Middlesbrough Council Civic History & Events

Middlesbrough Council Civic History & Events Welcome to Middlesbrough Council's Civic History and Events Page. The page will keep you up to date

1984-85 Malcolm Kirk (1937-1992) Middlesbrough's 121st MayorCouncillor for Tollesby Ward 1973-1979Beechwood Ward 1979-19...
22/02/2024

1984-85 Malcolm Kirk (1937-1992) Middlesbrough's 121st Mayor

Councillor for Tollesby Ward 1973-1979
Beechwood Ward 1979-1992

Committees: Housing, Development Services, Policy Resources & Cleveland Transit

Malcolm was born in Athol Street, Middlesbrough in 1937. He was employed by British Rail in July 1952 and joined the Army in 1955 serving in the BOAR until 1958. Malcolm then joined the Army Reserves from 1958 and was a serving reservist until the late 80’s. He joined the Labour Party in 1966 and became a member of the National Union of Railwaymen in 1952. He later held the office of Joint Branch Chairman. Malcolm raised funds for local railway orphans to provide summer holidays and Christmas Parties. He was also a member of Brambles Farm Community Centre Management
Committee and Organiser of Brambles Farm Summer Play Scheme. He was a keen supporter of Middlesbrough Football Club and died in November 1992.

Did you know that on the day the Council Chamber was first used, 9th August 1887, the then Mayor Amos Hinton presented a...
21/02/2024

Did you know that on the day the Council Chamber was first used, 9th August 1887, the then Mayor Amos Hinton presented a clock to the council. Over the years it has had to be repaired and used to be wound once a week to keep time, now it has been fitted with a modern clock mechanism and is still going strong.

Cllr Robert Innes Smith (Bob) (1906 – 23 February 1993) was the 7th person to be given the Freedom of the Borough of Mid...
21/02/2024

Cllr Robert Innes Smith (Bob) (1906 – 23 February 1993) was the 7th person to be given the Freedom of the Borough of Middlesbrough on 9 May 1986.

Bob was also the 114th Mayor of Middlesbrough and a ward Councillor for many years.

Bob was a pupil at East Street School and from 1920-1969 he worked for the Co-operative Teesside Branch, he was Secretary of the Shop Workers Union USDAW. He was the Treasurer of Middlesbrough Trades Council (for over 25 years).

The wording that appears in the Middlesbrough Borough Council Roll of Honorary Freedom states:

Resolution – that, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Council do confer upon Councillor Robert Innes Smith the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Middlesbrough in recognition of the eminent services rendered by him to the said Borough during a long public career in so many capacities; particularly recognising the services he has rendered as a Councillor of the former County Borough of Middlesbrough and to the present Middlesbrough Borough Council; recalling his
interest in the Trades Union Movement, especially the Co-operative Society of which he was a member of the Board of Directors. And as an expression of the high esteem in which he is held by the people of Middlesbrough and surrounding area

1983-84 Chris Atkin (1946-2017) Middlesbrough's 120th MayorCouncillor for Gresham Ward 1972-1983 Westbourne Ward 1983-19...
21/02/2024

1983-84 Chris Atkin (1946-2017) Middlesbrough's 120th Mayor

Councillor for Gresham Ward 1972-1983
Westbourne Ward 1983-1984

A member of Teesside County Borough Council

Committees: Chairman & Vice Chairman of Development Services, & Tidy Up Middlesbrough Public Action Campaign, Middlesbrough Group Secretary & Chief Whip. Chairman of Cleveland Transit Joint Committee.

Did you know that a flag is hung in the Council Chamber? The battle torn flag was presented to Middlesbrough Council by...
14/02/2024

Did you know that a flag is hung in the Council Chamber?

The battle torn flag was presented to Middlesbrough Council by the 9th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment to be hung in a place of honour to remember the courage of Middlesbrough Volunteers who fought during the battles of the 1st World War. The flag (Standard) was to be 'laid up' after the war and will sit in the Council Chamber until it falls apart - ashes to ashes.

