When Wilson met Heath
Councillor William John Wilson Royal Air Force and Mayor of Lichfield
The Man William John Wilson (John) was born on Friday 15th January 1926 in Manchester, his mother’s maiden name was also Wilson. He spent most of his early years in Southport and Lancashire
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John was too young to enlist into the armed forces still aged 13. However, he did attend and study at Liverpool University for a degree in Economic History, here he gained an interest in politics and joined their debating society.
Once he reached his 18th birthday in January 1944, John enlisted into the Royal Air Force as a Navigator, undertaking his training in South Africa and seeing service during the last months of the war. He was demobilised in 1946 and awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following his return to civilian life John’s interest in politics was rekindled and he joined the Labour Party. He became a teacher and taught at Cathedral School in Cardiff, then schools in Lancashire and Leamington Spa, where during the last quarter of 1952 aged 26 he married Janet Law, a Nurse who was living in Birmingham, although originally from Lichfield. They had two children, Malcolm John Stewart born in April 1953 and Heather Janet, January 1958.
In 1954 they moved to Staffordshire so John could take up a teaching post at Tutbury, this was followed by a move to Lichfield in 1957 where he taught at a number of schools in the Walsall area, where he specialised in history. He was described as a voracious reader of history and political biographies and a collector of maps, coins and stamps.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John was too young to enlist into the armed forces still aged 13. However, he did attend and study at Liverpool University for a degree in Economic History, here he gained an interest in politics and joined their debating society.
Once he reached his 18th birthday in January 1944, John enlisted into the Royal Air Force as a Navigator, undertaking his training in South Africa and seeing service during the last months of the war. He was demobilised in 1946 and awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following his return to civilian life John’s interest in politics was rekindled and he joined the Labour Party. He became a teacher and taught at Cathedral School in Cardiff, then schools in Lancashire and Leamington Spa, where during the last quarter of 1952 aged 26 he married Janet Law, a Nurse who was living in Birmingham, although originally from Lichfield. They had two children, Malcolm John Stewart born in April 1953 and Heather Janet, January 1958.
In 1954 they moved to Staffordshire so John could take up a teaching post at Tutbury, this was followed by a move to Lichfield in 1957 where he taught at a number of schools in the Walsall area, where he specialised in history. He was described as a voracious reader of history and political biographies and a collector of maps, coins and stamps.
In 1959 he was elected to Lichfield Rural District Council and later Lichfield City Council representing the Labour Party. He was appointed as Chairman of the Recreation Committee and involved in the development of the Beacon Park Lichfield Civic Hall and Friary Grange Sports Hall. He lost his seat at an election in 1965 but was re-elected the following year representing Curborough Ward. He later became leader of the Labour Group on the council and at the General election of 31st March 1966, stood as a Parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party in Cheltenham against the incumbent Conservative MP Arthur Dodds-Parker. Despite a landslide victory for Harold Wilson nationally, John was unsuccessful polling 19,768 votes (46.6%.) against Dodd’s 22,683 (53.4%).
John was a keen sportsman and cricket player, playing for the Lichfield Taverners 11, he also played hockey, badminton, table tennis and ran swimming lessons for adult beginners. He and his family lived at the 200 year old ‘Stowe House’, Netherstowe, overlooking Stowe Pool and had a black and white spaniel called Nick.
Following his retirement from teaching in the early 1970s, John was appointed Chairman of the Education Committee on the council and he found employment as a training officer for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board and in charge of the management of Stowe House, a training centre for hospital personnel since 1969, not to be confused with his home address.
John was a keen sportsman and cricket player, playing for the Lichfield Taverners 11, he also played hockey, badminton, table tennis and ran swimming lessons for adult beginners. He and his family lived at the 200 year old ‘Stowe House’, Netherstowe, overlooking Stowe Pool and had a black and white spaniel called Nick.
Following his retirement from teaching in the early 1970s, John was appointed Chairman of the Education Committee on the council and he found employment as a training officer for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board and in charge of the management of Stowe House, a training centre for hospital personnel since 1969, not to be confused with his home address.
John was proposed by the Labour Party to be Mayor of Lichfield for the municipal year of 1972-73. However, he faced opposition candidates from two other councillors, an Independent and a Conservative who were also nominated. A secret ballot was held amongst Councillors and John was chosen, providing he retained his council seat at the upcoming elections in February 1972, which he did. He kept his seat gaining 610 votes, a majority of 340 over his rival candidate, at the same time he was also elected to Staffordshire County Council, representing Lichfield North Ward
On Wednesday 17th May 1972 John was elected with due ceremony as Mayor of Lichfield City Council, becoming one of the youngest Mayors for many years aged 56. A year later on 16th May 1973, he was re-elected to serve a second but final term as the Lichfield City Council and Lichfield Rural District Councils were to be amalgamated to form the Lichfield District Council under local government reorganisation on 1st April 1974.
This made him the last Mayor of Lichfield City after 426 years! The Mayoralty continued however as Charter Trustees. A traditional ‘wake’ was held in the Guildhall on Friday 29th March to mark the sad occasion and the passing of Lichfield City Council, followed by a service in Lichfield Cathedral on Sunday 31st where ancient ceremonial trappings were worn for the final time.
John served as a Councillor on the new Lichfield District Council until 1976, when he seems to have had a break from the District, possibly concentrating on his County Council responsibilities until he was re-elected in May 1995, immediately being appointed Deputy Chairman. The following year, May 1996, he was elected as Chairman of Lichfield District Council. He was also a serving Justice of the Peace.
