 Bathwick Street, Bath, possibly as a Lodger as he is shown with a number of others at the same address and his occupation given as Mechanical Engineering Draughtsman (Civil Service), Admiralty. It is assumed his occupation was once again reserved and it isn’t known if he served in any civil defence organisations during World War II. It is likely Janet and children remained in Scotland During the war.
It seems that Alex and Janet moved south as in 1958 he was elected onto the Bath City Council as a Conservative Councillor, retaining his seat at the subsequent 1962 and 1966 elections. He was elected as Mayor Bath in May 1969 and with local government reorganisation being discussed by Parliament at the time, he said at his ceremony,
“Bath will always belong to the people of Bath, and no bureaucratic carve-up of geographical areas can stop it”.
On 7th May 1970, still as Mayor, he was returned to serve on the council for a further period and handed over to his successor on 19th May 1970. He appears not to have sought re-election when Bath became a non- Metropolitan District in 1973.
Alex and Janet lived at 6 Tyning End, Widcombe Hill, Bath and he passed away on 28th November 1974 aged 80. His funeral was held on 4th December and his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Rest, Shrubbery No 4, Haycombe Crematorium, Whiteway, Bath. Janet lived another 15 years and died on 4th July 1990 aged 94, following her cremation on 13th, her ashes were scattered in the same shrubbery with Alex.
It seems that Alex and Janet moved south as in 1958 he was elected onto the Bath City Council as a Conservative Councillor, retaining his seat at the subsequent 1962 and 1966 elections. He was elected as Mayor Bath in May 1969 and with local government reorganisation being discussed by Parliament at the time, he said at his ceremony,
“Bath will always belong to the people of Bath, and no bureaucratic carve-up of geographical areas can stop it”.
On 7th May 1970, still as Mayor, he was returned to serve on the council for a further period and handed over to his successor on 19th May 1970. He appears not to have sought re-election when Bath became a non- Metropolitan District in 1973.
Alex and Janet lived at 6 Tyning End, Widcombe Hill, Bath and he passed away on 28th November 1974 aged 80. His funeral was held on 4th December and his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Rest, Shrubbery No 4, Haycombe Crematorium, Whiteway, Bath. Janet lived another 15 years and died on 4th July 1990 aged 94, following her cremation on 13th, her ashes were scattered in the same shrubbery with Alex.
The Story The Past Mayor’s Jewel presented to Councillor Alexander Stewart Polson was acquired from E-Bay on 12th May 2023. It was only found by chance and of interest because of the extremely low price, coupled with the Mayoral theme within this collection.
Researching Alex was relatively straightforward because of his unusual name, but complicated by the fact he had worked, lived and married in Scotland and there being two people with the same name.
As usual Ancestry UK, Scotland’s People, Wills and the National Newspaper Archive and an amount of cross referencing, enabled a reasonable biography to be completed, together with the assistance of the Mayor’s Office in Bath who provided an excellent photograph of Alex as Mayor.
It seems the relevant editions of the local press covering his installation as Mayor of Bath in 1969, are sadly missing from the archive, but nevertheless some interesting information was found. Also of note is that Alex Served in the little-known Merchant Marine Reserve in World War I, his medals sadly missing. However, the jewel was found to be of 9-carat gold and so a highly prized addition to this collection.
An interesting jewel and story; in this case all that glitters is gold!
Researching Alex was relatively straightforward because of his unusual name, but complicated by the fact he had worked, lived and married in Scotland and there being two people with the same name.
As usual Ancestry UK, Scotland’s People, Wills and the National Newspaper Archive and an amount of cross referencing, enabled a reasonable biography to be completed, together with the assistance of the Mayor’s Office in Bath who provided an excellent photograph of Alex as Mayor.
It seems the relevant editions of the local press covering his installation as Mayor of Bath in 1969, are sadly missing from the archive, but nevertheless some interesting information was found. Also of note is that Alex Served in the little-known Merchant Marine Reserve in World War I, his medals sadly missing. However, the jewel was found to be of 9-carat gold and so a highly prized addition to this collection.
An interesting jewel and story; in this case all that glitters is gold!
Jewel Details:
- Past Mayors Jewel: Obverse: 1969 - 1970. COUNCILLOR ALEXANDER S.POLSON Reverse: PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF BATH CITY COUNCIL
This page last updated 21 Jun 23
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