1982-83 Charles Godfrey (1922-2004) Middlesbrough's 119th MayorCouncillor for Ayresome Ward 1966-68Berwick Hills Ward 19...
14/02/2024

1982-83 Charles Godfrey (1922-2004) Middlesbrough's 119th Mayor

Councillor for Ayresome Ward 1966-68
Berwick Hills Ward 1968-1979
North Ormesby Ward 1979-1997

Committees: MCBC - Transport, Estates & Development, Catering, Fire Brigade, Education
TCBC - Chairman - Further Education, Vice Chairman – Education
MBC - Chairman of General Purposes; Policy & Resources, Leisure Services, Public Protection
CCC - Chairman - Education, Governors of the Polytechnic; Co-ordinating, Education, Consumer Protection
Main Activities - Education,

Charles was born in October 1922 and married Doris in August 1948. He served as an apprentice fitter and turner from 1939-1944 until he joined the RAF in 1944. He became a member of the Labour Party in 1945 and was involved in the AEU from 1940. At the AEU he held the offices of check bookkeeper, minute secretary, president, shop steward convenor. In 1945 Charles joined the Labour Party, holding offices as a member of the management committee, Executive committee, and constituency Party Treasurer. He was a Justice of the Peace from 1960-1972. He was an avid reader, especially of history books and lived at 3 Allison St, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, Cleveland

Cllr Arthur Pearson CBE was the sixth person to receive the Freedom of Middlesbrough Borough Council on 9 May 1986.Arthu...
14/02/2024

Cllr Arthur Pearson CBE was the sixth person to receive the Freedom of Middlesbrough Borough Council on 9 May 1986.

Arthur Pearson CBE (d 23 February 1997)

Councillor for Ayresome Ward 1951 – 1954, Park Ward 1955 – 1968, Acklam Ward 1973 – 1979, Kader Ward 1979 – 1995
Teesside County Borough Council Alderman

Arthur lived at 457 Newport Rd, Middlesbrough in 1964 and died on 23 February 1997. Arthur was the second Leader of Cleveland County Council and represented the Conservative Party from pre-1978 to post-1979.

The wording that appears in the Middlesbrough Borough Council Roll of Honorary Freedom states:

Resolution – that, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Council do confer upon Councillor Arthur Pearson CBE the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Middlesbrough in recognition of the eminent services rendered by him to the said Borough during a long public career in so many capacities; particularly the services he has rendered since 1951 when he was first elected as a Councillor for the former County Borough of Middlesbrough as a County Councillor for Cleveland County Council and a Member of the present Middlesbrough Borough Council; his work as a representative of the area as a member of many National Committees relating to local government affairs; through his business interests as a Past Chairman of the National Council of the British Association of Removers. And as an expression of the high esteem in which he is held by the people of Middlesbrough and surrounding area.

1981-82 Norman J Swash (4 Nov 1926 - 13 March 2003) Middlesbrough's 118th MayorCouncillor for Gresham Ward 1973-1979Sout...
07/02/2024

1981-82 Norman J Swash (4 Nov 1926 - 13 March 2003) Middlesbrough's 118th Mayor

Councillor for Gresham Ward 1973-1979
Southfield Ward 1979-1983
Stainton & Thornton Ward 1983-1991
North Ormesby Ward 1991-1995

Committees: Housing and Environmental Health

Norman was born on 4 November 1926 at 38 Florence Street, Middlesbrough and was subsequently educated at St Marys, St Marys College. He served his apprenticeship as a Boilermaker with Teesside Bridge & Engineering Works, Cleveland Dockyard. In 1945 he served in the Royal Signals in Greece and Palestine until 1948. In the same year he joined Dorman Long until Jan 1963 when he was made redundant. He became the Boilermakers Association Branch Secretary Middlesbrough No 3 Branch from 1951 until 1958. Norman married on 14 February 1953 at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Port Clarence and went on to have one son and seven daughters. In 1963 he joined ICI as a process worker and also the T&GWU, he became a Shop Steward in 1966 and joined the Labour Party in 1968. Norman helped to start the Cathedral Boys Club in 1940 and was Secretary from 1948-1956. He was a member of the cathedral choir from the age of 7 and helped to start Sacred Heart Choir in 1954. Norman performed two shows with Teesside Amateur Operatic Society and helped to form a choir at Coulby Newham Church in 1979. He died on 13 March 2003.

Cllr Rose Margaret Haston (1900 – 22 January 1991) was the fifth person to receive the Freedom of Middlesbrough Borough ...
06/02/2024

Cllr Rose Margaret Haston (1900 – 22 January 1991) was the fifth person to receive the Freedom of Middlesbrough Borough Council on 9th May 1986.