On 22nd June 1996, a few weeks after his installation, John was admitted to Burton District Hospital suffering a perforated ulcer. He made a speedy recovery and was released a week or so later. As well as his council responsibilities, he was also Chairman of the Johnson Society, a local organisation to commemorate Samuel Johnson and a Director of The Guild of St Mary’s Centre, a visual and performing arts centre.
In later life John and Janet lived at 5 Shakespeare Avenue in Lichfield.
Sadly, Janet passed away at Cannock Chase Hospital on 29th April 1998 aged 75 following a short illness. John said “She was completely unflappable. No matter how ill-tempered I was, she could always cope with me”. Her funeral was held at St Michael on the Greenhill Church.
During the first quarter of 2003 John remarried to Pauline Jelfs in Lichfield and they lived at the Shakespeare Road address. John passed away on 9th August 2008 aged 82 in Lichfield.
On Wednesday 17th May 1972 John was elected with due ceremony as Mayor of Lichfield City Council, becoming one of the youngest Mayors for many years aged 56. A year later on 16th May 1973, he was re-elected to serve a second but final term as the Lichfield City Council and Lichfield Rural District Councils were to be amalgamated to form the Lichfield District Council under local government reorganisation on 1st April 1974.
This made him the last Mayor of Lichfield City after 426 years! The Mayoralty continued however as Charter Trustees. A traditional ‘wake’ was held in the Guildhall on Friday 29th March to mark the sad occasion and the passing of Lichfield City Council, followed by a service in Lichfield Cathedral on Sunday 31st where ancient ceremonial trappings were worn for the final time.
John served as a Councillor on the new Lichfield District Council until 1976, when he seems to have had a break from the District, possibly concentrating on his County Council responsibilities until he was re-elected in May 1995, immediately being appointed Deputy Chairman. The following year, May 1996, he was elected as Chairman of Lichfield District Council. He was also a serving Justice of the Peace.
On 22nd June 1996, a few weeks after his installation, John was admitted to Burton District Hospital suffering a perforated ulcer. He made a speedy recovery and was released a week or so later. As well as his council responsibilities, he was also Chairman of the Johnson Society, a local organisation to commemorate Samuel Johnson and a Director of The Guild of St Mary’s Centre, a visual and performing arts centre.
In later life John and Janet lived at 5 Shakespeare Avenue in Lichfield.
Sadly, Janet passed away at Cannock Chase Hospital on 29th April 1998 aged 75 following a short illness. John said “She was completely unflappable. No matter how ill-tempered I was, she could always cope with me”. Her funeral was held at St Michael on the Greenhill Church.
During the first quarter of 2003 John remarried to Pauline Jelfs in Lichfield and they lived at the Shakespeare Road address. John passed away on 9th August 2008 aged 82 in Lichfield.
The Story The medals and Past Mayor and Chairman’s Jewel awarded to William John Wilson were acquired from E-Bay on 7th January 2023, having been ‘watched’ for some weeks. Following negotiation with the vendor they were acquired and of interest because of the Mayoral aspect and the photographs that came with them, including one of the recipient as Mayor with the then, Prime Minister Ted Heath.
No information came with the group apart from ‘Mayor’s Medals Lichfield W J Wilson’. The usual searches on google revealed nothing apart from a list of past mayors of Lichfield and Ancestry had two or three matches with W J Wilson in Lichfield.
After several days of ‘fiddling’ with combinations an initial link was made when an address was found in Lichfield for a Director at Companies House with the name William John Wilson and a year of birth. This combination seemed to make a direct hit with the British Newspaper Archive, which in turn revealed numerous archive results for John Wilson, a Councillor in Lichfield. The date of birth also enabled a more definitive search on Ancestry.
The BNP was subscribed to and a wealth of detail about William ‘John’ Wilson as he was known revealed. So much detail that it enabled a good biography to be pieced together, including the fact he had served in the latter part World War II as aircrew in the Royal Air Force, one of the photographs in the lot showing him wearing his miniatures and the King’s Badge for Loyal Service.
No information came with the group apart from ‘Mayor’s Medals Lichfield W J Wilson’. The usual searches on google revealed nothing apart from a list of past mayors of Lichfield and Ancestry had two or three matches with W J Wilson in Lichfield.
After several days of ‘fiddling’ with combinations an initial link was made when an address was found in Lichfield for a Director at Companies House with the name William John Wilson and a year of birth. This combination seemed to make a direct hit with the British Newspaper Archive, which in turn revealed numerous archive results for John Wilson, a Councillor in Lichfield. The date of birth also enabled a more definitive search on Ancestry.
The BNP was subscribed to and a wealth of detail about William ‘John’ Wilson as he was known revealed. So much detail that it enabled a good biography to be pieced together, including the fact he had served in the latter part World War II as aircrew in the Royal Air Force, one of the photographs in the lot showing him wearing his miniatures and the King’s Badge for Loyal Service.
Subsequent contact with the Lichfield City Council produced a superb portrait of him in Mayoral robes and the Past Mayors Roll of Honour in the Guildhall.
Sadly, no obituary has yet been found as he only passed away relatively recently, at the time of writing.
A great result from very little detail, once again proving the value of continually ‘worrying’ away with research drilling down as far as possible until a link is made, no matter how tenuous it first seems.
A man who served his country and community for so long may now be remembered.
Sadly, no obituary has yet been found as he only passed away relatively recently, at the time of writing.
A great result from very little detail, once again proving the value of continually ‘worrying’ away with research drilling down as far as possible until a link is made, no matter how tenuous it first seems.
A man who served his country and community for so long may now be remembered.
Medal Details
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Past Mayor and Chairman's Jewel: IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES OF WILLIAM JOHN WILSON J.P.
This page last updated 14 Apr 23
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