She was a Councillor for the Grove Hill Ward 1954 – 1960, 1963 – 1968 and Gresham Ward 1973 - 1979

Committees - Cemeteries, Education, Health, Housing and Welfare Services, Development Services

Rose was born on 30 April 1900 in Parliament Street, Middlesbrough and educated at St Paul's School. She qualified as a tailoress with the Middlesbrough Cooperative Society Ltd and commenced her working career at age of 13 at one shilling per week. In 1920 she married Richard Haston and had one son, one daughter and four grandchildren and in the same year joined the Labour Party. Rose was nominated for the Board of Management of the Middlesbrough Co-operative Society Ltd on two occasions and was selected in the 1920's. She was a member of the Co-operative Education Committee, a long standing member of the Co-operative Women’s Guild and served as a delegate to National Conference and working parties. In 1968 she retired from Local Government on re-organisation. Rose then re-entered the political field in 1973 at the time of the second local government reorganisation in this area. She retired for a second time in 1979, but continued to attend Labour meetings and Co-operative Movement Meetings. In 1985 she received the Labour Party Long Service Award and for many years organised over 50's clubs in central Middlesbrough. Rose worked with the local NSPCC for many years and was particularly involved in fundraising. She died on 22 January 1991 aged 90 and had lived at 12 Willerby Green (Levick House).

The wording that appears in the Middlesbrough Borough Council Roll of Honorary Freedom states:

Resolution – that, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Council do confer upon Mrs Rose Margaret Haston the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Middlesbrough in recognition of the eminent services rendered by her to the said Borough during a long public career in so many capacities; particularly the services she has rendered as a Councillor of the former County Borough of Middlesbrough and to the present Middlesbrough Borough Council; her contribution as a member of the Board of Management of the Co-operative Society and the Co-operative Women’s Guild; for her work with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. And as an expression of the high esteem in which she is held by the people of Middlesbrough and surrounding area.

1980-81 Derek A Biewer JP (b1935) Middlesbrough's 117th MayorCouncillor for Gresham Ward 1970-1987Committees: Chairman o...
06/02/2024

1980-81 Derek A Biewer JP (b1935) Middlesbrough's 117th Mayor

Councillor for Gresham Ward 1970-1987

Committees: Chairman of Health 1972-74; Vice Chairman Environmental Health; Policy & Resources; Deputy Leader

Worked as a Nursing Officer for the NHS

1979-80 Arthur A Carter JP (1925-2000) Middlesbrough's 116th MayorCouncillor for Crescent Ward 1963 - 1967 (Middlesbroug...
06/02/2024

1979-80 Arthur A Carter JP (1925-2000) Middlesbrough's 116th Mayor

Councillor for Crescent Ward 1963 - 1967 (Middlesbrough County Borough)
1967 - 1974 (Teesside County Borough Council)
Berwick Hills Ward 1974-1995

Committees:- MCB Vice Chairman Highways; TCBC Vice Chairman Highways; Chairman Purposes & Supply; Crime Prevention; Economic Development Transport, Vice Chairman Economic Development & Planning, Chairman Housing; Building at MBC

Chairman of Cleveland County Council 1981-1982

Arthur was employed as a Welder at the Haverton Hill shipyard until 1979, starting his apprenticeship in 1941. He became a member of the Labour Party in 1946 and went on to be the Welder’s Shop Steward, Secretary of Boilermakers Shop Stewards Committee, Secretary of Yard Shop Stewards Committee and a Delegate to Middlesbrough Constituency Labour Party in 1947. He was President of the Boilermakers Union (Middlesbrough branch) and made a Justice of the Peace in 1967. In 1974, he was elected as a County Councillor and made redundant by the closure of the shipyard in Spring 1979.

1978-79 John Stokes (b1925) Middlesbrough's 115th MayorCouncillor for Clairville Ward 1963-1966Tollesby Ward 1973-1979Ea...
06/02/2024

1978-79 John Stokes (b1925) Middlesbrough's 115th Mayor

Councillor for Clairville Ward 1963-1966
Tollesby Ward 1973-1979
Easterside 1979-1983

In 1978 John was Chairman of the Development Services Committee. He was Secretary of the Teesside No 2 Branch of National Union of Railwaymen and Secretary of the joint NUR Branches in Teesside. He had two sons and two daughters.

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